Here's the short version:

Went in to the dealer to get a check engine light looked at for a vaccuum leak, because I couldn't find it. They came back to me with an oil fill tube leak, which made sense to me.

They also told me that I needed to replace the oil galley plugs. I know that I've been loosing oil, and there isn't enough on the garage floor to warrant what I've been loosing.

So here are the questions.

1. Where can I get the oil galley plugs? The dealer has to special order, and I haven't found them anywhere else, yet.

2. How hard are they to replace? The dealer said it would be a couple hours labor, so I'm thinking that I can do it myself. I haven't looked through the manual yet, because I've been out of town for 8 days.

Help would be appreciated. TIA.

 

whats an oil galley plug?

 

lol, that's what I'm trying to figure out.

I couldn't get a very good explanation from the service advisor at the dealership. He just started working there and doesn't know very much about Porsche yet.

 

you have a part number? a description, how many are there, a color

 

no i don't, porsche unfortunately didn't put it on the invoice, and I dropped the car off before I left town last week and I didn't get back until last night. so I haven't been able to get a lot of information yet from the dealer.

Was hoping someone here might have some previous experience with it.

 

just a guess, but I think there are only two, and it sounds like they have something to do with the oil draining back from the heads to the pan. maybe, i'm not sure.

 

are we talking about the plastic plugs that pop out of the block? the ones I saw the tech polk a hole in with his pick and pop out?????? never heard of one leaking though!

 

im gonna guess at oil tubes
they call them oil return tubes but in realtiy they dont return oil to anywhere
common leak on early cars

 

@ Tierce,

Be prepared for some swearing,it's a P.I.T.A. but it can be done if you know your way w/ a wrench.

 

Any and all advice is helpfull. I've got plenty of experience with a wrench, but what are we talking here? Is it worth paying the dealer 2 hours labor?

 

spark plug tubes are generaly more then 2 hours, i have no idea what you have for a leak

 

@ Tierce,

Perhaps you should call the shop that said the 'oil galley plugs' are an issue and ask them what exactly they were referring to.

@ 99firehawk,

Spark plugs tubes are more then 2 hours labor on a 986? I thought it's just as simple as changing spark plugs?! Isn't it more time on a 996 due to the r/r of a panel?

 

I have see mention of an oil galley plugs, but only on UK Boxster boards. When this plug comes out so does the oil and the low oil pressure light comes on. They say if you catch it quick enough you simply replace the plug. What and where these plug(s) are on my list of things to find out when I talk to the mechanics at my local dealer.

 

If they are really the oil galley plugs, there are a couple of them, they are just small brass plugs in the oil galleys. You can see where one has been removed for a repair in the pics below. They are a $0.40 part and take very little time to replace. You can see the removed plug in the second pic with the wood screw in it.

Todd

 

So if one were to use one of the plug ports what exactly would the oil have access to? I am considering installing an accumulator for start ups. Car sits now for several weeks between runs. Thanks for the pics.