Any 991 owner's experience spending $1K - is it worth it?

As part of Porsche's OEM Powerkit ($11k w/o PSE + install) they swap out the plastic version to an aluminum one.

Here's from Porsche:

"Improved torque curve in partial load operation: The cast aluminum intake system has a tuning flap in the receiver volume that enables separation of the two cylinder banks."

Also, is there any $$$ value to the heads, intake & other stuff that's replaced? (with the exception of the exhaust in case you wanted PSE) ↓↓↓↓↓↓

THX

 

I don't think you will notice much gains with this. The plenum in the power kit is only a small part of the equation. By itself I don't believe it makes sense imo.

 

Nope... Simple Bolt on gains (IMHO and experience) are largely hype and snake oil.. This is nothing new and has always been the case since the 50's and 60's.. Adding headers or a new manifold were purported to give you 10 or 15% gains which was a joke.. These kind of bolt ons are not useless, but the gains have always been overstated..

Simple bolt on's such are Exhaust and Induction generally only improve on what is initially a poor or compromised design by the engine manufacture .. The real performance improvements generally are the results of somehow delivering more fuel and combustion and to that extent the bolt on's do support that. But installed alone only provide small incremental gains if any..

Also consider that the 991 Base/S engines are pretty well designed so you have to wonder how much extra is really available with an induction or exhaust mod. If anything an ECU tune is probably more significant but even those when you look at the curves are rather meager...

They make some sense from a total package of exhaust, intake and engine tuning combination.. But expecting anything miraculous is a fantasy....it doubtful you could perceive a difference.. The hard dyno data always seems very hard to come by for any of these mods which leads me to question their real value. Even the dyno data for ECU upgrades always seems a bit sketchy (just changing the fuel grade can have a larger impact).

Consider the power kit.. It generates an additional 30 hp, but a lot more goes into just getting that than simply bolting on induction... Personally I'd go for a tune before doing intake and exhaust changes..

Also consider that the 991 engines are designed to operate on higher grade fuel and "compensate" for lower octane 93 (or 91 which is all that is available in a lot of states like calif).. Get yourself some higher grade fuel and you will likely get more engine output than any of the bolts on (Hint, I've seen certain providers of bolt on enhancements over the years manipulate their dyno data simply by running different fuel grades in the before and after.. so ALWAYS be suspicious of their data)

 

According to the Porsche engineer on the Powerkit the intake manifold was half the gains of the 30hp. The other 15hp was the massaged heads and a higher lift intake camshaft.

There is horsepower to be gained by going with no cats or a 200cpi metallic cat, which in by itself can be worth 10-15rwhp. That is really about it, not much out there. If you get a full powerkit and do the cats it can be worth 40-45rwhp.

If you are talking about the IPD plenum, well I had it on my 997S and to be frank I felt no difference. Now when I did the X51 headers with the AWE cats that did make a difference. The headers probably not much if any but the AWE cats did. I heard a 991S with the full Fabspeed exhaust, I have to admit it sounded great.

Dave

 

What gets me, and probably others, is that IPD is essentially selling a $1000 tube. Well designed and made, I'm sure, but there ain't much to it. A local vendor and local PCA chapter board member, sells one for under $300 that I've been considering. (Pedrosgarage.com), He has a video showing air flowing through his plenum and stock, it's very compelling. Apparently IPD is not the only game in town. I'm surprised nobody else is doing this. (Or are they?)

 

Scatkins--

I filled up with 100 octane Sonoco before putting the 991 into storage. I'm telling you, you'd think I put Red Bull into the tank. What a difference! The throttle response at take off was insane. No lag or hesitation at take off and beyond.

Even at $7.00 something a gallon, I'll be filling up come spring time.

 

I'd like to do the IPD plenum in the future sometime as well. The 4 plus hour install is my only hesitation.

I've been reading up on the GIAC tune as well.

Anyone done that? Any comments?

 

Wow. Is it that big a job? I'm no mechanic, but I thought it was mainly removing the airbox and MAF, swapping them out, and hooking up a couple of lines. I would have thought it was half that much time.

 

Description from the Suncoast Parts website:

They have Black Friday sales in all plenums EXCEPT the 991 ones!!

IPD Plenum - Carrera 991
The 911 (991 generation) power output is controlled to meet a "performance target" that satisfies the masses and not the dedicated Porsche driving enthusiasts. IPD is here to scratch that proverbial performance itch for those Porsche drivers looking to elevate the already visceral Porsche driving experience to the next level.

The engine in the new 991 remains relatively unchanged from the previous 997.2 Carrera. The 991 Carrera continues to employs the 82mm throttle body just like the Carrera before it. This means there is no "Competition Plenum" available since the 82mm TB is still the largest TB available from Porsche.

Performance gains remain at 15+ horsepower and 14+ foot pounds at the wheels. As with most IPD Plenums, the bulk of the power gains are realized in the mid-range where they are most used and enjoyed. Unlike other mods, the IPD Plenums deliver net power gains across the entire rev range.

The all new specifically designed IPD 991 Carrera intake Plenums are a direct bolt-on upgrade that replaces the factory air intake distributor and utilizes all pre-existing factory hardware and throttle body.

The improved IPD intake design allows for smoother, less turbulent and more efficient air flow resulting in impressive power and torque gains for Porsche driving enthusiasts.

The superior design of the DFI IPD Plenum provides an additional 14-15 horsepower at the wheels. Unlike previous naturally aspirated IPD plenums that delivered stronger gains in the mid range, the new IPD DFI Plenums deliver a similar shaped power curve as the factory but are considerably stronger from the mid range to redline without any loses in power down low.

Installation time is about 4-5 hours and should only be performed by a qualified Porsche technician. Feel free to give us a call with any questions, concerns or place an order. Not a factory part, made by IPD.

Fits the new generation (991), 2013 or newer Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera 4, or Carrera 4S models.

 

Thanks. I've since read a couple of DIYs, and I still don't see how it could take that long. If it were me doing the work it could, but only because I manage to break two things for every one thing I fix. I'd drop a clamp into the engine bay and spend a half day trying to dig it out, and then I'd strip a bolt. But an actual mechanic, with a shop and the right tools, I'm still not seeing it. Has anyone here either installed one their self, or knows how much they paid for the install?

Btw, suncoast has the basic 997.1 plenum on sale until tomorrow, with free shipping.

 

Whats' wrong with Sta-bil?

IMO, IPD alone on a 991 is a waste of $$ and will net little or no gains.

 

I used Sta-Bil as well for storage. Wanted a higher octane for storage too.

Seeing how well the car runs, I'll be using it come spring/summer driving. The 100 octane is day and night compared to 92/93 octanes.

 

Yeah I'd like to give it a try, just seems to be very difficult to find in so cal.

My suspicion has been that the anti-knock capabilities which allow you to run on lower than 93 oct.. (running on 91 which in many places is all you can get) must have some operational impact.

It uses a sensor that detects the onset of pre-ignition/detonation and then I believe makes changes in either ignition, valve timing, fuel metering or some combination of these.

But whatever is done, is inherently going to have an adverse effect on performance. Just how much and how it manifests itself I guess is what I'd like to experience myself...

Sort of a side issue, but it is this anti-knock feature that in the back of my mind I'm still wondering is involved in the widely reported "bogging" that everyone is complaining about. I'd still like to see what happens when someone with the reported problem runs with a higher octane fuel.

 

I had to drive 30 min to find some from an oil distributor. I live in a great ethanol mandated region, so the stuff on the pump they have is 100 octane (260 GT) with ethanol. They also carry 98 octane with no ethanol (260 GTX) but you can only fill up your own pail. No direct pump to car.

This is Sonoco Unleaded race fuel. Watch out for places that carry leaded gas or plane fuel.

I'm telling you there's no placebo effect here. The difference was day and night.

 

Yeah, I've heard of a couple places around here where you can get 100 race fuel. I guess I'll have to search and try to get 5 gals of it..

I was thinking for a moment that I'd just get 5 Gal of 100LL avgas next time I was refueling at the airport out of which I fly light aircraft.

And then of course I remembered.. nooo bad idea... lead very bad for catalytic converter...