Would You Be Concerned If . . .

[Geof3]

Cam cover oil leak is not always what it seems. Probably a plug tube, very common and much easier to deal with. As mentioned, I’d consider the WP/coolant but I would monitor for leaks before simply replacing. As far as the other items, replace as necessary. If you buy the car, get the cam cover situation nailed down, do plugs and tubes anyway and drive it till the rubber falls off.

[BoxMann]

Originally Posted by Geof3

Cam cover oil leak is not always what it seems. Probably a plug tube, very common and much easier to deal with.

A Porsche dealer did the prior PPI and noted the cam cover oil leak. Do you think they could have misdiagnosed it and it was only the plug tube?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by BoxMann

A Porsche dealer did the prior PPI and noted the cam cover oil leak. Do you think they could have misdiagnosed it and it was only the plug tube?

Yes. I had two indie shops and one dealer all say that my oil leak was the cam cover but it turned out to be the plug tubes.

That doesn't mean that its not the cam covers, it just means that oil leaks can often be difficult to accurately diagnose and the shops will tend to give you the worst case scenario.

[BoxMann]

Originally Posted by thstone

Yes. I had two indie shops and one dealer all say that my oil leak was the cam cover but it turned out to be the plug tubes.

That doesn't mean that its not the cam covers, it just means that oil leaks can often be difficult to accurately diagnose and the shops will tend to give you the worst case scenario.

OK, thank you, I was hoping you might say that.

[BoxMann]

Originally Posted by thstone

Yes. I had two indie shops and one dealer all say that my oil leak was the cam cover but it turned out to be the plug tubes.

That doesn't mean that its not the cam covers, it just means that oil leaks can often be difficult to accurately diagnose and the shops will tend to give you the worst case scenario.

So given that it's an '03 and the plug tubes aren't serviceable, and let's say it is in fact the cam cover, what would be the cost to fix it at an indy shop?

[luckyed7711]

Originally Posted by Geof3

Cam cover oil leak is not always what it seems. Probably a plug tube, very common and much easier to deal with. As mentioned, I’d consider the WP/coolant but I would monitor for leaks before simply replacing. As far as the other items, replace as necessary. If you buy the car, get the cam cover situation nailed down, do plugs and tubes anyway and drive it till the rubber falls off.

Note: For model year 2003 and newer, the plastic spark plug tubes were replaced with the metal tubes that only get serviced during engine disassembly.
From the 2003 Boxster Service Information Book - under engine changes:
"The oil protection tubes are now a component part of the valve lifter housing and sealed to the cylinder head cover with formed oil seal rings." (from Pedro's site)

[BoxMann]

Originally Posted by luckyed7711

Note: For model year 2003 and newer, the plastic spark plug tubes were replaced with the metal tubes that only get serviced during engine disassembly.
From the 2003 Boxster Service Information Book - under engine changes:
"The oil protection tubes are now a component part of the valve lifter housing and sealed to the cylinder head cover with formed oil seal rings." (from Pedro's site)

So, in terms of the reported "cam cover oil leak" on the 2017 PPI, how does that affect things for me? I realize that the new tubes can't be easily replaced on an '03, but does this make it any more or less likely that it's the tubes rather than the cam cover?