Oil leak
 

I have a 2003 986 with 40 k , within the last few months it’s developed a dollar bill size oil leak on the passenger side rear near the rear drive axel . The leak only appears after driving at higher rpm’s . If it just sits , and , or runs at lower rpm’s , no leak . I have had it up on jack stands and can not find where it’s leaking from . Dust plate removed . Not the oil fill pipe . Not the air/oil separator . My question is valve covers or gasket . Not sure where to look for that gasket . Car runs great , recent oil change , cut open oil filter - very clean .

Is it motor oil or transaxle oil? Could it be an output shaft seal?

I have questioned that . The car is an automatic.. When you say transaxle oil is that going to be the same as transmission fluid ? . I know it’s not trans fluid. If it is transaxle oil , How can I tell the difference between it and motor oil ? … sure smells like motor oil , looks just like the motor oil I just changed . Would transaxel oil only leak after higher rpm’s , or after being driven . If the car just sits it does not leak , only after being driven … I can leave in park , rev up rpm’s and see if there is a leak . Thank you for your time .

I can't tell you where the leak is, but I can tell you how I found a very similar leak that only happened after a spirited run. I could run it all day in the garage and it would not leak but after a good run under load, it left a good puddle under the car. I used a very inexpensive smoke machine, the Autoline Pro. The nozzle fits perfectly into the oil dipstick tube. Close off the intake at the throttle body and the exhaust with rubber gloves and let the smoke machine run for ten to fifteen minutes to build pressure. My leak turned out to be a small crank case vent valve o-ring. Replacing the valve fixed my oil leak. I would have never found it without a smoke machine.

Sent from my SM-S921W using Tapatalk

Thank you for suggestion. I have a buddy with a lift . I want to get it up there before trying something like smoke . I am hoping that I might be able to see something better standing then on my back .. I did run at in the garage yesterday, ran up rpm’s , and there was a small amount of oil afterward . Cleaned the floor , and today - still clean . Let me get this on a lift to see if I can figure where it’s coming from and will see about revisiting forum . If others have ideas would like to hear from Thank you much .