hosrom_951

I don't know what is going on, maybe it that time of the month when things get bad . I replaced my brake fluid at my specialist, and asked him to check the car see if everything looked good. The only comments i got was that the front brake pads needed to be replaced. While balancing my tires are a tire specialist, the car was raised (not too high, you couldn't get under that car but you can see almost everything) i noticed that the oil sump (oil pan) was a little wet. Some oil was on the exhaust behind it as well. AND i saw that the rear pads were just as thin as the front. Talked to my specialist regarding the oil pan gasket replacement, he scared me by saying (my god, its a dog job and that is if you are lucky, sometimes a bolt could be broken which means drilling the block" and crap like that. BUt he also said that the oil pan should be a little wet anyway. He never saw it, but is it true? do our cars have a small film of oil at the oil pan? Personally i do not belive that. If not, could it wait till next month? i honestly am running out of cash (since i am restoring the interior).

Mike S

NO, there shouldn't be a thin film of oil on the pan. I just resealed my motor while I had it out and I am 100% leak free right now. No guarantees on how long that'll last though.

hosrom_951

****! better start saving up!

rage2

haha I hope you didn't jinx yourself .

I'm down to 2 leaks on my 951... once those are done, it'll be leak free for the first time since 1993 lol.

hosrom_951

But is it alright to leave the oil pan gasket leaking? if I'm going to replace the gasket, I'm planning on installing Lindsey's pan baffle system. But could it be that the pan bolts become a bit loose?

NZ951

Hi my name is Andrew and I have been leak free for 6 months now *pauses for clapping*... I only get by with the support of my sponsor (my bank) though, with out my sponsor I would not be where I am today, dry.

Danno

"BUt he also said that the oil pan should be a little wet anyway. He never saw it, but is it true?"

No, your pan should be dry. Most likely the oil-pan gasket isn't leaking, something else further up is probably the culprit. When the oil-pan gasket goes, it really goes completely and dumps ALL your oil out. That's because any oil between the block and gasket or pan and gasket will cause the gasket to slip completely out in short order.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not crankcase-pressure that blows out the pan, but it's the oil being flung at the gasket. Especially if you are racing a car at high-RPMs with an extra quart of oil in the bottom, that oil will be flung into the gasket at great force. You'll also notice that the pan is typically only pushed out on the driver's side.

So... oil-pan gasket should be OK. Even if it does require replacement, that's a 6-8 hour job maximum and the bolts will not break. They are small 6mm bolts that are well lubricated by all the oil down there, so no worries about corrosion and stubborn bolts.

emwporsche

my car is on a lift practically daily. everything is oil soaked. everything. I worry about it but it has been that way for 6 months to a year.

as long as you have good oil pressure I don't think there would be a problem.

but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

theedge

My oil pressure sender leaks, and it makes a pretty impressive mess down there (IMHO) so that might be something for you to look into.

glen2002

Hosrom, Doesn't sound like this is a stop driving immediately problem. Top your oil up, keep 4 litres in the cubby hole in the back and check levels daily. Both of mine have had leaks at one time or another (one does now). Then clean your motor up and locate the source of your leak, it may be something easy [sorry, nothing is easy on these cars ]. Even if you don't fix it you will be informed when speaking to your mechanic.

Joe Jackson

I wouldn't go so far as to say this is the way they ALL fail. Sure some do, but mine, my friend's, and my dad's oil pan gaskets were all leaking and none had the gasket slip completely out. It dries out/hardens/shrinks and leaks like any other seal. I agree it will leak a lot of oil. I could run my car and watch the oil leak down onto my crossover pipe. I learned to love the smell of burning Mobil 1.

hosrom_951

Well, i do not see ANY oil deposits on the floor. Neither on my parking nor at work. Maybe it REALLY is something else. I will pass by on Saturday or sunday and put it on a lift, clean under the carriage and see where is the source. Right now, i really am suspecting the oil pan to be the cause. Thanks a bunch people, you are GR8!

PrerYDoG

I'm in the boat of "everything is wet." Mine however is coming from the cam cover gasket, and the rear cam gasket (the cork one). I can literally watch my car leak oil from the front of the cam cover gasket (right around the "CH" of the PORSCHE logo on the cam cover) down onto the headers..MMMM...oil smell! When I start my car after it's been sitting for a couple weeks, I get about 10 minutes of smoke from under my hood. Alas...I keep my oil full, and I'm waiting on the time when I can just do the belts, seals, rollers, and pull the cam and do that seal as well (prolly this winter).

I wouldn't start "freaking out" just yet about some oil on your car. They ALL have it (or they're about to!).

slim_boy_fat

Dont ask questions like that mate it can always get worse.....

jimbo1111

I had an oil leak that would leak while driving. It looked like the oil pan gasket, cam tower gasket, balance shaft end ring's, rear main and the oil dip stick tube. I replaced all of the above and still had a leak. I than replaced the air/oil separator end rings. BINGO