Received the news during a DE inspection, that I have an early RMS leak. Came as a total surprise not even a drop where the car is garaged. My mechanic, PCA authorized, recommended they replace it with a 997 seal. I recall reading a post that mentioned the Cayenne seal was also a better fix.
Any thoughts/feedback?

 

Rather than replace, why not try an additive to swell the seals again? Stops most seal leaks. Mobil oil is brutal on seal material.

 

Unless it's under warranty, why rush to fix it?

It's not a mission critical leak - why spend the $$$ unless of course someone else is picking up the bill.

 

Is there a diagram or a photo of the 996 engine that shows where this RMS is in relation to the whole engine??

 

Looking at the 'back' of the engine - trans is off

Drive shafts left and right - RMS center, IMS lower

 

As of now it IS under warranty. As of now it's not even dripping. Just want it fixed before warranty is up. How long does it go before it becomes "critical"?

 

Likely it will never do anything other than drip oil on the floor.

People run with RMS for tens of thousands of miles - use an oil pan in the garage for drips, and check the oil level and top-up as required.

That's all it needs.

Urban legend says that RMS 'could' in theory, get to your clutch eventually.

Seems to be rare to extremely rare based on reports here.

 

rms will never get on your clutch, unless the spring breaks (i ve seen it once)

If your under warrenty have it fixed before your out,

rms leaks will not casue your engine to blow up, or fail or do anyhitng but leave a small stain in your garage

adding stop leak to you oil is not a good idea, and it will not fix 99% of the leaks on a water coooled porsche, for sure it will not fix camcover leaks, head gaskets, rms, case bolt leaks


the cayenne seal will not fit in a 997/996 case its not going to happen, its about 1/2 inh to big
the 997 seal is a cayenne style seal and has all but elminated rear main leaks

make sure they also do the case bolts and the ims seal per the bulletion

 

Stop leak will stop the majority of RMS leaks short of a ripped or otherwise damaged seal. In addition, it helps rejuvinate all other seals that your oil comes in contact with. This is especially true for engines that are not driven alot. Running a quart of dino oil in your crankcase will also help your seals to remain flexable.

Obviously, if the warranty will cover the replacement free, then, it's a no brainer on what to do. However, I have to laugh when I read that people are spending big bucks out of their own pocket to replace an expensive seal because it leaks a few drops now and then. For those people, they will probably find that an additive or just simply using a different oil will stop the leak for good.

Many young techs only know how to replace parts and their knowledge of mechanics is nothing more that what the manual says and are unaware of many long standing remedies for problems. Seal conditioners have been used for 50 years and do no harm to the engine and work well, for the most part. At minimum, an investment of $5 to see if it corrects the problems would make sense.

 

seal conditioner isnt going to help a rear main seal on a porsche with a old style seal, as the spring tenson relaxs on the seal and or the seal wears o nthe crank becasue of the spring tension, the seal leaks

 

So that tiny little thing is the source of such misery in 996 world? Damn! I thought it was the size of a softball for some reason.

 

i have a question.... what if i don't see any leaks at all... but i keep putting in oil on my car.... around 1/2 quart for the pass 1K miles so far..... but if it's not leaking, where is it going?

 

You should get out of the shop more often. It has worked on many 996 seals. A weak spring is only one of the causes of a leaking seal.

 

It is about the size of a softball. The RMS is in the center if the pic in post #5. It is the cleanest looking part in the pic, almost bronze in color.

 

EXACTLY!!! My car has ZERO drips...but since I have had the car...October...with 22K and now it has 26K I have put one quart in..and last night after a fill up my little oil diagram shows it is on the last little square in the box. So its time to put another quart.

Regarding using an "additive" or some other oil to help the leak...can someone give me the exact brand name? I was planning on heading to my local Autozone for some Mobile 1 but if its going to help I will buy the additive instead. Is it called STOPLEAK as a proper name? And I simply add it in instead of oil? or a mixture? Please clarify...as I plan on doing this, this weekend. Thanks!