Leak causing smoke under heavy acceleration

[OneDayIsHere]

My 996 is a US '99 C4 Coupe, 6 speed with 63k miles.

I have had an occassional issue which has been niggling me for a while now. If I get "into the spirit" so to speak and accelorate hard, up into the 5-6k rev range through the gears, I sometime will leave a trail of white smoke behind me, which stops as quickly as it starts once I drop the revs back down. It doesn't do it everytime, just now and then. It doesn't appear to be oil getting into the cyclinders and hence burning, but more likely a leak scenario as it leaves a splattering of fine oil residue on the back bumper/trunk.

At first I worried about the dreaded RMS but think it unlikely given the car does not leak oil when idle at all.

In researching the threads here on Renntech, it points me to suspect the Air/Oil Separator or Bellows vacuuming oil into the intake. I have managed to reduce the problem by keeping the oil level in the lower quartile on the dipstick rather than too full, again this (I think) supports the theory ! I was hoping I was right as it doesn't sound too horrible a fix and one I could tackle on a DIY basis I'm sure.

The smoking incident happened again tonight so I took a look underneath to see if I could see any "tell-tale" oil signs tonight and found an oily patch over to the left (drivers side) of the oil pan just above the exhaust down pipes (obviously dripping onto the pipe). I have included a photo attached which shows this.

So my question to anyone out there that knows much more about these issues than I do is, does this oil patch/leak look to be in any way related to the AOS/Bellows or is it something completely different do you think ? And if so, any thoughts as to what might be the problem.

Thanks for any help. :cheers:

Darren.

[munro86]

All of the symptoms here are confusing. I 've always thought that if an engine blows smoke at high revs ,it always indicates worn piston rings. The oil indicated in the picture, if I'm looking at what I think it is, is a leak from the cam-cover.I've had this on my 99 996 and it looks similar.

Good-luck

Jason

[C4S Surgeon]

Prob cam cover, sprays more/ more noticable at high RPM.

[OneDayIsHere]

Prob cam cover, sprays more/ more noticable at high RPM.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks C4s Surgeon and Munro86, I appreciate you input. I'll try the cam cover first and if that doesn't cure it, turn my attention to the AOS/Bellows.

Darren.