help with diagnosis on 2000 boxster s

[The Radium King]

Originally Posted by Rich XTR

I checked with the dealer earlier and the master tech said it might be from the oil filter housing but wasn't sure.

Still planing on dropping the engine and removing the valve covers. Any way to tell by looking at the actuators if they are bad since the seals are inside?

they are non-serviceable, so you cant open them to look inside (the actuators in the image - from my car - were ‘destructively disassembled’). ps, ask your tech how a failed oil filter o-ring gives you a -10 deviation. it’s a trick they play - tell you it’s a cheap fix to get you to start they work (ie, pads) and, once the engine is opened, hit you with an additional $2k for the actuators. fyi, the other ‘while you are in there’ jobs are variocam chains and the three tensioners (make sure you get the updated items). i think the actuators come with the updated pads. mine were done with engine in car.

[jb92563]

The green bits of rubber in the oil tell the story.

I think its the only green rubber inside the engine so that must be it unfortunately.

Good news it that you discovered it while things are still working well and not seriously gone bad.

[Rich XTR]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

they are non-serviceable, so you cant open them to look inside (the actuators in the image - from my car - were ‘destructively disassembled’). ps, ask your tech how a failed oil filter o-ring gives you a -10 deviation. it’s a trick they play - tell you it’s a cheap fix to get you to start they work (ie, pads) and, once the engine is opened, hit you with an additional $2k for the actuators. fyi, the other ‘while you are in there’ jobs are variocam chains and the three tensioners (make sure you get the updated items). i think the actuators come with the updated pads. mine were done with engine in car.

you were correct. The one in your picture looks like 4-6 and mine is missing the thick green o ring completely. There was a little chunk in side the other piston....but none where it should be. The pads on 4-6 were in really bad shape but the 1-3 only one pad was bad.

[Geof3]

Replace all the tensioners while you are there... gotta spend that $$$. If one failed, its probable the other isn’t too far behind. Personally, I would replace all accessible wear items, save you $$$ down the road.