Oil on garage floor!!!!
 

:eek:
Yesterday, when I took the car out of the garage at home, I noticed a tiny patch of oil on the floor.

Looking under the car, it appears to be coming from the exact centre of the car (left to right) and just in front of the rear wheels. It looks like there is a mechanism here, but I can't tell what it is - maybe something to do with gear selection. Anyway, there were signs of the oil on this.

The car is going to the dealer this afternoon for them to have a look, but can anyone give me any ideas. I'm scared of RMS!!!

There are only a few drops on the floor, maybe the equivalent of say 8 or 9 drips. The car is a 2002 Boxster S.

Thanks

In order of concern from least to worst:

Oil pan plug

Oil Filter

Cam Covers

Valve Covers

Rear Main Seal

Did you have a oil change done recently?

oil leaks
 

I was lucky, they checked out the car good while it was still under warranty, here's the deal:

I was about to buy the car from Mercedes of South Bay, which I did, they held me there, captive in a way, to get my measly 2002 MR2 details, does it run good? all that...so I rode in the car, sound, everything good, but he directional signal stuck, no signal...they said at Mercedes okay just go with them under warranty, so I did...anyway you expect a a bad story, but they checked out my car big time at Porsche! Under warranty they smacked up the RMS, did the deal with the clutch and worked on the windows (up/down when the top is down) and a coolant leak and I was amazed that they were so honest, so they showed me the bill: over $2800 of work down under warranty...goooood people, they could have blown me off, not telling me about the RMS or anything else, and no prob since and I even have a 2 year/24,000 warranty on the work, go tell! and I asked Toyota, the MR2 I used to own for service, lies all around, point is German cars run great as they say, and it's a point of pride to do good business, thanks Pacific Porsche, you pimped my used ride!

Good stuff. Happy Driving!

So Pah, what is the diagnosis?

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

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

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.

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??????????????????????????????/

Crankshaft Oil Seal leak
 

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.

My mechanic told me basically the same thing when I got mine about 6 years ago. I wouldn't obsess over it unless it starts to get worse. Mine actually improved and most of the time isn't even noticable.

Mine has been leaving a drop of oil or two on the garage floor for over a year now, who knows how long it has been before that. I have the new seal, just waiting for a good weekend soon (along with new clutch) to drop the trans and do the work.

Oh the good old days!

Thank you for searching new guys!

ALOT has changed since this outdated post so keep searching for all the new info.

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!)

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.

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?

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.

Wow, resurrection of a zombie thread...2005!

The PPI diagnosed 1.5 years ago on my 2001 Box base said there was mist of oil etc-
RMS leak was implied. Had installed IMS Guardian. Now 50k miles. I have stopped worrying about it till it needs a new clutch or it implodes.....

I wonder if the guys that originally posted still own the cars that we're now responding to. Haha. Zombie thread like braaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnnns!

Seriously tho, 2005 was quite a while ago. About 8 years or so by my math... lol

this thread was posted 2 years before the invention of the internet :D

Oil spots noticed
 

Hi All - i know this is an old thread but hopefully someone can help with definitive advice.
2004 986 2.7 bought Jan this yr, 93000 miles on clock now - 8k put on by me :).

Noticed oil spots on garage floor - cardboard, placed under car and left overnight - 1 spot of oil about size of thumb print.

When bought made sure the RMS had been addressed - was replaced in June 2013 (£460) Also had a new clutch assembly fitted then as well.

Had transmission fluid & brake fluid changed Aug 2015 (2 birds 1 stone).

Is the car safe to continue driving, making sure keep eye on oil levels (next service due 96K)

Or do you recommend taking to get service earlier - and asking to look into the leak at same time??

Wow, night of the living thread!

About where under the car was the oil spot? Pics of any drip of oil?

Hi Timco - thanks for the constructive response.
I will need to try and take photos in couple of days to then add for you to help me

With my ride my crankshaft and oil nut leaks sometimes i drove off my ride from the garage. Did changed Twice but same problem persists.

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In the past couple weeks I have noticed the same issue on my 2000 S with 20,000 miles. I have an appointment later this week for the pre-hibernation oil change and will have this issue inspected at that time and will report the findings here.

Larry (The Bald Eagle)

Oil on the garage floor
 

On my 2003 S, I had my IMS bearing replaced at about 44,000 miles. At the time, my RMS was bone dry and my independent garage recommended leaving well enough alone, which made sense to me. Around a year and 5,000 miles later I started seeing some oil spots on the garage floor, somewhere in the center of the rear of the car. In my case, I had 2 leaks - the RMS had started leaking and the oil filler tube was cracked. Had both items fixed, cleaned the oil off the garage floor, and the floor has stayed spotless.

On my car at least, there is a tray/panel/shield under engine and transmission that has some holes in it. I think that the oil leaks will drip down onto this panel and then migrate to a hole in the center of it. The oil filler starts out on the passenger side of the car, I don't know where it goes into the engine. I had 2 leaks, but only one central spot on the garage floor.

Hope this is helpful.

Hi Timco & PaulE

I took some videos on my phone whilst sliding it under the vehicle - unfortunately cannot make out clearly where the spots have come from.

PaulE - thanks for comprehensive description
My vehicle is showing the same location as you have clearly described, and yesterday I called an indy to get their advice as well

He said that RMS even if replaced could start leaking again after a couple of years. I will be taking my car to get them to check it over by removing all the shields.

When did you have the works carried out on yours and what was the cost so I have a figure in mind BEFORE they quote.

When I had both oil leaks fixed it cost around US$1,000 earlier this year. Note I didn't need a new clutch, pressure plate or release bearing, that was labor for removing the transmission, pressure plate and flywheel and re-install. new parts were the RMS, bolts to attach flywheel to crank and the oil filler tube. I am still on my original clutch and going strong at almost 54,000 miles now, knock on wood!

When I had my IMS bearing replaced, it was a bigger job labor cost wise. Even though they were going to the same place to do the work, for the IMS they also had to remove the rear bumper and spoiler to get the muffler or more of exhaust system off. So I was pleased that only the transmission had to be dropped to replace the RMS.

Before you get too excited, check the oil filter canister. Last mo my LE started to leave a drop of oil overnight. Figured the RMS was going. Was about ready to take it to the dealer for a clutch / RMS job but decided to crawl underneath and look. The oil filter canister was loose so I tightened it up - drip gone. Now I can wait til spring to do the clutch and will do RMS too.

To anyone doing a clutch and / or IMS replacement, do the RMS too. The seal itself is less than $20 and well worth doing, regardless how 'good' it might look. As long as you already have the trans off, might as well do the preventive maintenance. Porsche still hasn't figured out how to make a seal that won't leak.

Maybe in a clp yrs we can resurrect this thread again for a 4th go-round.

Return visit due to Indy
 

I managed to get the car to a tyre fitting company as they were willing to get the car up in the air to take a look for me at NIL cost.
He asked if i had any fluid replacements recently - i said yes the manual trans oil - he said that is where it seems to be leaking from, around transmission screw plug - he allowed me to take a look as well - without removing any of the shields - Advised to take back and make sure they top it back up

When I talked to the Indy who carried out the work - he didn't want to believe the word of another garage.

Due to take it back Monday 19th - will also be taking the invoice covering the "work" they carried out as my proof.

Will post result afterwards

Crisis Averted
 

Hi everyone, good news.

After the garage removed the shield and got under the engine it was found that the gearbox transmission fluid top up plug was where the leak was coming from. (5* to National Tyres for correctly identifying :))

PTFE applied to the plug - the level of oil in the gearbox was ok.

Refitted and now monitoring again.

Now all I need to do is figure out what 18" tyres to put on as this is where i had my monies earmarked for :cheers: