930man

i brought my car in to a Porsche shop to have the oil changed today, the noticed some oil where the transmision and the engine come together. they told me to look on the floor of the garage see if there was any spots and I noticed a nickle size drop under the car. has anyone noticed this? I did not have the dealer change the oil do you think this will be a problem when i bring into the dealer?????

JohnnyBahamas

I had a similar spot on the floor at about 3200 miles. Like an idiot I panicked, assumed that I had an RMS leak, and was ready to trade the car in on a 996TT. Dumb. When I finally got into the dealer service center it turned out to be a Vario Cam Cap seal on one of the heads. Easy fix... no problem since.

You've got to get it to your dealer service center for a look see.

930man

will they have a problem if a certified shop changed oil or just dont bring it up????

djantlive

You could very well have RMS if the lead is between tranny and engine. Nothing that a dealer couldn't fix under warranty. If you changed oil, that won't matter if dealer did it or not. If they ask, you can show them receipt where you bought filter. I do that just to play safe.

930man

thanks making me feel better already! upsetting to see it with 3000 miles on the car and very cautious with the break in milage

TT Surgeon

I wouldn't mention it to them about going to other shops, if you do have a RMS and problems down the line you may need a good relationship with your dealer.

infestation

I had the RMS replaced on mine at just over 7,000 miles since. Haven't had a problem since and I have just over 10,000 miles on the car now, plus, my oil level has been completely consistent.

Once your dealer gets the appropriate 997s parts, if they don't have them already (I'm not sure if they are different then the 996 parts.), then the repair won't take more than a day.

SrfCity

Too late, the P-cops have already read this thread and recorded it

Carlos from Spain

Check were the oil drop was in relation to the car. The RMS leak is dead center between left and right, a Cam leak or O-ring leak are to either side intead.
Let us know what it turns out to be 930man.

930man

carlos i did find out i had a rear main seal leak they removed transmision and replace the seal. also changed cam seals while they were woorking on it. i was disturbed about the leak but they fixed no questions asked, i just hope this is a one time occurance.

MMD

Here's one for you. About a month ago I noticed the dreaded drops on the garage floor coming from my 2003 986S. Went under the car and sure enough it was weeping oil where the RMS leaks appear. Entered my private hell for a few days.

Here's the strange part: weeks later and I haven't seen anymore drops on the floor. I put a clean piece of newspaper there everytime I park the car after driving it and: no drips anymore!

Can anybody explain this? Ever hear of such a thing? I'm absolutely sure I observed what I describe above.

930man

that sounds crazy, probably just a matter of time before u have a leak. i thought there was a cam tensioner back there with a seal on it maybe thats the problem

Carlos from Spain

Thanks for confirming it for us, thats another 997 with a RMS leak... you'd think that if they didn't bother to fix it in all the yeasr the 986 Boxster and 996 Carrera were into production that they would at least fixed this issue in the new models, instead of keep on selling RMS leak prone cars while negating the issue even exists.

Hope its just a one time occurance as well

930man

yeah they said the motor in the 997 is same base as the 996 very simular problems with them. heck if they can engineer those fine cupholders you think they can fix RMS problem

MMD

I guess the reason it is so hard to fix is the journal diameter upon which the rubber seal's effective sealing depends, is, on these engines: huge. It is about 6 inches in diameter.

The velocity of oil spinning so far from center and the large seal having to contain all that energy might be the reason they fail.

I don't know why the said Porsche journal on the crank is so big. Anybody know?