Oil Leak w/ pics

[budzinskij]

I've got at 2003 996 C2 manual w/ 34k miles on it and started noticing a few drops of oil on the floor recently. I am going to schedule an appt with the dealer since I bought it as a CPO last year. However, I was curious and jacked it up to take a look. It looks like it has been leaking for a while based on the accumulated oil. I'd be pleased to get opinions on the likely source (see photos).

Also, am I taking any significant additional risks in damaging the car if I drive it once or twice before I take it in? I've checked the engine oil level and it is OK.

Thanks.

Edited May 4, 2008 by budzinskij

[greerj1]

Looks like my car, RMS or IMS. Have them change the clutch assy while they are in there. I have been driving mine for nearly 5000 miles. The spot use to be the size of a dime now its the size of a quarter after a long and spirited drive. I will be doing the fix as soon as I free up a weekend.

J. Greer

[budzinskij]

Looks like my car, RMS or IMS. Have them change the clutch assy while they are in there. I have been driving mine for nearly 5000 miles. The spot use to be the size of a dime now its the size of a quarter after a long and spirited drive. I will be doing the fix as soon as I free up a weekend.

J. Greer

Thanks for the reply. I took the car in this morning and it is the RMS. It is under warranty.

As you suggested, I'm have the clutch replaced since it is near the end of its life span and quite a bit less in labor costs to do while they are doing the other stuff ($850 vs $1800).

Hopefully, I won't be a repeat customer for RMS leaks in the feature.

[Purist]

Hiya:

My car (2003 C2 Cabriolet - 33k) has had a recurring oil leak for the past four years. Each time the dealer (it's under CPO until December of this year) opted to replace the cam seals and each time it comes back. My guess is that they are trying to save a buck and hoping that this issue will slide until the car is out of CPO...a tactic I might expect from a disreputable independent dealer, but Porsche proper? Very disappointing.

Anyway, back again for the 5th time. I requested an appointment and held out the carrot of replacing the clutch assy while they are at it...mabe this will get the job done properly and they can make a few bucks as well.

By the way...my leak seems to be coming from the right side of the engine as you look at the rear of the car...it's a low volume leak (a few drops between drives) but noticeable. I also get a very annoying burning smell from the oil on the exhaust manifold I suppose...pretty bad after a spirited drive. I am a pretty experienced wrench, but don't have any Porsche experience yet so I haven't done much poking around on my own. Did you have have the same symptoms?

Matt

[KevinMac]

Hiya:

My car (2003 C2 Cabriolet - 33k) has had a recurring oil leak for the past four years. Each time the dealer (it's under CPO until December of this year) opted to replace the cam seals and each time it comes back. My guess is that they are trying to save a buck and hoping that this issue will slide until the car is out of CPO...a tactic I might expect from a disreputable independent dealer, but Porsche proper? Very disappointing.

Anyway, back again for the 5th time. I requested an appointment and held out the carrot of replacing the clutch assy while they are at it...mabe this will get the job done properly and they can make a few bucks as well.

By the way...my leak seems to be coming from the right side of the engine as you look at the rear of the car...it's a low volume leak (a few drops between drives) but noticeable. I also get a very annoying burning smell from the oil on the exhaust manifold I suppose...pretty bad after a spirited drive. I am a pretty experienced wrench, but don't have any Porsche experience yet so I haven't done much poking around on my own. Did you have have the same symptoms?

Matt

I may be wrong but I thought that after a few attempts by a dealer on fixing the IMS or RMS that Porsche would replace the engine? Is this true? You may want to push thisa little further.

[budzinskij]

Hiya:

My car (2003 C2 Cabriolet - 33k) has had a recurring oil leak for the past four years. Each time the dealer (it's under CPO until December of this year) opted to replace the cam seals and each time it comes back. My guess is that they are trying to save a buck and hoping that this issue will slide until the car is out of CPO...a tactic I might expect from a disreputable independent dealer, but Porsche proper? Very disappointing.

Anyway, back again for the 5th time. I requested an appointment and held out the carrot of replacing the clutch assy while they are at it...mabe this will get the job done properly and they can make a few bucks as well.

By the way...my leak seems to be coming from the right side of the engine as you look at the rear of the car...it's a low volume leak (a few drops between drives) but noticeable. I also get a very annoying burning smell from the oil on the exhaust manifold I suppose...pretty bad after a spirited drive. I am a pretty experienced wrench, but don't have any Porsche experience yet so I haven't done much poking around on my own. Did you have have the same symptoms?

Matt

I only started seeing a few drops of oil after each drive recently -- though I think it may have been leaking for a longer period of time. I did not have oil on the exhaust manifold though. Most of the dirty, accumulated oil was in the nearby vicinity of the bottom of the RMS. The exhaust manifold was completely free of oil.

[maci911]

hi is it REALLY nessecary to replace clutch while doing rms....

[budzinskij]

hi is it REALLY nessecary to replace clutch while doing rms....

No, it is not necessary. But depending on your clutch wear, it may be sensible. The labor on the clutch repair is significantly lower if they do it when doing the RMS (since they have to drop the transmission for an RMS anyway).