redbird457

This is what my dealer is telling me about my 25K-mile 1996 993. Is it true about the 20 hours???

New to this forum... Thanks!

"the car has the rear main seal leak of the engine oil they had anticipated because 90% of these model's have it and to access it you have to drop the engine, about a 20 hour job, the longer it goes the worse it'll get... also there is a power steering housing leak."

DrZ

The Tampa dealer PPI reportedly noticed a "minor seepage " from the rear main seal in my 1998 Cab which at the time had 4k miles on it. They quoted a ten hour labor repair. These findings were not corroborated by either a private mechanic here in Socal or subsequently by the local dealer whose mechanic I trust. Incidently I now go over 2000miles before adding a qt of oil (16K on the odo) whereas when I first got the car it was more like 750. I believe the rings needed to seated as opposed to some leak that somehow just went away.

Bottom line: Get a second opinion! Post your location, someone here will likely refer you to a competent private wrench.

redbird457

Thanks very much. I am in Boston, MA. No oil on the garag floor where the car has sat for the last 4 months, by the way...

pjc

When I bought my '95 car there was a suspicion that the rear seal was leaking and as part of the deal the car went through the shop to have it checked and rectified - I knew the chief wrench and once the tray was off the engine and they had a good look, although there was traces of oil down the back of the engine, it turned out that the car had been overfilled on an oil change. This was proven by taking the air intake system apart and sure enough there was oil present. A good clean up and she was as good as new.

Hope it is something similar on your car and not the main seal - it certainly is an engine out job.

PJC

stedge

Try Mr. Pellegrino at EPE, in Natick, if I recall correctly.

mike cap

redbird,

I agree with the advise above. In two years on this forum, I would say that it is VERY unusual to have a leaking rear main engine seal at 25k and certainly 90% of the 993's here haven't had to do this repair. Wonder why some guys call them "stealers" instead of dealers?

Most likely the oil around the seal is a result of overfilling by the PO and resulting pressure in the crankcase. It's not unusual for oil to puke past one of the crankcase seals in any car when the oil is overfilled. Also not unusual for the leak to stop once the excess oil is gone. You won't see any leaks while the car is sitting - hence no oil on the garage floor.

My suggestion is to have someone show you where the "leak" is coming from, solvent clean the area and keep an eye on it for a few months. My guess is that you don't have a problem at all. Dealer had a boat payment to make.

Also, take off the engine undertray (sound tray) and leave it off. You can search here and find out why. Having this tray off makes eyeballing the underside of your air cooled baby's engine a lot easier.

Power steering leak should be repaired. Where is this alleged leak?

redbird457

Thanks, all. Much appreciated! Off to a new wrench...

ACEparts_com

My RMS went shortly after purchase on my TT. 36K. 10 Hour job, about £1100 at a dealer in the UK. Apparently 90% of the leak was the RMS, 10% from the oil thermostat housing above it.

Jon 'Bama

mine went at 57k miles right after I bought it. Covered under waranty from the certified used. No where near 20 actual hours, no idea what "book" time is but my car was done in a day and a half and it also needed a clutch.

Good luck but take it to an independant

Jon

Jay Gratton

Another option is Mark Nadler @ Exotech in Plastow, NH. He is wonderful and really knows his stuff. Best wishes - Jay Gratton

vjd3

My ex 95 C4 lost its rear main seal at 38k miles. It's not that uncommon. It left oil on the floor, however.

Vic
99 C2 cab

nile13

Redbird, which dealer was it?

redbird457

The dealer was Chambers Motor Cars in Brookline, MA. I hear they may not be the best...

Anyone heard of Autosport Engineering in Stowe? They sound quite legit.

markc123

I just checked the book,
12 hrs to remove and replace engine
1.5 hrs to split engine and transmission
1.4 to replace rear main seal

911-TOUR

I had a dealer tell me the exact same thing you heard, once...my RMS needed to be replaced when I swapped the clutch, but the reported leak went away after a while (I suspect some overfilling from the PO)

The power steering pump assembly is also a common dealer quip...they may need to replace an o-ring in the pump, but it's unlikely the whole thing is bad. Have them flush the system with Pentosin (next-gen powersteering fluid, do a search on the board) this sometimes restores the seals without any intervention.

20 hours labor is excessive. I call bull-honkey.

sean