Black Smoke & Power Loss in Porsche 996: Help Needed

Hey there! I had a somewhat similar issue with my 2006 Porsche Cayman (I have some experience with Porsches). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with last year, turned out to be an exhaust leak near the manifold. Took it to my trusted mechanic, and they found small cracks causing the leak. The repair, including parts and labor, cost me around 265€. But before jumping to conclusions, what's your exact engine type and mileage? Also, have you noticed any specific exhaust noise or smell? These details would help me share more relevant info from my experience. Quick tip: If you put your hand near the exhaust manifold area (when the engine's cold!), you might feel or hear a slight hissing, that's how I first spotted mine. Let me know these details, and I can tell you more about what to look out for!

Thanks for the input! My 996 has 47244 KM on the clock and just had its service done last month. I haven't noticed any unusual exhaust noise, but there's definitely a stronger fuel smell than usual. I'll try checking for that hissing sound you mentioned when the engine cools down. Did your exhaust leak also cause the jerking and power loss symptoms? I'm trying to figure out if I should get it checked right away or if it's safe to drive for another week until my regular mechanic is back from vacation.

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get your concern! On my Cayman, the exhaust leak definitely caused similar jerking and power loss, it messes with the air-fuel mixture, which explains both the black smoke and performance issues. But my case might have been a bit more severe since my car had about 89,000 KM when it happened. The fuel smell you're mentioning... that's interesting. Mine had that too, but it wasn't super strong. Given that your mileage is pretty low and you just had a service, I'd actually lean more towards checking the fuel injectors first. In my case, before finding the exhaust leak, I initially thought it was injector-related because of similar symptoms. About driving it for another week, honestly, I wouldn't risk it. My experience taught me that these symptoms can get worse pretty quickly. I drove mine for about 4 days with similar issues, and the performance just kept getting worse. Plus, if it is fuel system related, you don't want to risk damaging other components. Is there another trusted mechanic you could take it to while yours is away? These symptoms on a Porsche aren't something I'd wait on, learned that the hard way! Let me know what you decide to do, I'm curious to hear what's actually causing it in your case!

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! You've convinced me, I'd rather not risk making things worse by waiting. I just called another Porsche specialist nearby who was recommended by my regular mechanic, and they can take a look at it tomorrow morning. You're right about not wanting to risk additional damage, especially with these symptoms. The fuel smell has gotten a bit stronger since yesterday, so that's another red flag. I'll ask them to check both the exhaust system and fuel injectors as you suggested. Really appreciate your help and sharing your experience, it's given me a much better idea of what to look out for. I'll update you once I find out what's actually causing the problem. Thanks again for taking the time to help out a fellow Porsche owner!