RMS 1999 996
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: London Ontario-My Fleet:86Cab/95Coupe/ 01 Outback H6 VDC/ 01 PathfinderSE/65Beetle(Survivor)
RMS 1999 996
Looking at a 996 that has a rear main seal that has some seepage. Apparently its not leaking very much, but I need to budget for it or ask questions.
I've searched the achieves, and threads range from data suggesting to stay away from 996's all together to just driving them with minor leaks and living with it.
I have an 86 3.2 Cab for pleasure use and its never leaked a drop, but I guess I'm spoiled. I'm now looking for a daily driver and hope a 996 will not be a costly mistake.
The 996 has about 30K miles. Any advice would be appreciated.
I've searched the achieves, and threads range from data suggesting to stay away from 996's all together to just driving them with minor leaks and living with it.
I have an 86 3.2 Cab for pleasure use and its never leaked a drop, but I guess I'm spoiled. I'm now looking for a daily driver and hope a 996 will not be a costly mistake.
The 996 has about 30K miles. Any advice would be appreciated.
Race Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,159
Likes: 8
From: Chicagoland
Seepage (not dripping, but sweating) of the RMS on any car is not uncommon and many do so for all eternity. It is not necessarily a sign that the seal will give out completely or cause any dripping of oil in the future. Check the history of the car to see if the seal has ever been replaced. It is also very common for the oil that leaks from the cam cover on the front side of bank one will find it's way down the engine and drip from the area where the RMS would. I know of 2 cases where the tranny was pulled to replace the RMS and it was bone dry. Turned out the oil was from the top of the engine. This cover (and the one for bank 2) has a habit of leaking and it has an easy fix too.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 2
From: great neck, li
Originally Posted by JasonAndreas
Find another 996 without any history of a leaking RMS, there are plenty of them out there. You already know this car has a potentially serious $$$ problem so why make it your own?
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 122
Likes: 1
From: Gaithersburg, MD
Originally Posted by kilrgt
The new RMS fix . seems to be working out real well,
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 2
Check RMS history by looking up warranty history and calling local dealers around. If it's a repeat RMS, I'd steer clear. Otherwise, I'd duct 2-3k off of the value. Also, get a PPI to be sure all the leaks are checked out. Other prone failure inclue MAF, coolant tank, manual tranny, rattles.
