Porsche 4.8 V8 M48.51 Engine Problems And Reliability

The 4.8-liter V8 Porsche M48.51 turbo engine was produced by the German concern from 2007 to 2010 and installed on a restyled version of the first generation Cayenne crossover in the back of 957.

The engine has two degrees of boost: for the Turbo modification at 500 hp. and for the Turbo S at 550 hp.

Specifications Of The Porsche M48.51 4.8 V8 Turbo Engine

Exact Volume4806 cm³
Supply systemdirect injection
ICE power500 – 550 HP
Torque700 – 750 Nm
Cylinder blockAluminum V8
Block headAluminum 32v
Cylinder diameter96 mm
Piston stroke83 mm
Compression ratio10.5
ICE featuresNo
Hydraulic liftersYes
Timing driveChain
Phase regulatorOn the intake shafts
TurbochargingMHI TD04HL
What oil to pour8.5 liters of 5W-40
Fuel typeAI-98
Environmental classEURO 4
Sample resource200,000 km

Fuel Consumption 4.8 V8 Porsche M48.51 Engine

Using the example of a 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S with automatic transmission:

City22.5 liters
Highway10.5 liters
Mixed14.9 liters

Reliability and main advantages Of The M48.51 4.8 V8 engine

The German M48.51 4.8 V8 engine is classified by some experts as a sports engine, and it is really very powerful and very voluminous (working volume – 4806 cm3).

From 2007 to 2010, it was installed on restyled versions of the 1st generation Porsche Cayenne.

The M48.51 is a V8 engine that runs on gasoline. Each of the cylinders is served by 4 valves. Accordingly, the total number of valves here is 32.

Also, the distinctive features of this engine include the presence of an advanced direct injection system and twin turbocharging.

Interestingly, there are two modifications of this engine: the first produces 500 hp. (while the diameter of each cylinder is 93 mm here), and the second – 550 hp. (here the diameter of the cylinders is 96 mm).

And the M48.51 engine is famous for its demanding quality of oil and fuel. It is recommended to fill in gasoline not lower than the 98th. In general, this engine can be quite expensive to maintain, but this is quite justified.

Read Also: The Most Common 4.5 V8 Porsche M48.50 Engine Problems

Disadvantages and problems of the M48.51 4.8 V8 engine

The M48.51 4.8 V8, unfortunately, is characterized by badass. This is a common problem with all 8-cylinder petrol engines in the M48 series.

However, this particular engine has additional oil nozzles, and therefore the scuffs do not appear here as early as on some other internal combustion engines.

Another possible problem is the leakage of cooling pipes in the collapse of the cylinder block. These tubes here are made of plastic, and therefore unreliable.

In order to solve the problem once and for all, it is recommended to replace them with aluminum ones.

Also, this engine (subject to aggressive operation) can stretch the timing chain even up to 40,000 kilometers.

And the turbines here, alas, are also not eternal – over time they begin to wear out and lose their former performance.

M48.51 4.8 V8 engine applicability

  • Porsche : Cayenne (2007-2010)

M48.51 4.8 V8 engine Tuning prospects

With the standard Stage chip tuning, you can give the M48.51 engine about 50 additional “horses”. That is, a modification that initially has 550 hp. can be pumped up to 600 hp Plus, with such chipping, the torque will increase from 750 Nm to 850 Nm, and the acceleration time to 100 km, on the contrary, will decrease from 4.8 to 4.3 seconds.

If, in addition to the correct firmware, you also install downpipes with sports cars (or without catalysts at all), then you can get an increase of another 20 “horses”.

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