Oil on garage floor!!!!

[UKBXSTR]

Location is spot on for RMS - fingers crossed its a minor leak elsewhere

[PAH]

OK, it's the worst case scenario!!

Took it to OPC Liverpool, and they immediately diagnosed RMS failure, which is what I thought. Fortunately, the car is still under warranty, and this failure is covered.

They can't take the car in until 3rd May (!) and when I do they need it for 2 full days, which I guess is probably normal. However, he said that the leak was small, and therefore it is OK to drive until they take it in. I'm a bit concerned - is there any chance I could do further damage?

I've heard a few stories about RMS failure, and it being a weak point on the 986 and the 996. I'm now worried, because I've only had the car since December, and I've already been affected. The car is a 2002 Boxster S by the way. Is there an upgrade to the seal that the OPC will fit, or is this failure likely to happen again in the future?

Thanks for your help.

Paul

[Tool Pants]

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15&st=0&#entry24

If oil leaks from the oil cooler on top of the engine, the rear crankcase bolts, or from the intermediate shaft flange seal, or the intermediate shaft flange bolts, then engine oil will show up in the same place it does for when the rear main seal leaks. The exact source cannot be determined until the transmission and flywheel are removed. This is why there is a new repair procedure.

The good news is that there is a new seal that just came out with the 997/987. This is the 3rd version seal. It is the same size as the 996/986 seal so now that is the replacement for the prior models. The bad news is that there are 2 confirmed leaky 997s with this seal, and a 996 owner from Liverpool with this new seal.

If your crankshaft is not in specs then a replacement seal, if it is the RMS, will most likely leak again. We have a local Boxster owner and the 2nd generation seal was replaced 5 times, then Porsche gave up and put in a rebuilt engine - which is another story. The 996 owner I mentioned had 6 replacement seals. What month and year was your car made?

Monitor the oil and just drive it. You do not have a gusher.

[Brucelee]

I simply cannot understand why Porsche cannot get this RMS issue handled. I don't know of any other car where this RMS is such a weak point.

If this were a Kia, perhaps I could understand the inability over 8 years to resolve what should be a routine engineerning flaw.

Porsche has been making flat sixes for HOW LONG??????????????????????????????/

[R33P]

Hi there, I think I have the exact same problem. I bought a 2004 Boxster with 29,000 genuine miles, 6 weeks ago.

I have noticed 3 different oil patches on the garage floor when taking the car out but only after I have driven the car a reasonable distance - if I just run in it on the drive prior to cleaning it and after then pop it back in the garage, it doesn't leak.

I have spoken to the german car specialist I use for my Audi S4 and they said its the rear
crankshaft Oil Seal which I guess is the RMS, they also said most Porsches leak from the same place and not to worry too much - is this so or should it be investigated further?

I would appreciate any feedback.

[srad34]

Originally Posted by PAH

OK, it's the worst case scenario!!

Took it to OPC Liverpool, and they immediately diagnosed RMS failure, which is what I thought. Fortunately, the car is still under warranty, and this failure is covered.

They can't take the car in until 3rd May (!) and when I do they need it for 2 full days, which I guess is probably normal. However, he said that the leak was small, and therefore it is OK to drive until they take it in. I'm a bit concerned - is there any chance I could do further damage?

I've heard a few stories about RMS failure, and it being a weak point on the 986 and the 996. I'm now worried, because I've only had the car since December, and I've already been affected. The car is a 2002 Boxster S by the way. Is there an upgrade to the seal that the OPC will fit, or is this failure likely to happen again in the future?

Thanks for your help.

Paul

Don't mix this with IMS failure, if your only getting some spots, keep an eye on the oil level and use it as normal. Unless its leaving a pool, I would not be overly concerned (plus leave some card under you car in the garage!)

[blib]

Have you heard of catastrophic engine failer? Don't drive , have towed to garage! Mine was IMS failure, in May last year. Paid $6k and I'm rebuilding now.

[nieuwhzn]

I think all crankshaft seals start leaking at a certain point. As long as the oil is not pouring out isn't this something that you could just live with until the clutch needs replacement?

[thom4782]

Unfortunately, oil can leak from this location when the IMS flange seal starts to deteriorate. I have no idea what the difference in odds are between an RMS and a IMS problem.