PORSCHE EXPERTS

Hard to believe, but Porsche finds nearly excessive oil consumption somewhat acceptable. I understand that 600 miles per quart is not out of range for similar models. These are mechanical machines, some oil usage is to be expected after-all.

I would not shy too far away from a Porsche that consumes a quart per thousand.

 

+1.........

A litre per 1,500 KM is normal........so a quart per 1,000 miles is the same.

 

Make sure you have a Porsche Mechanic go over the car BEFORE you buy it.

The 3.2 Carrera is a great car, but the engine did have some issues.

That's what, less than 60k miles on a 25 year old car... low mileage, not even 3k mi/year.

Sometimes a car that has been 'sitting' without being driven for long periods of time will leak and use more oil than one that's been driven regularly.

 

My 87 was one of my favorite cars.....ever. Oil consumption is normal but I would encourage a PPI with compression/leak down prior to purchase.

 

The old saying is that if your Porsche doesn't leak oil...it's empty.

Get a PPI and you should be OK.

Heck, I have a 2.7 on an engine stand and it leaks w/o being hooked up to anything, go figure.

 

Hahaha. Or if it doesn't leak now, it will.

 

1000 miles per qt is acceptable oil consumption.

But being a late 80's model I'd find out if the valve guides have been replaced. The worse they become the worse the oil consumption becomes. Nearly everyone I know who has a 911 of this vintage, myself included, has ended up doing a top end rebuild. The valve guides seem to wear around the 80k mile range, a similar story to the Mercedes 560sl. The replacements are made from a much improved material and once replaced will last a considerably longer time.

So that's what I'd be checking, because it's not a case of if, but rather when they will need replacing. Figure a bill of around 6-7.5k to do the job.

Matt