Oil Change Surprise
 

All,

I have a 99' with 19k miles (8k on new engine). I went to change my oil today and got this surprise:

http://home.comcast.net/~rgstlouis/DSCN0696.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~rgstlouis/DSCN0697.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~rgstlouis/DSCN0698.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~rgstlouis/DSCN0700.JPG

There doesn't appear to be any oil coming out of any of the seals; it looks like its been leaking out of the plug. The plug was good and tight however with a crush ring installed.

Ideas?

Someone may have either reused the old crush ring, or gotten a small amount of dirt on it so it didn't seal properly. Replace the crush ring with yuor next oil change and you should be good to go.

Now go out and drive more! That's not nearly enough miles!

If you didn't start changing the oil I would order a new crush ring & drain plug just to see if those could have been part of the issue. Just drain the oil,clean the surrounding areas,and continue changing the oil. When you go to change the oil next year see if it's dirty like it is now,if it's not then the crush ring or/and drain plug could have been the culprit.

You know, if you put IMG in the brackets instead of URL, your pictures would show up IN your post. Just a hint.

And yes, I agree with the diagnosis here, likely someone reused the old crush washer, and it didn't seal well. ALWAYS get a new one when you change oil. I'd get a new one, then change the oil. Clean off the area thoroughly before. Then make sure to apply proper torque to the drain plug, and observe.

Hi,

I think, looking at the pics, that it may have nothing to do with the Drain Plug.

It's possible that it is RMS because there is Oil on the sides of the motor, not just the the bottom of the Crankcase, in the exact pattern of Oil seepage from a leaky RMS. Hope I'm wrong...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Can I ask why the new(er) engine...did you step-up to a larger displacement or have issues with the original?

Sorry, can't tell from the pictures on the oil leak.

:cheers:

This vehicle was one of the <mysteriously numbered> Boxsters that had an issue with the engine cylinder sleeving during manufacture. The engine had about 8k on it when it failed.

I am the second owner and bought it with 11k miles. I have the full Porsche service history on it. I did replace the oil and will watch for subsequent leaking. If it does, Jim wins! Jim, I hope you darn well lose! :)

Will let you all know. (Yes, new crush ring, filter and O-ring installed)

Keep us posted. It would suck to have gotten a car that had the engine replaced, because you know you SHOULD have a good engine that won't have a cylinder sleeve issue in the future.... but then has an RMS issue. It's possible it may have one of the older style RMS that were more prone to failure.