Maybe not fully worthy of Kafka, but it is different from the run-of-the-mill oil leak question (I've read them all) caused by non-Porsche filters and overfilling the oil.

I've owned my Turbo a little more than a year. It has never leaked a drop of oil or smoked on start up. I keep the oil level at the low end of the stick. Two and a half months ago (& about 700 miles ago) I changed the oil and put in Mobil 20W50. It had a Mahle filter, but as I said it never leaked so I guess I was lucky. Of course I replaced it with a Porsche filter and I tightened it properly, a little less than 1 turn. I kept watch for leaks for the next month and there were none. It has the original turbos, with one (don't know which one) being rebuilt several years ago.

Yesterday I had a small oil spot on the floor and it is leaking from the driver's side turbo. I drained both turbo sumps. There was a lot of oil in the driver's side. I let it drain then put a fresh cup under it. Eight hours later it is still dripping 1 drop every 30 seconds. The passenger side turbo had a small oil amount and is not continuing to drip.

So this sounds like a case of the oil filter being bad and leaking, allowing oil to siphon into the turbo. Is this reasonable, given that it is a Porsche filter and was okay for over two months, the oil level was always kept low and only one turbo is leaking? Or could my turbo be bad and ready to blow up?

There's a track day this weekend. Do you think I'm okay to put in a new Porsche filter and give it a go? I think I will install the special oil lines and checks valves in the near future. I guess these prevent oil leakage even if the filter goes bad.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

Your oil level is at the bottom mark, you have Porsche OEM filters (tighten properly), previously rebuilt Turbos

but no check valves and no prior history of leaks?

BTW, why does it seem like more often than not, its on the driver side? (maybe it's not, but it seems that way when reading these stories)

I spoke to Kevin on Monday for 1/2 hour about his check valves. He is quite knowledgeable and helpful, maybe he will see this one and respond.

 

That is why I came up with the revised return lines which already Andial used a few years ago. Now out of production I had a few sets fabricated to high standards for fellow 993 turbo owners.
Please check here http://www.zweisteintrading.eu/993_turbo_oil_lines.htm

Best regards
Andreas

P.S. The driver side turbo sits lower than the passenger turbo. If the problem is oil-backflow related it usually shows up first on the driver turbo.

 

Like Dallwa has mentioned, make sure that your engine oil level is at the 1 mark on the dipstick (don't look at your gauge). Spin on a new Porsche filter. Be careful how you install it. Do you have a filter wrench?

I would bet that your engine oil level is just to high. Lastly how many miles are on your engine? Did you have a engine leakdown done on your PPI?

 

Thanks for the advice but I am absolutely sure the oil level is not too high. I never use the gauge, only the dipstick. I have watched it religiously since I bought it and never had the oil above 1/4 when hot. It has never leaked or smoked. I've never had to add oil. Right now the oil level is about 1/8.

Yes, I use a Hazet filter wrench. Miles are 49,000 and no, I didn't have a leakdown.

I'm happy to try a new filter, but wondered if it could be a turbo about to fail.

 

Those are nice oil lines. So the complete fix is to install lines like that and the check valve kit that Kevin has, is that correct?

 

I was afraid your car had turned into a cockroach.

 

Oh, no, not at all. However, after I discovered the oil leak, in somewhat of a daze I retreated into the house to consult Rennlist. But as I attempted to gain the far end of the hall, it seemed to recede and stretch, such that I felt I may never get there. Then from some side door at the end of the hall, one which I had never noticed, two twin girls appeared. They stared at me and moved as one. They wore dresses with the most curious floral pattern. I suddenly felt very tired...

 

oil leaks suck

 

Get Kevin's oil line check valves. Good-to-go.

 

I am experiencing the same "problem". My mechanic (long time specialist and dealer since a few years) drained both the oil reservoirs under both turbo's to diagnose if there is more oil in the reservoir than their should be.

The left one (where the turbo is leaking) contained over twice the amount of oil than it should. This indicates too much oil flowing (back) to the left reservoir/turbo. There are two ways oil can flow (back). From the turbo side (more likely, that's where the oil return lines incl check valves come into place) or from the other side of the oil reservoir (less likely, that's we're the p-trap oil lines come into places). The most likely cause is that it is coming from above the turbo and installing the oil return lines incl check valves would/could take care of that issue.

So the solution does not (always) have to be to install both oil lines.

I am no mechanic or technician but I hope this all makes a bit sense. My mechanic just explained this a couple of hours ago and from this diagnose we are going to install the oil return lines incl check valves (and keep my fingers crossed).

 

That's great info. I pulled the plastic intakes on the turbos last night and the left one was full of oil. I changed the small filter (yes, OEM Porsche), but the old one looked just fine. Today I went for a short drive and it leaked again, so the filter wasn't the issue. I think I'll install the check valves since they the cheapest way to start, are the most likely cause and would be good to have, anyway. If that doesn't fix it, then I guess it's the P-trap oil lines or a turbo rebuild.

 

Also check the air intake hoses on the turbo side. I have seen the rubber hoses with issues around the hose clamps and oil dripping from the intercooler down the air intake hose to the external part of the turbo. Do you have the original air intake hoses or the updates (orange ends)?

 

Didn't I read that these small filters had to be hand tightened by 1 turn and not with a wrench? There was a TSB on it....

 

One hose has the orange ends, but the other does not. They both look a little used, so I was thinking of replacing them.

Yes, something like that. But I defy anyone to get their hands up in there and be able to tighten it one turn. Maybe if you are very strong but with tiny hands, and octopus-like suckers for grip would help, too.

I actually went about 5/8 turn but had to lightly use the filter wrench to even get that far.