2003 S Spark Plug O-Rings - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

JFP in PA · 03-24-2017, 05:26 PM

No, those are actuator seals. Your cam cover has a think line of a special RTV sealant that runs around its perimeter which sometimes fail and start to leak. But before you even think about removing the cam cover, you need to clean the area and inspect it carefully to locate the source. Removing the cam cover is not a trivial matter, the cover forms one half of the cam bearings for both cams, so you would need to either find or fabricate cam holding tools to retain the cams while removing and resealing the cover. Not properly retaining the cams could easily lead to literally breaking both cams as they are under tremendous spring pressure loads at all times, so this has to be done correctly.

jsceash · 03-25-2017, 01:40 PM

You can pull the cover off the 2003 and newer but it is very cramped. The front half of the cams 4,5,6 and rear of 1,2,3 are secured with 2 bearing caps. Turn he motor to TDC. remove the green end cap off the rear of the cams 4,5,6 and front of 1,2,3, part # 99610421554 (2 a side or 4). You have to have the cam setting tool a flat plate that fits in the end of the cam shafts at TDC and bolts to the head. (also most the tension is off the cam in this position as well). Once it's installed you can remove the valve cover, which has three seals on the end of the spark plug socket part # 99610420300 (3 a side or 6).

jsceash · 03-26-2017, 04:52 AM

I would like to add. This is harder than I made it sound You can only do one side at a time because the cam timing tool only fits one side of the engine at any given TDC position. you would have to rotate the engine one additional time to get the other set of cams to align.

Also have 99970755440 o-ring. 1 per side 2 total. 99610421602 end seal they call these lids 1 per side total 2.

If you remove the valve timing solenoid be very careful there is a a screen that can come off if you are not careful. Do not loose or damage this part. The solenoid has a alignment pin in the head and will only seat properly in one position.

The sealant JFP talked about is 0009432043. Both surfaces must be clean and dry. Use only a 1/16" bead, and be very careful not to get this sealant in the oil grooves a the end of the cams. I have found this sealant is miserable to get out of the tube. I have also found warming the sealant tube in hot water helps.