If you’ve never owned a German car before, you might not be familiar with this strange rule regarding regular and synthetic oil in your engine. There are quite a few reasons that you cannot use regular oil in an Audi or BMW, one of the most important being that you will void the warranty of the vehicle if you do so.
Synthetic Oil Flows Better Through Your Engine
This rule was set in place in order to enforce the use of synthetic oil, and there’s good reason too. Conventional oil and synthetic oil have different weights and densities to them, which changes how the oil flows through the engine. The thicker viscosity of natural oil doesn’t flow properly, which causes the engine to wear out faster.
Synthetic Oil is Cleaner Than Regular Oil
While commonly used natural motor oil is refined from crude oil, it can still contain unwanted elements that make it through this process. These small minerals can gradually cause unwanted buildup in an engine which can hurt the performance and the lifespan of the engine. Alternatively, synthetic oil doesn’t have this issue because it’s synthesized with chemical compounds in a controlled process, which eliminates the possibility of contamination.
Synthetic Oil Performs Better in Extreme Temperatures
In addition to being cleaner and lower viscosity, synthetic oil is also designed to better regulate the temperature of your engine. Not only does it perform better in extreme heat and extreme cold, but it keeps your engine from overheating and prevents unnecessary wear and tear. This not only improves performance but increases the lifespan of your engine.
Synthetic Oil Provides More Mileage Per Change
Although Synthetic oil is more expensive than natural options, it is designed to be changed less often, therefore giving you more miles in between each oil change. While this factor probably won’t save you money it will gradually even out to be about the same cost as regular oil. In other words, don’t sweat spending a little more for an oil change, it will save you trouble in the long run.
Have Your Vehicle Serviced by An Expert
BMW and Audi each have very similar lists of oil brands and types that are safe to use in their vehicles. Depending on what year your vehicle was made, and even what climates you’re driving in, the type of oil that is most efficient could be different. For best results, have your vehicle serviced with a shop that specializes in BMW and Audi care. Feel free to give us a call at 617-489-0291 or contact us here.
Owning a Porsche is something to be proud of. A car that nice is an investment, to say the least, so making it last should be a priority. One of the best ways to extend the life of your Porsche is by storing it through the cold winter months. That winter storage process includes much more than just parking it in the garage though!
Porsche Winter Storage Tips
1. Prepare Engine and Fluids
Before parking your Porsche, get an oil change and top off all of the fluids under the hood. When the oil is being changed, it’s a good idea to change the oil filter too. If you feel confident enough to prepare the engine and fluids yourself you can but taking your Porsche to a Porsche maintenance specialist is the best way to ensure it’s done right.
2. Overinflate Tires
You may think overinflating your tires is a big no-no and normally, you’d be right! Cold temperatures can change the tire pressure in your vehicle even if it isn’t being driven. Avoid flattened tires this winter by filling your tires 8-10 psi higher than they need to be. This should be done when the tires are cold to get the most accurate psi reading.
3. Invest in a Car Cover
Car covers can be purchased for both indoor and outdoor storage. It’s important to buy a high-quality car cover rather than trying to find a cheap one that won’t do the job well. Car covers protect against dirt, dust, and other debris that could mess up the paint on your Porsche.
4. Fill the Tank
Airspace in your gas tank provides the perfect environment for harmful condensation. Prevent this by filling your tank right before putting the Porsche in storage. You should always use premium grade gas when filling up your tank.
5. Lower Windows
Lower your windows just enough to take the pressure off the seals along the top. This will help the seal to last longer and provide some airflow to the car too! Airflow is the best way to prevent unnecessary moisture and condensation from forming as temperatures fluctuate.
Follow these tips to keep your Porsche looking, and running, as good as it possibly can! With proper winter storage, getting your Porsche back on the road in the spring will be a breeze. For any questions or concerns regarding storing your Porsche this winter, contact a Porsche maintenance specialist like Boston Motor Werks!
Do you own a Porsche or might potentially be thinking of purchasing a Porsche? It is essential to understand the problems you might face in the future. Having a Porsche repair shop that you trust will make any repair easier. Our Porsche mechanics have compiled the most common Porsche repairs.
Four Common Porsche Issues
Steering and Suspension
The ABS warning lights have a frequent reoccurrence of turning on. The light turns on because the ABS electronics module is failing. The module either needs to be rebuilt or be replaced. CV joints in Porsches require more strength than most vehicles, which causes frequent repairs. If you use the proper Porsche repair, you can avoid running into problems as steering and suspension repairs go a long way in providing longevity to your Porsche vehicle.
Cooling
Porsche’s are widely known for their cooling issues. The coolant distribution pipe often needs to be resealed. For some Porsche models, the car doesn’t drip directly on to the ground. The seal in those models can is located above the center of the engine inside the valley. The leak causes the coolant to create a puddle on top of the engine in between the cylinders. It is important to have a Porsche technician to check the cooling system during routine maintenance frequently. Any sort of musty smell coming from your engine, it is important to rush to the nearest repair shop.
Engine
Any sign of smoke coming out of the engine is a sign to take precautions. There are a few reasons smoke could be coming from the engine. The smoke can be caused by an overfilled oil tank or faulty oil separator. Porsche has a higher oil capacity; it easy for untrained mechanics to overfill. When changing the oil, it must be done when the vehicle as at the correct operating temperature and on completely level ground, or you will experience problems.
Transmission
If your car struggles to get into gear or hear grinding sounds, there is a chance you might have worn the car synchros. Maintaining the transmission is important for prolonging the lifespan of a Porsche’s transmission. To ensure smooth performance, any Porsche requires regular service.
If you take the time to monitor your Porsche regularly, it will only ensure the life of the Porsche and ease your mind while driving. Need a Porsche issue repaired? Be sure to give Boston Motor Werks a call today for more information!
Having a Porsche isn’t just about an image or having a well-known brand as your car of choice. As a Porsche driver and owner, you are open to the world of advanced auto engineering. What makes Porsche engines so different and unique is that, like other high-end brands, they have specific parts that are only found in their type of engine. One of those parts being the IMS bearing.
What is the IMS Bearing?
In a Porsche vehicle, the IMS bearing is the intermediate shaft bearing. This is a geared shaft that runs through and extends out from the front and rear of the engine. The function of this bearing is that it drives the camshafts indirectly to either side of the engine. In short, it is an important component that makes the engine run at optimal levels and if it is not working properly, it could lead to engine failure. At Boston Motor Werks we have years of experience repairing Porsche vehicles that have encountered a problem with their IMS bearing.
The Old Issue With IMS Bearings
The biggest issue with this Porsche item is that 996 generations of the Porsche 911s were infected with a vulnerability in the IMS bearing causing engine failure. Why an IMS failure is so serious is that when it fails, the car’s engine’s internals is infected by debris which requires the whole engine to be rebuilt or replace which is a very expensive repair.
If you own a Porsche, you’ve probably heard about IMS bearings. This particular part often requires replacement, especially in specific vehicle models. Knowing when to consult a Porsche repair shop about this particular job, though, can be difficult, especially if you don’t know exactly how to tell whether or not your IMS bearing is going bad. As you read this guide, you will find some common questions and answers regarding this topic.
What types of Porsches tend to need this repair?
As a general rule, Porsche 986 and 987 models and early (pre-Generation 2) 987 or 997 models are the main vehicles that require IMS bearing replacements. If you are the owner of a Cayman, you probably don’t need to worry about this issue whatsoever. The same goes for anyone who has a Generation 2 or later 987 or 997. However, if you have any questions or concerns, make sure you talk to a reputable Porsche repair shop in your area.
Why do IMS bearings have problems?
There are a few different theories for why IMS bearing replacements are relatively common on specific kinds of Porsches. One idea is that the IMS bearing actually begins to shrink and leak over time, resulting in an influx of engine oil that strips the grease from the ball bearings, causing them to stop working properly.
Another thought is that the less frequently you drive your Porsche, the more likely it is to need an IMS bearing replacement. The idea behind this is that, once a bearing dries out, it needs the lubrication from the engine oil in order to work at all. If the vehicle isn’t driven on a regular basis, the bearing will just stop functioning altogether.
How can I learn more about this issue?
If you are interested in learning more about IMS bearing problems in Porsche automobiles, there are a variety of online forums you can join. Some of these even feature tips from Porsche enthusiasts for how to prolong the lifespans of the aforementioned bearings. You can also, of course, inquire at a local Porsche repair shop, where our trained Porsche specialists are sure to be more than happy to help you.
If you discover you do need to have your vehicle’s IMS bearing replaced in the near future, make sure you work with a trustworthy mechanic who has experience with luxury foreign vehicles and specifically offers Porsche services. It is important to feel confident that your beloved automobile is in the hands of a Porsche specialist when you take it to get fixed. Contact Boston Motor Werks today for more information on our IMS and other Porsche offerings.
Porsche has been in the works of a secret vehicle project that they have titled “Classic Project Gold.”
Since July 20th, Porsche has been teasing enthusiasts with new videos every friday of behind the scenes footage of this exceptional car where they have given the following statment about:
“There are exceptions to the rules.
And there are exceptions to the exceptions.”
This project has been a mystery as Porsche has been doing an exceptional job of keeping details of the projects out of the publics hands until the world premiere on September 27th. Until then we have been keeping up with Porsche for all of the video updates. Below is all of the videos that have been released to date.
Project Gold – The vision. Found and risen.
Project Gold – The refinement. Lacquer and laser.
Project Gold – The craftsmanship. Seam and stitch.
Project Gold – The coating. Protect and preserve.
Project Gold – The marriage. Engine and electrics.
We are very excited to see the final outcome of this secret project and we hope you are too! If you have any questions about our repair services, please contact us today for more information!
Since 2005, Porsche has been installing Posce Active Suspension Management (PASM) system in their cars. What this system does is provide improved grip and greater comfort while you drive your Porsche vehicle. What makes this system so unique from a standard damper is that it does not have a control wire that is connected to the head of the unit. What the PASM has is a central control unit that is connected to all four dampers that send out an army of sensors that spring into action at the push of a button.
What these sensors do is they measure parameters such as steering input, body roll, and suspension bump while you drive your Porsche vehicle. This data is sent back to the control unit, where the PASM system determines whether to stay in normal or sport mode.
Normal Mode
In normal mode, the valves controlling the channel are open, which allows for a greater flow of oil, resulting in a softer damper.
Sport Mode
In sport mode, the dampers stiffen as the bypass channel is closed. This allows for greater cornering performance by maintaining the tires’ contact with the road. By closing the bypass channel, there is an increase in the compression needed to force the oil through the damper body. Creating a stiffer damper and a more responsive Porsche vehicle.
For more information on PASM systems and other Porsche maintenance services we offer, give us a call!
When it comes to transmissions, high end brand cars are always looking for the best technology and engine parts to put in their models. Porsche has done just that with their Porsche Doppel Kupplings (PDK) double-clutch transmission. What makes the PDK different from standard dual-clutch transmissions is that it uses hydraulically actuated wet clutch packs one enveloped around the other.
The PDK is broken down as such. One clutch connects reverse, the first, third, fifth and seventh gears, while the other handles the second, fourth and sixth gears. Instead of a clutch pedal on the floor, the PDK has an electronically controlled valve body that actuates the correct clutch when needed. The PDK system engages one clutch at a time. However, because gear sets alternate between clutches, as one disengages the other can engage in one fluid motion.
The PDK transmission system avoids damaging parts with launch control by effortlessly switching from one clutch to the other, as the system engages one clutch at a time. By doing this, the oil-soaked wet-clutches don’t overheat and wear out under pressure.
For more information on the PDK transmission and other Porsche services we provide, contact us today!
With any car, if you are driving and cornering you will feel the weight of the car roll towards the outside tires. When this happens, it means the loads experienced by each tire are no longer even. To fix this issue, Porsche has designed an electrohydraulic antiroll bar system called Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC). This system results in more responsive handling when cornering with Porsche vehicles. What makes this system different is that the PDCC uses hydraulically actuated cylinders to mechanically alter the load on both the front and rear antiroll bars.
The PDCC also uses sensors to measure the movement under both bump and rebound for each damper. With this information the system will know how to load both antiroll bars as you drive. Each corner of the car has cylinders that move in the opposite direction to the dampers of the PDCC system. With this movement, the camber of each wheel works at optimal levels, while ensuring the right amount of load is transferred from wheel to wheel while cornering.
This system designed by Porsche is great as it ensures a more direct turn in, while make the car’s stability is at its optimal levels while cornering.
Here are Boston Motor Werks, we perform diagnosis on this and other Porsche made systems during our Porsche maintenance service!
Porsche engineers are testing out the next generation 911 Porsche vehicle. This model is not expected to be on sale until next year as a 2019 model, but there are already a couple of exciting improvements that are expected to come. One of the big additions of the next generation of 911 vehicles is the new digital dashboard that will be implemented. The tachometer that sits in the middle of the dashboard will still be analog but there will be digital screens to the left and right of the tachometer. The left screen will be showing the speedometer of the vehicle while the right screen will show specs of the car and lights such as check engine, fuel, etc.
The importance of the new digital dashboard is that drivers will now have instant access to the specs of their vehicles. Digital dashboards are also a great way to gain even more access to what is going on with your car over analog dashboards. You will have different options to choose from of what will appear as well as getting a more in depth description of what needs to be inspected, how many miles until you will empty your tank and much more. If you need any inspection on your Porsche be sure to call us today for a free estimate!
