Same RMS is used in the 2010 as in the '07 & '08.

PN 997.102.264.91

Just a Public Service Announcement

 

the real Q is does it still leak LOL.

 

just goes to show you that Porsche really believes there is nothing wrong with a slight leak... Heritage...

 

Neither my car nor my wife's RS leaks. Both cars are track driven frequently. A friend who made a garage queen out of his RS has leaks and complains. My 2007 RS (just sold) had 51,000 KM, his, less than 8,000. This makes me believe Porsche when they say to drive the car frequently. It has worked for us.

 

I read in Excellence that the leak is normal and is simply because of the new RMS design for the 997 GT3. They mentioned that if you want to get rid of the leak that going with the turbo seal will do the trick, but you will also lose some power. Part of the increase in power from the 996 to 997 GT3 is this redesign of the RMS. If the car is driven fairly regulary, then it will either not leak at all or leak a bit when it is sitting without the motor running. The longer it sits without being driven, the bigger the puddle will get (go figure). I believe the seal is meant to seal properly under vacuum when the car is being driven.

So why are some worse than others, and why are the leaks not totally consistant with the "drive less, leak more" theory? I can think of numerous reasons why since the seal is meant to seal under vacuum. Probably some of the seals simply retain their shape better based on the original manufacturing. All may seal properly when driven and under vacuum, but when the motor is shut off and there is no vaccum, then the seal goes back to its original manufactured cured shape. So those that are a bit more warped will leak more when sitting vs. one that has virtually no warp or none at all.

This is just my theory, please punch holes in it because I know my thinking is off somewhere and what I believe about RMS's and their material and manufacturing processses and possible results could be way off from actual reality. I'm just thinking out loud.

 

^^^
I have been thinking the same thing.....so I just keep driving it

 

^^^^ I heard the same thing and you know what I actually believe it. I'll see if my 2010 leaks as time goes on, but I'd rather have the leak, the engine running as intended and a few more ponies

 

I'd rather have the engine running as intended and a few more ponies with no leak. If other car manufacturers can do it, Porsche should be able to as well, especially on a $100k+ car. JMHO.

 

How many other companies run the crankcase under vacuum I wonder? Still, ours don't leak so I have no concern. If my '10 RS leaks, then I may change my mind

 

Slight OT, congrats on the sale Bob, it went quick. Still in the rennsport family?

 

I think most crankcases run under vacuum if the rings are sealing. I can't imagine how a RMS could effect power.

 

ditto! A new one on me... RMS design effect power output... nice... All seals circumference are/should be made slightly smaller than what it is intended to seal... distortion from operation should be overcome by seal material memory...
Porsche punched weep hole in the RMS to accommodate crankcase leaking/pressure relief point... with that in mind, and engine operating under vacuum even with the weep hole built into the RMS, once the engine is stopped it will loose its vacuum thru the RMS seal hole along with some engine oil that was splashed on to it under operation... I think the logical remedy for curing the re equalization of crankcase pressure to atmospheric pressure would be to have an ONE WAY VENT valve on top of the engine (like the one in their turbo engines) away from the oil passages thereby preventing the RMS leak... and of course the RMS vent hole would have to be removed...

just some random thoughts from engineering days gone by....

 

Maybe, maybe not. I know that awhile back I had an custom engine builder hand build a 113 C.I. Harley air cooled, V-twin. This was before these engines were popular. This monster produced over 110 horsepower and 128 ft/lb of torque @ 4400 rpms, at the wheel. Mostly unheard of for an air cooled, single cam, push rod every day street motor which ran beautifully on pump gas and was an absolute beast when wicking that throttle.

Anyway, the builder was adamant about his proprietary engine case venting which not only increased power but added longevity to his masterpiece. Probably unrelated to the contemporary Porsche engine, but I felt like typing.

 

I don't have a GT3 yet but I am trying to learn as much about it as I can. =)
Having said that, if the car is not driven frequently, just running the engine for a few min every couple of days will do the trick to prevent this infamous RMS issue?

 

Crankcase vacuum design is a matter of pollution avoidance I believe. Decades ago car companies designed their crankcase ventilation to breath over board and now it is all recirculated to avoid these oily fumes to escape into the atmosphere.