ianellison

At what point is an oil leak a problem that needs remedial action?

Clearly leak down and compression testing measures are objective
measurements and an experieced 964 mechanic can say what if anything
needs to be done.

Can I suggest a scale for comparison and get your opinion as to where
your car is and what action you would consider appropriate?

1. Bone dry - no weeping at oil pipe connections, front cooler or
under car from engine.
2. Some slight weeping but NO drips - moist oil pipe connections,
under tray slightly filmed in oil.
3. Slight leaks SMALL maximum 1 - 10 mm size drip or drips on
standing for 24 hours or so after running.
4. Definite leaks - 1" to 2" puddles under car after running.
5. Serious leaks - puddles after running and oil top up needed
frequently.

My '90 C4 Cab is at position 2. No drips but not bone dry.

Where are you on this scale & what do you consider acceptable?

last toy

mine was a #2 with only a drop or two on the floor occasionally. My issue was the oil dripped on the heat exchanger and smelled badly after driving and I could detect an oil scent with the heater on. had my shop check it out and it was fixed for $300. I think it was the timing cover versus a Porsche dealer extimating $6 to $8000 to fix the cylinder heads which they "thought" it was. My 90 C4 had 58000 miles on it. I believe if the cylinder heads leak because of the gasketless design, it would happen with low milage or the original owner would have had it fixed under warranty.

ilko

That's a nice scale

Only 1 and 2 are acceptable in my book. I would consult a mechanic for anything in the 3 and over category. Anything 4 and over should be immediately addressed along with the proper compression and leak down tests. But then again, I'm a perfectionist, so even the slightest oil smudge will make me lose sleep at night. This should give you an idea where my car is on that scale

TR6

My car is at #3. But it doesn't leak enough to even be measurable in terms of oil level or adding oil. But there are definitely small spots underneath it in the garage where I park.

I've owned British sports cars way too long to lose sleep over oil drips. My Triumph TR6 marks its territory wherever I park it for any length of time.

Indycam

Two kinds of leaks , one endangers the motor and the other does not .

Mike Murphy

Yeah, but one endangers the environment. Also, on the track, one could endanger your car if you slide out and off the track...

Mike Murphy

I like the scale, but my computer background wants to see the scale from 0 to 4 instead of 1 to 5. Semantics, really...

GeorgeK

If you can jump across it, it's not a leak.

springer3

Old time 911 owners told me anything smaller than a quarter (25 mm) was no big deal. I am at stage 2 with 60,000 miles on the engine.

dfinnegan

Is the difference between 2 and 3 the use of an undertray to catch the occasional drip?

colo964

I've had #3 for 10 yrs. Lots of cardboard soaked with oil. I'm an environmental engineer, so it looks bad for me to pull onto a site with a dripping car. If I drive fast enough, the oil will disperse below EPA cleanup levels

DaveK

Mine is 2, and has been for 5 years / 50k miles (and it doesn't have an undertray on that's catching the drips!).

Oil leaks that actually leave signs underneath the car annoy me, so if mine ever made it to 3 it would be repaired, even if it was not significant enough to cause a problem.

jeffnudd

LMAO

I have a Citroen thats like that and then blamed the wife for the oil on the drive.

tjr

Good scale. My 965 was at #3. Nearly $6k later it's a #2, although the supplying dealer paid for the offending oil lines to be replaced, not me. Hopefully I will be able to get it to #1 at a more reasonable cost at its next service.

Based on what I've heard recently from fellow 965'ers, there is at least one independent in the UK that seems to think that #3 calls for a engine re-build...

DaveK

Your wife leaks oil??????