For the past two months or so, I have noticed a few drops of oil on my garage floor. It is coming from the right side of the engine. The leak has been improving. The engine runs perfect. I have never had any major problems with the engine. I have noticed that the valve lifters on the right are louder than the left. I also have a minor rms leak. Oil has always been changed 3k. I use 0w 40 mobil one. Car is 2000 C2 with about 75k miles.

Today, I got under the car to search for the source of the leak. It appears that it is coming form the passenger side cylinder head cover, under the hear shield. Is this a common place for a leak? Any ideas of what the cause may be? I prefer to do most work myself so guidance would be much appreciated. I do not like taking it to a shop.

Thanks

 

Very common. In order of ease: spark plug tubes, camshaft end seals, camshaft cover seal.

 

This definitely appeared to be coming from a spark plug tube. I will do some searching on repairs of this problem. Thank you very much for you help!!!

 

Tubes are easy, there are inner and outer o-rings that get squared off over time.
Remove the rear bumper, remove the cam cover heat shield, remove the coil packs, pull out the tubes while leaving the plugs in place. You can use your thumb (a bit painful) or find a soft rubber handle of a screwdriver to insert and pull the tubes out.
Grease the new o rings with some motor oil and insert until they pop in.
Don't break the tubes pulling them out, and don't over tighten the coil packs and crack the plastic.

 

Great thread and very good info Chris, Thanks for sharing with all of us... Looks like this could happen to anyone. Cheers.

 

When I had my 02/996 it started leaking from the same spot and I norrowed it down to these vario cam actuator o-rings. See pictures >> https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...these-two.html

 

Thanks for the info. I think that I just need to get under the car again and see if it is from the plug tubes or the actuators.

Is it difficult to get the heat shield off without removing anything else? I would prefer not to get too involved until I know what the exact problem is.

 

Does a 2000C2 have vario cam actuators ?

 

Yes

 

C4CRNA-

My mistake. I was thinking of my friend 02 that I worked on. That has the actuators. Mine does not.

I got under my car and checked and the leak is definitely from the spark plug tubes.

 

Of course your engine has cam actuators (different type) and they are prone to leak, Try snugging up the 2 10mm bolts to stop the leak. In addition, access to the plugs and tubes does not require the removal of the bumper. Easy access.

 

I am confused. I got under my car and I did not see the actuators like pictured above, between the coil packs. Am I looking the wrong area?

 

I really don't think you have them, thats why I asked .
so you wouldn't go looking for something that isn't there.

 

There is one on each side of the engine. One is left of cylinder 3 and the other left of cylinder 4. The cover is held on by 2 10mm bolts and has a single cable coming out of the center. You can see them even when the heat shields are on.

 

The heat shield is easy to remove( 2 bolts). As for the plugs, patience is the key. For me, it's a several hour job. There hard to get to. See the change plugs DYI and it will help you understand how to access everything.