Metal in Oil: 997 Porsche's Mysterious Engine Symptoms

I had almost identical issues with my 2013 Porsche Cayman S last year. The symptoms matched yours perfectly, rough idle, power loss, and those distinctive valve train noises. My check engine light was also on. Turned out it was indeed the camshaft adjuster that went bad. The mechanic found that the solenoid was contaminated with oil, which caused the timing to be off. The metal particles in your oil are concerning though, in my case, we caught it before any metal contamination occurred. I had it fixed at my local Porsche specialist. The repair involved replacing the camshaft adjuster assembly and cleaning out the solenoid. They also did a complete oil system flush to prevent any future issues. It was a serious repair that took about two days to complete, but it resolved all the symptoms completely. Given the metal particles you're seeing, I'd strongly suggest getting it to a specialist soon. These issues don't fix themselves and can lead to more severe engine damage if left unchecked.

Thanks for sharing your experience! It really helps to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I actually went ahead and got it fixed at a Porsche specialist last month. They diagnosed the same issue, faulty camshaft adjuster, and you're spot on about the contaminated solenoid. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole job? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair? Just wondering if any other issues popped up afterward.

Hey there! Glad to hear you got it sorted out! Yeah, since I had my Cayman S fixed at the specialist, it's been running like a dream. The total bill came to 395€ for fixing the camshaft adjustment cable and cleaning up that oily mess in the solenoid. Money well spent, if you ask me! To answer your question, it's been absolutely smooth sailing since the repair. No problems, no check engine lights, nothing. The engine's running strong and smooth, just like it should. It's such a relief not hearing those weird valve noises anymore, right? Looking back, I'm just happy I caught it when I did. These Porsches are amazing machines, but they definitely let you know when something's not right. Once you get the camshaft adjuster sorted, they go back to being the reliable beasts they're meant to be. Have you noticed how much better the fuel consumption is now? Mine improved quite a bit after the fix. It's nice not having to fill up so often!

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! you got a great deal on that repair, mine was significantly more expensive, around 1,200€, but I guess prices vary between models and locations. Still, totally worth it considering how much better the car runs now. You're absolutely right about the fuel consumption, it's like having a different car! I'm getting way better mileage, and the engine's purring like it should. No more of that annoying jerking during acceleration either. Honestly, it's such a relief to have it fixed properly. I learned my lesson about not waiting too long when these issues pop up. The metal particles in the oil really scared me straight! The specialist I found was fantastic, they even showed me the old parts and explained everything. Much better experience than with my previous mechanic. Anyway, thanks again for all your help and sharing your experience. Really helped me feel better about the whole situation. Time to enjoy some proper Porsche driving again!