pewX3

I have an '04 with the x51 package and approximately 47k. I took the car out last Monday for a pretty spirited drive. Drove like a champ. Got home and put her in the garage. The car has been sitting since yesterday.

Well yesterday needed to do some work in the garage, so I backed the car out for some more room. Oil spots on the floor!

I looked under the car, and it looks like there's a very slow drip. I put a piece of cardboard under the car after I moved it. Had 1 drop of oil fall down pretty quickly after moving it out. After that nothing for the next 4-5hours of the car sitting.

I assume this is the RMS leaking. I haven't had a chance to get an up and personal look. Oil levels is fine per (if anything 1-tick above the high line) the electronic measurement (haven't had a chance to check the dipstick yet)

Just strange that the RMS (i'm making an assumption here) started to leak/weep all of a sudden after a nice hard drive.

Would getting on the car like that cause this (bought the car 1k miles ago - no service records so I'm not sure if the RMS was ever replaced)?

Does anyone have any pictures of what an RMS leak looks like from under the car? (where would the drips come from? I searched and couldn't fine anything)

I assume it's safe to continue to drive the car like this as long as I can tolerate the minor dripping?

Thanks!

EDIT: added pix of initial leak on garage floor

white out

Probably your air oil separator. More of a PITA to replace than expensive.

pewX3

Hmm, off to researching AOS now then!

Based on the (little) knowledge I have about the AOS, would that cause a weep/leak? I thought the AOS would cause the exhaust to smoke and scare me into thinking the car was burning oil?

So is there a danger in driving the car with either a damaged AOS or RMS? (What are the long and short term side effects?)

Hurdigurdiman

I don't think I would be driving until I had the leak rectified. Best you find the source and then have it repaired or diy if possible before you even think of moving it again. Thats IMHO. Better safe than sorry.

CDLVancouver

Take a pic of underneath the car to pinpoint (hopefully) where the leak is. A spot on the floor really doesnt do anything.
Dont jump to rms or whatever because theres a spot on the floor.

Barn996

Put a large piece of cardboard under the rear of your Porsche so you can pinpoint where the oil is leaking ie. center of engine where the transmission mates with the engine, or left or right side of engine where other leaks may occur. That way you ought to be able to identify the leak. Lots of reasons for leaks, some not as serious as others.

chsu74

Wipe the underside of you car clean first. Then follow new leaks and post pics. It can be anything from your spark plug tubes leaking to XXX...

Barn996

Do the MY04s have spark plug tubes Chao?

b8_rdc

No tubes in 02+

RPMulli

Don't jump to conclusions.. could be the IMS... Damn I've been gone for a while!!

KrazyK

Pewx3, Hope this helps. Look at lowest point where engine/trans meet for RMS/IMSB leak. You may have to clean first then watch. The good news, it may be a chance to replace both and do the clutch if you have not.

pewX3

WTH?! I'd rather it was an RMS than the IMS! I thought if the IMS goes, there's not tell tale signs (unless you have a Guardian) and it just blows up!


I haven't had a chance to look/clean the leak yet. Hopefully towards the end of this week. I need to clean it and get my bearings on where it's coming from.

I'd prefer not to replace the clutch until it needs it. Then at that point I'd do the IMS as well.

I read a couple of other threads and someone actually had their leak stop after driving the car everyday!

Given all the choices, I'm hoping it's a SLOW rms. Then I can just leave it until the clutch goes.

KrazyK

Pewx3, not to alarm you but if either one is leaking your best to do all three things while in there.

ivangene

I suggest driving it

my 996 used to drop a few drips once in a while...but driving it would "seal" it back up and it wouldn't drip

either that or it will get worse and be easier to find.....wipe the floor clean and if it becomes a daily habit of dripping - go in and fix the drip....you might be surprised to find it only drips 1-2 days out of a month and isnt a emergency

just a thought
PS I never did fix my RMS but did change the AOS and cam solenoid seals and a few other small items - but the rms weeped for sure...just not much, and not everyday

Marc Gelefsky

An RMS leak could just a easily be an IMS leak, mine was. No way to tell without opening it up.