Rear main seal leak
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From: Boston
Rear main seal leak
Grrr ... my new "Porsche Certified" 95 C4 dropped some oil on my garage floor. Took it back to the dealer yesterday, they are telling me the rear main seal is leaking and that they have to drop the engine and transmission and separate them to replace the seal.
How the car was "certified" as having no oil leaks with a leaking rear main seal is a separate issue.
In any case, with the motor out of the car and apart, are there other things that I should have them do? The car has 38k miles, so I imagine it would be wise to look at the clutch disk. On an older 911, it would be wise to replace the oil pressure switch and a couple of other leak-prone things while the motor is out. Dunno about the 993. Be a good time to inspect the wiring harness, too. Any other things to consider?
TIA,
Vic
How the car was "certified" as having no oil leaks with a leaking rear main seal is a separate issue.
In any case, with the motor out of the car and apart, are there other things that I should have them do? The car has 38k miles, so I imagine it would be wise to look at the clutch disk. On an older 911, it would be wise to replace the oil pressure switch and a couple of other leak-prone things while the motor is out. Dunno about the 993. Be a good time to inspect the wiring harness, too. Any other things to consider?
TIA,
Vic
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From: Portland Oregon
Hi Vic:
You are right on about proactively dealing with potential oil leak sources......
The oil temp & pressure switches use a sealing ring and the cover that they are screwed into has an O-ring. It wouldn't hurt anything to change the switches and that O-ring.
Inspect that dual-mass flywheel, pressure plate & disk for any sign of deterioration and abuse. These are some of the major wear items on these cars.
You are right on about proactively dealing with potential oil leak sources......
The oil temp & pressure switches use a sealing ring and the cover that they are screwed into has an O-ring. It wouldn't hurt anything to change the switches and that O-ring.
Inspect that dual-mass flywheel, pressure plate & disk for any sign of deterioration and abuse. These are some of the major wear items on these cars.
Three Wheelin'
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From: At the outer marker...
vjd3,
I can sympathize...this just showed up on my car as well at 70K miles. Since it's zero additional labor to inspect the clutch assembly & flywheel (they have to take it apart get get to the seal) have 'em inspected. At least you'll know where you stand even if they don't need to be replaced right now.
I would (and am) have them look carefully at the wiring harness. My car has the updated part number, so if there's no evidence of deterioration I will probably let it be. But if the car had the old part number, it would be getting swapped. You can find lots of info - including part numbers - on EJ's page.
I'm also going to have them look at the temp & pressure switches, but I'm only going to replace them if they are leaking, since this is not an engine-out job.
One last thing, make sure they know to lubricated the clutch assembly & transmission housing properly. There've been many people who've chimed in with a bound input shaft after botched lubrication during a clutch job. Search the archives for "binding input shaft".
And now my question for Steve:
My rear main seal appears only to be leaking after hard, prolonged driving. There is no noticable consumption other than the spot of oil on my garage floor the next morning. I'm thinking this is something that could wait 6mo until my 75K service, what do you think/would you recommend in this case ?
sean
I can sympathize...this just showed up on my car as well at 70K miles. Since it's zero additional labor to inspect the clutch assembly & flywheel (they have to take it apart get get to the seal) have 'em inspected. At least you'll know where you stand even if they don't need to be replaced right now.
I would (and am) have them look carefully at the wiring harness. My car has the updated part number, so if there's no evidence of deterioration I will probably let it be. But if the car had the old part number, it would be getting swapped. You can find lots of info - including part numbers - on EJ's page.
I'm also going to have them look at the temp & pressure switches, but I'm only going to replace them if they are leaking, since this is not an engine-out job.
One last thing, make sure they know to lubricated the clutch assembly & transmission housing properly. There've been many people who've chimed in with a bound input shaft after botched lubrication during a clutch job. Search the archives for "binding input shaft".
And now my question for Steve:
My rear main seal appears only to be leaking after hard, prolonged driving. There is no noticable consumption other than the spot of oil on my garage floor the next morning. I'm thinking this is something that could wait 6mo until my 75K service, what do you think/would you recommend in this case ?
sean
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From: Portland Oregon
Hi Sean:
I gotta ask,....are you positive that the crank seal is one thats leaking???
If so, how long has this been leaking?
There is no harm in letting it go for 5K; all that might happen is that it could oil the clutch disc and you'll get some slipping. If that happens, you'll need a clutch kit anyway.
I'd wait until the next service,....
I gotta ask,....are you positive that the crank seal is one thats leaking???
If so, how long has this been leaking?
There is no harm in letting it go for 5K; all that might happen is that it could oil the clutch disc and you'll get some slipping. If that happens, you'll need a clutch kit anyway.
I'd wait until the next service,....
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From: Boston
Sean, my rear main seal was dripping oil off the engine tray; I would think there was probably more on the tray than was on my garage floor, unless you have removed your tray.
I went and visited my motor today; there it was, on the shop floor, along with my gearbox.
The tech at the dealer is a Porsche Master Technician, who's been around 911s for decades. I talked to him a little bit; he told me was going to give me a new clutch disk, although the original has plenty of life in it. He said that the flywheel looked fine except for some checking that he was going to clean up, and that the pressure plate was fine. He's also doing a new seal on the gearbox even though it's not leaking because, as he put it, "The engine's out now and I don't want to take it out again in six months if it starts leaking there." He also inspected my harness and says it looks perfect, and he's replacing both the temp and pressure switches. He says everything else on the engine is tight and dry.
Now, if only they'd let me in there on Saturday so I can detail the engine and the compartment ...
Vic
I went and visited my motor today; there it was, on the shop floor, along with my gearbox.
The tech at the dealer is a Porsche Master Technician, who's been around 911s for decades. I talked to him a little bit; he told me was going to give me a new clutch disk, although the original has plenty of life in it. He said that the flywheel looked fine except for some checking that he was going to clean up, and that the pressure plate was fine. He's also doing a new seal on the gearbox even though it's not leaking because, as he put it, "The engine's out now and I don't want to take it out again in six months if it starts leaking there." He also inspected my harness and says it looks perfect, and he's replacing both the temp and pressure switches. He says everything else on the engine is tight and dry.
Now, if only they'd let me in there on Saturday so I can detail the engine and the compartment ...
Vic
