Replacing cam covers/gaskets 1999 996

[butch199]

any suggestions on the difficulty or the how to of replacing the cam covers/gaskets on a 1999 996? Is this a DIY project? Anything specific to help in the process(how to description step by step?)

Thanks for your help

[Loren]

Engine in or out of car? I don't know how easy or if it can be done with the engine in the car.

The cam covers do not use a gasket they use Drei Bond silicone - Type 1209 and Loctite 5900 to seal the sealing surface on the cylinder head cover. There are 23 bolts that need to be tightened in sequence to 10 ft-lbs. The micro-encapsulated hexagon-head bolt at the oil pressure duct should always be replaced too.

[Tool Pants]

Once in a while I see it being done at my local dealer on Boxsters due to oil leaks. They get the covers off while the motor is in the car - don't know about a 996. They also replace the spark plug tubes and o-rings, and the round green seals.

[umn]

Hi,

there is no cam gasket, it is just sealed with a silicone-type sealant (used to be Dreibond, now something different). The pain is getting the old sealant off the mating surfaces.

The other problem is that you can't just take off the cam cover, because it also also acts as the bearing for the camshafts (except for one extra bearing on the side where the timing chain is). So if you just take off the cover, the camshafts will try to fall out. AFAICR, there is a special tool to hold down the camshafts, and it being inserted through the pastic bellows where you insert the spark plugs.

Seems not an obvious DIY to me.

Cheers,

Uwe

[ianwallwork]

The job can be done with the engine in the car but is DEFINITELY not a DIY job.

I've just got back from my local Porsche specialist who is (amongst other things) replacing all the hydraulic tappets in my engine. The cam covers are currently off with the engine still in the car. BUT...

The rear engine mounts have to be removed and the rear of the engine lowered and supported to give clearance to remove the covers, the entire exhaust system including the headers has had to be removed, the rear wheels removed, all the coils and the heat shields have had to come off the engine, the variocam sensors removed and several Porsche special tools inserted. The first of these stop the cams being forced out the engine by the valve springs (this totally destroys the chain-end fixed bearing if you don't have the tool and requires a new cylinder head). the others maintain the tension on the various cam chains.

So, in short, this is a MAJOR job and way beyond the realms of DIY. Sorry the news isn't better!

Ian W

Edited July 6, 2004 by ianwallwork