pbkirby

Drove my 04 Boxster s 500 miles this week overnight I found a leak, cleaned it up drove another 50 miles the next day and another leak (pic, wallet in the shot for context). Had the IMS bearing replaced about a year ago with a new clutch and RMS, not a drop of oil until this week. What do you think I have on my hands ? Headed out of town for a week so the car is going to sit for a week before I can crawl under it.

Dave H.

you're going to have to stick your head under there and see where it's dripping from.

Mighty Shilling

We have seen a few cases where the LN bearing flange leaks... Not quite to that extent

Macster

"What do you think I have on my hands ?"

A week before you can get under the car and id the source of the leak.

pbkirby

seems to be coming from the area wear the engine meets the tranny. Might be the RMS again ?

pbkirby

pic

Macster

Could be RMS but the leak sure seems heavier than the majority of RMS leaks.

Be sure you or a tech thoroughly check for leaks from some other place before you start wrenching on the car.

When my Boxster had what proved to be an RMS the SM got the car on the lift and walked me through the check list of other leak areas. When they all came up negative for leak sign that's when he said it was an RMS.

Just so you know there is always the possibility the leak is from the IMS flange seal or bolts -- still quite a bit heavier than others I've seen -- and it is SOP to replace the IMS end flange and bolts with new/updated ones when the RMS is done.

pbkirby

Problem solved, leaking oil pump. A few gaskets and such and should be back on the road this weekend.

Schnell Gelb

Thanks for letting us know .So often threads like this end without a successful resolution shared.
Odd that the pump leaked from gaskets, but not seals.Perhaps seals were the "such" part of your description?Did the mechanic mention anything else like loose bolts for example?

pbkirby

Unfortunately that is not the end of the story. When they drained the oil to pull off the pump they found the a "fuzzy drain plug". Looks like some engine wear happening. So much for the investment in the IMS retrofit 2 years/9K ago.

Macster

While the fuzziness on the drain plug doesn't look good and that the debris is magnetic (all of it?) neither of these are not enough to condemn the engine.

At least not yet.

The engine was opened up (so to speak) to replace a bearing. Anytime an engine is opened up this always results in more debris in the filter, or in this case at the magnetic drain plug, afterwards.

The oil pump was removed and due to a problem with gaskets/seals. I wonder if this had the gears of the pump not meshing properly or in some other way could have caused wear?

Take the drain plug to a clean drain pan. Use carb cleaner to remove the debris from the drain plug.

Using carb cleaner wash/rinse the debris until it is clean and then pour this onto a clean white paper towel and try to see just what the debris is, what shape the debris is and if it is all ferrous, and so on.

pbkirby

Worse fears realized. Apparently the IMS has sheered off from where it attaches to the oil pump. New shaft and oil pump needed. $7K repair. I guess it could have been worse and it could have come apart and taken down the entire engine.

pbkirby

Another picture

Schnell Gelb

Jake Raby may be interested in your photo to include in his "modes of failure".He may be able to give you some insight into what caused this unusual failure.
I am in a similar situation to you -need to strip down and rebuild the entire engine. Why? Because whatever failed may have distributed debris into potentially harmful areas.
I'll be posting anything that I find to help with this very expensive repair -parts, equipment, contacts and techniques because I just can't afford the $14k pro rebuild .

pbkirby

I've already reached out to Jake. I also called PCNA and the repair qualifies for the IMS Class Action Suit, they will cover 25% of the cost if I have it repaired at the dealer.