Introducing... The IMS Guardian! An innovation of Jake Raby and the Flat 6 Innovations team!
Featured in the November 2011 issue of Excellence Magazine, the magazine about
Porsche™. See page 131 for details and see our
advertisement.
LN Engineering is proud to be the only authorized
reseller of the IMS Guardian in North America. Buy yours today from our
online store.
Have you read about the dreaded IMS Bearing Failure that has
impacted so many engines? Have you ever wondered what could be done to help
monitor the health of the engine so you could avoid that silent count down? The
IMS Guardian™ allows constant engine monitoring through it's dash interface that
seamlessly integrates with the interior of your 1997-2004 Porsche™ 996 or
Boxster™ automobile. The IMS Guardian™ couples technology originally created for
military aircraft to a specially designed sensor and wiring package made with
the sole purpose of detecting imminent IMS Bearing failures prior to their
occurrence.
The IMS Guardian is the first advanced warning system for
Intermediate Shaft (IMS) failures!
If your Porsche™ has an M96 engine, you should be aware of the history of engine
damage and catastrophic failures that have been caused by the stock Intermediate
Shaft (IMS) bearing. In most cases, there were no warning signs that damage was
occurring prior to total engine failure.
In 2009, Raby Engine Development's Flat 6 Innovations division, in conjunction
with LN Engineering, created the first IMS RetroFit Kit - to replace the stock
IMS bearing before failure can occur. But with few (if any) warning signs, it
was a guessing game to decide when an IMS RetroFit might be necessary. If you
wait too long, it may be too late.
Now, Raby Engine Development introduces the IMS Guardian™ - the first advanced
warning system for imminent IMS failure that will automatically monitor the
health of your engine.
Benefits include:
Audio and visual alert
indicator clearly alerts at the first signs of engine damage
Unobtrusive
installation seamlessly integrates into your interior's unused indicator
location (for 986 and 996 models)
Extensively researched, developed and tested to work with your M96 engine
Solid-state device, no
moving parts to break - self-contained, does not rely on any other system in
your car to function
Easy. low-cost
installation - DIY project or contact your independent Porsche™ repair shop
or Raby Engine Development for professional installation. Takes one to three
hours to install based on user ability.
How does the
IMS Guardian work?
The Problem: The M96 engine found in 986-based Boxsters™ and 996-based
Carreras™ is known to have the potential for catastrophic damage and total
engine failure due to the stock Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Bearing. If the IMS
Bearing fails, it can cause a domino-effect of collateral damage as metal debris
begins to infiltrate critical engine areas. Left unchecked, the spread of this
metal debris will eventually lead to catastrophic engine failure. To make
matters worse, there are few, if any warning signs that a driver would notice
that would bring the problem to light prior to engine failure. So your M96
engine has the potential, right now, to be experiencing a silent countdown to
serious damage and imminent failure.
The Solution: In 2009 Raby Engine Development's Flat 6 Innovations
division, in conjunction with LN Engineering, created the first IMS RetroFit Kit
- to replace the stock IMS Bearing before failure could occur. But with few
warning signs, it was still a hit-or-miss proposition to decide when an IMS
RetroFit might be necessary. So the Flat 6 Innovations team went to work on a
solution that would monitor the engine, automatically and serve as an early
warning system if the IMS Bearing should begin to fail.
The Guardian: The IMS Guardian™ is the first engine failure detection
system available for your M96 engine. Why take a chance? Protect your investment
and your peace of mind with the IMS Guardian™.
In the M96 flat-six engines, the intermediate shaft is located just below the
crankshaft and the IMS Bearing is located on the far end of the shaft facing the
transmission. The IMS Bearing closely resembles an axle bearing, with a sealed
unit containing steel balls and a permanent lubricant intended to last the life
of the engine.
The IMS Guardian™ system relies on Magnetic Chip Detection (MCD) technology,
used in aircraft since the early 1970's with other uses for monitoring the metal
content in engine oil dating back to the 1950's. The sensor consists of two
strong, opposing-pole, permanent magnets with an insulated gap of air in
between. Each magnet is connected, by a wire, to the wiring harness, comprising
an open electrical circuit. The wired magnet unit itself is mounted in a
modified oil drain plug replacing the stock drain plug, that goes into the
crankcase sump plate.
As oil circulates throughout the engine, the magnets will attract the smallest
metal debris caused by deterioration within the engine and circulated within the
engine oil. As the ferrous metal debris is captured in the center of the
magnets, it will quickly build up to the point that it will bridge the gap in
between the magnets allowing the conduction of electricity, and will close the
electrical circuit. Closure of the electrical circuit causes a warning light,
installed in your dashboard, to illuminate and an audible alert will buzz. When
the IMS Guardian alerts, the driver of the vehicle should turn off the engine as
quickly as possible and call the IMS Hotline number provided with your IMS
Guardian purchase.
What years
will the IMS Guardian fit?
The IMS Guardian only fits MY1997-2004 986 and 996 models. In the future, a
universal version will be available to fit any make and model vehicle, but is
currently in development.
How will the
IMS Guardian look inside my vehicle?
The IMS Guardian™ is designed to be installed as a combination warning
light/rocket test switch that mounts in one of your vehicle's factory accessory
switch positions on either side of your dashboard. It can also be wired to
function with dimmable backlighting for night operation. The circuit box and
alarm buzzer speaker mounts under the dash. The cable to the sensor mechanism
travels out of the dashboard, passing through the center console to the engine
compartment and through to the engine compartment alongside the manual gearbox
shift cables. The IMS Guardian™ is a solid-state device with no moving parts to
break, it's self-contained and doesn't rely on any other system in the vehicle
to function, only drawing about 0.05 amps of current while in operation.
The LED warning light on your dashboard switch is illuminated in amber to
indicate that the system is working. The LED changes to red and an audible alert
accompanies an IMS Failure warning. By pressing and holding the LED switch, the
system will enter test mode. The LED will change from amber to red and the
warning buzzer will sound. When the switch is released, the audible warning
stops and the LED goes back to amber to indicate normal operation.
What should
I do if my IMS Guardian goes off?
The IMS Guardian has a push to test feature to ensure that it is operating
properly, but outside that, if the alarm goes off during engine operation, you
should immediately turn off your engine and plan on draining the oil to inspect
the drain plug. If any debris is found, then the sump pan must be removed for
further inspection to determine the source of the ferrous debris that caused the
alarm to sound.
What maintenance is required with the
IMS Guardian?
Vehicles equipped with the IMS Guardian™ system should have the MCD sensor
inspected as part of every oil service. If metal debris is present in the magnet
chamber, it should be photographed for future reference and the time frame and
mileage since the last oil service noted. The MCD should then be cleaned of all
debris. Leaving the debris in place can result in a false IMS warning due to
normal long-term accumulation of ferrous materials. If the IMS Bearing is
indeed, beginning to fail, it will expel more than enough ferrous material in a
short amount of time to activate the IMS Guardian's alert system.
Why should I
install an IMS Guardian?
If you own a vehicle with
an M96 engine, a better question might be, "Why WOULDN'T you install an IMS
Guardian™?"
Don't take our word for it - the IMS Guardian™ and the IMS RetroFit Kit were
created for a reason. Just search the internet for "Porsche™, IMS, Engine,
Failure" and you'll see thousands of websites, forums, and blogs detailing the
painful experiences of owners who lost their M96 engines due to IMS Bearing
failure. Take a look at past issues of Excellence magazine and many other
publications (most recently, Excellence magazine's November, 2011 issue - where
the Tech Forum article featured the debut of the IMS Guardian™.)
The M96 engine has the potential for catastrophic engine damage and ultimate
failure. Click here to see IMS Failures Explained in more detail. Or ask your
independent Porsche™ repair shop owner.
The Guessing Game: The IMS Bearing in the M96 engine wears over time, and
begins a chain reaction of deterioration that ends with metal debris circulating
through the entire engine with the oil. Once the debris is widespread, the only
options are a complete rebuild, or a replacement engine. Most ominously, there
are usually NO WARNING SIGNS that any damage is occurring, until it's too late.
It's a silent countdown to seemingly sudden, irreversible engine failure.
In 2009, Raby Engine Development's Flat6 Innovations division in conjunction
with LN Engineering, introduced the IMS RetroFit Kit - to replace the stock IMS
Bearing before failure could occur. But with no good way to evaluate the
condition of the IMS Bearing and no warning signs when damage was occurring, it
was a guessing game as to when a retrofit might be necessary. Why would you want
to pay for a retrofit if the IMS Bearing in your engine could be just fine? On
the other hand, waiting too long was tempting fate, and the cost of replacing an
engine to keep your vehicle on the road.
Now you can know: The IMS Guardian™ is the first advanced warning system
that will monitor the health of your engine and warn you at the first signs of
IMS Bearing failure. Click here for details about How the IMS Guardian™ works.
With an IMS Guardian™ installed, you'll never have to guess about the condition
of your M96 engine - you'll know. More importantly, you'll be alerted at the
early stages of damage and can take steps to save your engine, including
replacing the failed IMS Bearing with the IMS RetroFit Kit.
Installing the IMS Guardian™ today, prevents the guessing game of timing a
more-expensive IMS retrofit, or the potential eventuality of an even more costly
engine replacement. It's your first line of defense against potential IMS
failure. Incidentally, the IMS Guardian™ also detects ferrous debris from other
types of engine damage, as well. The unit is solid-state, no moving parts to
break, and functions independent of any other system in your vehicle. It
installs unobtrusively in a factory accessory switch on your dashboard - a
silent guardian for your peace of mind.
All that said, why WOULDN'T you install an IMS Guardian™ to monitor your M96
engine today?
IMS Guardian
vs IMS Retrofit?
The IMS Guardian™ is the
first line of defense for your M96 engine, monitoring the level of internal wear
and tear of the stock Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Bearing as well as other engine
components.
The IMS RetroFit Kit can save your M96 engine by replacing the stock IMS Bearing
before catastrophic damage can occur. Together, they will keep your vehicle on
the road longer.
So How Do I Know Which Product I Might Need? IMS Guardian? Or IMS RetroFit Kit?
The stock Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Bearing in the M96 engine has the potential
to deteriorate over time, allowing resulting metal debris to infiltrate your
engine carried by the engine oil. Due to the location of the IMS Bearing within
the engine, this deterioration process is not visible without removing major
engine components, and generally has no visible or audible warning signs prior
to eventual catastrophic engine failure. See IMS Failures Explained for a more
detailed explanation of this process.
The IMS RetroFit Kit was developed by Raby Engine Development's Flat 6
Innovations division in 2009 to replace the stock IMS Bearing in your M96 engine
before deterioration and damage can occur - in effect, saving your engine and
keeping your vehicle on the road longer. The drawback was that, with no warning
signs, it was a guessing game to know when or if an IMS RetroFit was necessary.
The IMS Guardian™ was created by Raby Engine Development's Flat 6 Innovations
division in 2011 to automatically monitor the level of metal debris within your
engine and alert you to the presence of debris before major damage can occur.
When the IMS Guardian™ alerts, you'll get a visual and audible warning to turn
off your engine immediately.
By the numbers - take your chances: Don't invest in either an IMS
Guardian™ or an IMS RetroFit Kit, and it's potentially just a matter of time
until you'll be replacing your engine... $15,000-20,000 + USD
IMS RetroFit Kit - proactively replace the stock IMS Bearing and eliminate the
worry of IMS deterioration... $619 USD
IMS Guardian™ - install this system to automatically monitor for engine
deterioration, and KNOW when to take action... $269-389 USD
Do both now and be
assured you have the best chances against a catastrophic IMS bearing failure now
and in the future.
(Installation manual is a
PDF file and requires Adobe Reader.
Get it here
FREE.)
What is the warranty on the IMS Guardian?
IMS Guardian™ (A product of Raby Enterprises, Inc) products are warranted to be
free of defects in material and workmanship for one year from date of purchase.
To obtain full warranty details, contact Raby Enterprises Inc. directly at
706-219-4874.
As a leader in the Porsche
community, LN Engineering's focus on quality, service, and support is
evident, and begins with you. Let us help you succeed.
Contact us at 815-472-2939 or
info@LNengineering.com
to
experience the new standard of precision
performance!
All LN EngineeringProducts are Proudly 100% Made in the USA!
The Problem: The M96 engine found in 986-based Boxsters™ and 996-based
Carreras™ is known to have the potential for catastrophic damage and total
engine failure due to the stock Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Bearing. If the IMS
Bearing fails, it can cause a domino-effect of collateral damage as metal debris
begins to infiltrate critical engine areas. Left unchecked, the spread of this
metal debris will eventually lead to catastrophic engine failure. To make
matters worse, there are few, if any warning signs that a driver would notice
that would bring the problem to light prior to engine failure. So your M96
engine has the potential, right now, to be experiencing a silent countdown to
serious damage and imminent failure.
All LN Engineering Products are Proudly 100% Made in the USA!