I too had read originally that there were no .97x engines outside of the US, then other postings contradict. I'm not sure. However, since the use of the car in the US through its early years (when rods were bending) was limited by the 55mph NMSL, and the same engine in Germany might be run at max. output for extended periods, I doubt that high-rpm and high-power made the US ones fail. It is possible that the stop-and-start useage was lugging the engine (a common component of scuffing) and causing some of the early damage, but if the engine was sold worldwide then there certainly was city use of engines in other countries, which it seems would have caused the same failures there.

As far as failed head gaskets and hydro-locking, I feel that is also a vaild theory although difficult to prove or disprove with existing data. My '91 had the head replaced, years before I bought it, had no unusual carbon nor oil buildup in the intake & cylinders (was running on commercial biodiesel FWIW). It is possible that its gasket or head problems were caught before it manifested itself into further damage.

Josha: Search Rod Bender, you'll find photos and data. Also, I mention the scuffing because I have two 603.960 engines apart now, one with about 200,000 miles, one with 247,000 miles, and the crosshatching is all visible, no scuffing. The difference between them and the 3.5l being bore, stroke, rod angle, wrist pin location.

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Gone to the dark side

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