2000 Boxster S oil leak

[jamescw8]

You are spot on JFP in PA. I hope this isnt a sign of problems with IMS? Do you think it just requires tightening up or is that a bad idea? Not quite sure why it has randomly just started leaking!

Cheers.

[JFP in PA]

The tensioners have a crush ring on them (you can see it near the hand in the small pic.) that is replaceable. An oil leak at the tensioner seal is not a sign of impending doom; it is just an oil leak. Now comes the fun part; you cannot replace the crush ring without removing the tensioner; and you cannot remove the tensioner without first locking the engine at TDC:




And then securing the cams so that they do not move (jump time) when the tensioner is released:



After which you can unscrew the tensioner, put on new crush ring and a new o-ring on the shaft, and re-torque it. Simple, isn't it? Before going through all this, I'd suggest making sure it is torqued to begin with.

[jamescw8]

Fingers crossed it just needs tightening up! Any ideas on the torq setting for this tensioner?

Many thanks!

[JFP in PA]

80 Nm, or 59 Ft. Lbs.

[jamescw8]

Just looked through the manual and it is a chain tensioner for cylinder bank 1-3. Torq setting is 80Nm so I will make sure it is torqed to that. If I were to remove it, they say nothing about making sure it is at TDC.

[JFP in PA]

When you release the chain tensioner and remove it, the cam chains are going to go slack. Pressure from the valve springs and cam followers are going to cause the cams to move in relation to the crank, throwing the cam timing off, which is often disastrous if not reset properly. By putting the crank at TDC, then locking the cams mechanically, nothing can move, so when the tensioner is returned, everything is where you left it. This is the exact same procedure used when the IMS is changed, and for the same reasons.

[jamescw8]

Fair point! If I do need to replace it I will follow any instructions to a t! If I am not replacing it and only torqing it slightly to 80Nm, would this throw the cam timing off still or am I safe to just goahead and tweak it? Cheers.

[JFP in PA]

If you just re-torque the tensioner, no precautions are required; they only come into play if you need to pull the tensioner to replace the crush washer and o-ring……..