rb101

+1 on spark plug tube seals. If it was the AOS or solenoid seal it would be more towards the flywheel side.

Rick
99 996C4
87 944S

911mike99

Im sure its oil. You can smell it after a hard ride. It drips on drivers side header pipe closest to the rear bumper. Then it smokes a little and smells like oil burning. But the oil level is good. On a hot day this wont cause a fire will it?

ivangene

I dont think a couple drops will cause fire

any chance of a picture

99% sure your tube seals have just been in there too long. Pop over to the house and we'll change them out over beers

Dharn55

Just as a clarification, there are no gaskets on the cam covers. It is a metal to metal fit with a sealant. Porsche says Dreibond 1209/Loctite 5900 but any good quality RTV will work, I use Permatex Copper. Take a look under the engine to see if there is oil on the cam cover. You should be able to see if it is only on the edge of the cam cover, which would indicate a leak at the cover, or whether it is dripping down form the tube area.

Replacing a tube is not that difficult, but resealing the cam cover is a lot of work. Not only do you need a hold down tool (which you can make pretty easily), but it is very difficult to get the cam cover off with the engine in the car. It is possible, but very difficult. You need to remove the muffler bracket and the upper bolts on the cover are hard to access. If you lower the engine 4-6 inches is it a lot easier, but there is some work involved with this.

ivangene

on the 3.6 the cam alignment tool from LNE will not fit the 1-3 bank without removing the cats and rear motor mount bracket (the big one) on the 4-6 bank the suspension is in the way and thats even worse. We had to pull a varicam plus cam chain off for gear work (the inside pin was sticking that acuates the variocam) and what a PITA that turned out to be

like dhard says, you can fab up a bracket to hold the cams in place, but the seal is just glue... you will need to clean your *** off to get the old stuff off too and that muffler bracket is removed via "faith" wrenching - cant see the bolts on top

eggodynamics

FYI, there are no gaskets on the M96 valve covers or oil pan. It's sealant.
Apparently you don't have to remove the engine to reseal them, but I would think it would be best for a clean job. You don't want any excess sealant breaking loose and floating around in the oil clogging ports.

ivangene

I dont think so

15psi

But it would be a lot easier if you remove rear bumper, side heat guard, muffler, spark plug covers, coils. Lowering the engine a bit really helps. Actually it helps in many of the engine fixes.

Then you need the camshaft tool as mentioned eariler.

And you use an unbelievable small amount of gasket sealant when you replace the cover.

Ask me how I know.


There is the old saying when you hear hoofs, don't think zebra. In this case, unless the cam cover was recently removed, don't think cam cover.

Pac996

Bingo. I was going to say there is no gasket but sealant. I've got a valve cover leak that once in a while leaks down on the exhaust during exercising the rpms in quick order. My leak is in the rear drivers side. I don't loose and noticeable oil except for the now rare smoke puffs while nailing it or after doing so and getting caught agh!!!! at a light.

In other words the valve cover leak is likely and not an instant AOS repair job.

eggodynamics

I have the exact same leak..

911mike99

So its ok to drive around like that with no worries of the oil starting a fire from dripping on the header pipe?

Dharn55

You must never have owned an air cooled 911, which were notorious for oil leaks. A few drops is not going to cause a fire. A major leak might.

ivangene

aircooled cars dont have any issues or leaks!!

Barn996

or water...

ivangene

I wanted to top up my coolant yeterday (getting everything ready for the DE) and I was out!!

ran down to my indy and flew in the door before they closed and said, "I need some coolant for my car"
He smiled and handed me 2 qts of Brad Penn 20w/50 - Here ya go !!

hahaha - true story
no leaks in my car, but when driven properly they tend to use a little

OK, "no leaks" is a bit of a stretch... but I call those "weeps" not leaks