Damn............oil leak!

[golfprorich]

Had my 944S for 10 months now and until today she hasn't dripped any oil.

However there is a decent leak somewhere below the oil filter area. I am thinking possibly oil cooler seals? If so is it a big job to replace?

The car is booked in to have the belts tensions checked next Weds as they were replaced a few months back, I could get them to deal but if I can sort it myself then I'd rather do that.

Unfortunately can't take a look underneath properly till Friday, and Friday I was planning to do cambelt and water pump on my daily driver but that may have to wait now!

 

[zcacogp]

How long since the oil filter was last changed and how do you know there is a leak? Is it dripping on the floor or just that you can see oil stains on the car there?

The reason I ask is that it's very hard to change an oil filter on a 944 without spilling oil around the place. You may just be seeing spillage from the last filter change.


Oli.

 

[golfprorich]

Hi Oli,

Last oil filter change was about 6 months ago and its been bone dry underneath. Since the oil change its been in for belts and there were no leaks then.

I took it out this afternoon and on return noticed an oil patch on the drive, looked under and it was dripping nicely. From above I could see it pooling on the undetray.

 

[wibble]

Do you smell burnt oil after a drive? The other suspect is the rear camshaft cork gasket - oil can run down along edge of sump and headers - cheap and easy to fix. If checking tension, it should be possible to check front cam seal for leaks and front main crank seal (also an inner spline drive can wear too, if changing crank seal). That's if they were disturbed. The bad news is all the belts have to come off again.

As Oli said oil filter is a messy task however you try.

 

[golfprorich]

No burnt oil smell, seems to missing the headers and drops off the engine about level with the engine mount. Front of the engine looks very dry.

 

[Cater_Racer]

See TommyS86 picture laden thread describing oil cooler gasket and O ring replacement: Oil Cooler Nightmare Help

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=894978

HTH

Gerry

 

[golfprorich]

Thanks Gerry for the link. Should have a positive identification of where the leak is from tomorrow.

 

[Indi9xx]

Your car has the same kind of oil/coolant heat exchanger that the 8 valve non turbo cars has, so if the oil/coolant heat exchanger was externally leaking, it would be leaking coolant. If the oil part of it was leaking you would be getting engine oil entering your cooling system and collecting in the expansion tank.

For S2, Turbo and 968 models, they have an external air cooled oil cooler behind the front bumper/valance which is usually destructible (almost) but is fed by two hoses which with age can crack (just for the archives and someone searching later) and leak.

If you have oil leaking around bellow the oil filter area, I would say the most likely candidates, in order of popularity in my experience would be.

* Oil filter seal - especially a problem with cheaper oil filters as they can blow out, usually when driving or on cold starts
* Lower balance shaft front rotary oil seal - the shaft housing holds oil even after a shutdown, and can leak when parked.
* Oil pressure sender - typically will only drip a tiny amount as you drive or for a moment after shutdown.
* Oil pressure relief valve crush washers - typically these again will only drip a tiny amount.

Was it on a slope where it was parked and does the car have an under tray? if it was pointing down hill and has an under tray the oil could have leaked elsewhere and even accumulated over time only to pour out when it was facing down hill.

Is it really oil? Does it have a red colour? In which case it could be power steering fluid.

just my thoughts.

 

[golfprorich]

Jon, many thanks for your input. I will be able to give a definite answer tomorrow when I can take a proper look. It does have an undertray so could be pooling and the leak be some distance away.

I will be sure to update this thread tomorrow as people have been so helpful []

 

[golfprorich]

Well Jon was right and it was in fact power steering fluid. Seems that where it has run off the undertray and picked up dirt and grime it had appeared black on the floor!

It was leaking from the high pressure power steering pipe and was coming appearing through the rubber sheath. Porsche wanted £240 + VAT for a new one so I took mine to Pirtek and they replicated it for a fraction of the cost. They were really good, the chap had done one for anothe 944 not that long ago. I could've got one from a car being broken but as they will all be the same sort of age now it could've lasted just a short time.

All sorted now though!

 

[edh]

That's a good result - I was thinking PS fluid myself as that seems much more common. Time to clean your undertray... []
Pirtek are great aren't they?

 

[golfprorich]

That's a good result - I was thinking PS fluid myself as that seems much more common. Time to clean your undertray... []
Pirtek are great aren't they?

Yes Pirtek were great, did it there and then. Just need to get some Dexron III as I didn't have any then I can get back on the road..........though I think my waterpump may be seeping now. Gutted as only had the belts done in May []