Ekename

I hate to reveal my ignorance but what exactly is the RMS? I'm sure there is a post somewhere but there are so many RMS posts to wade through.

Thanks,

Tim

CLL ACAB

Rear Main Seal (Leaks)

Ekename

That's what I though but I just wanted to be sure.

Thanks,

Tim

1999Porsche911

Porsche calls it the "crankshaft main bearing seal".

smshirk

I don't understand why that would sometimes require an engine replacement. Engines have developed rear main seal leaks with age and time for decades, especially US V8s. Why couldn't the seal or seals just be replaced? Does it happen so quickly it loses all the oil in short time and cause internal damage? Or is there something i don't understand? I never heard of the problem with 996/986s until I joined this forum this week and i've become all lathered up about it. I have one of each. I've never seen a drop of oil under either one, which is really a pleasant surprise for one who has had older 911s

Torags

Just do a search for rms. You will have two hours of reading. You will get to know Scouser, who initially got out the word & got it rolling.

Ekename

As I understand the issue (just to save you some reading) - is that some engines are manufactured out of spec such that the seal will not fit properly. Thus, it can be replaced but will likely be replaced again (and again, and again).

smshirk

Ekename

Thank you very much. I have been reading posts from scouser, but there are a great many. This does make more sense to my feeble old brain. I have 47k on my 2000 996 and 101k on the 97 Boxster. Neither have had any problems. From all I've read thus far, I may not be out of the woods, but it seems to me that if either were out of spec, I would have probably seen something before now. I also have a 968 and have not had the dreaded pinion gear problem with the 6 speed. I must be living more "right" than I knew. I only take my cars to the shop for valves or belts and never to a dealer, my mechanic has never even mentioned the RMS issue to me. Didn't want me to worry I guess.

fast1

The problem is that none of us has any idea how often the problem occurs. I for example belong to a local Porsche club and no one has the problem. On the other hand when I was shopping for a 996 during the summer, I came across two 996s on dealers lots which had their rear main seals replaced. My gut tells me that the problem doesn't occur that often, and that there are probably less than 10% of 996s that have RMS leaks. But again that's just a guess.

vove

smshirk-
Pardon my ignorance but what have you done to the valves with a 996 at the shop that you mentioned?

Torags

That sums it up nicely.

The issue of value occurred to me. How would the posters who know of the rms value a used 996.

Should a 996 with 20,000 mi and one rms replacement be worth more than a 40,000 mi 996 with no rms problem. Cars same yr., color, model etc.

What do you think.

smshirk

vove

I haven't done anything to 996s valves, but I have two other Pcars now and have had several 911s. The older ones needed valves adjusted every 15k by someone who knew what they were doing.I never had the confidence to tackle the project, so I went to see mechanic regularly. Knock on wood, the 996 has needed nothing since I bought it that I couldn't do myself, but I have driven down there more than once.