Can I tell when my reman engine was made from the serial number?

[ninsei]

Hi. I have a 2000 C2 Tip. The previous owner said the reman engine was installed in April of 2008. I bought the car in April of 2009. My question is: is there a way to tell when the reman engine was made? serial number is: M96/04AT66Y66622. Thx.

[Loren]

M96.04 66Y is a model year 2000 3.4 liter engine base. So the engine "parts" are from the same model year.

I do not know of a way to tell a re-manufactured engine date other than the invoice for the replacement.

[pecto3]

Ninsei, I have the same question too. I bought my 2000 C2 3 mos ago, no books nor records, only thing I have was a transcript of service done from the dealer. Engine was replaced July 2006 at approx 59000 miles, has 98,000 now. Engine serial m96/04AT666176. Did some research but as Loren said there is really no way of knowing when the engine was assembled just by looking at the engine. The letters "AT" on the serial number was a great clue. However, I noticed that I have an updated oil filler cap, I realized that the cap has a date stamp on it 12/05. Not that it would matter but I guess the engine was assembled around that time.

[ninsei]

My oil cap has no date on it (or under it). It's part number 99610735054. But it's a good idea to start looking at other parts on the engine to see if they have a date on it.

[pecto3]

My oil cap has the same part number, the "date" (I assume) is the numbered dial on the lower left hand of the part number under the cap. Middle number in the circle says "05" and the arrow points to the number 12. However, my power steering reservoir cap part# is 997 314 22300. Additionally, the middle nut of the alternator has a black plastic cover. The newer oil filler cap which is black started being use in 2002 I think, it used to be yellow. The newer power steering reservoir cap has a flat top surface which Porsche start to use in '03 or '04, it use to have a "fin" on top. And lastly, the underside of the engine doesn't have a cosmoline on it (more definitive clue that engine has been replaced).

Now, the info on the caps are just personal observation from pictures I look at from autotrader and cars.com that is not a definitive way of telling if when the engine was assembled or when it has been replaced but rather giving me some clues as I was also finding out previously if my engine has been replaced.

Hopefully this small info has given you some perspective about your question. Knowing these tiny details made me more comfortable about my car and enjoying it more thoroughly with less worry. Hope you feel the same way too.

BTW, correction about my engine serial # from previous post: M96/04AT66Y66176.

[Loren]

Don't put too much stock in the date on any part. The oil cap could have been replaced after the engine was rebuilt.