Head Gasket Problem?

SteveRev996 · May 22, 2011

Hello,
This is my first post.
I've just purchased my first Porsche, a 2001 996, I've had it for about a month now.
This afternoon I checked the oil and found creamy goo in the oil filler pipe, I don't have any goo in the expansion tank or the dip stick and the oil pressure starts off at the top and as the engine heats up it starts to drop down to about the mid-way, if I put the pedal down it goes back up to the top, if I stop the car the needle drops down to 1 then as I drive it goes back up again to the middle. Does this sound normal?
Thanks in advance, Steve.

adrian996 · May 22, 2011

Hi Steve. Welcome.....and congratulations......on having a totally 'normal' 911!!!![

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The dijon is caused by condensation in the (very long) oil filler tube mixing with oil and making things look like your head gasket has gone - and making you very worried indeed! I initially rejected my 6000 mile 911 and sent it back to the OPC that it came from stating that they'd sold me a lemon! Suffice to say all this resulted in one red face - followed by relief!

Your oil pressure gauge does just that; it tells you what your oil pressure is. When you rev your engine it goes up - because it's circulating your engine at greater speed. The reading is always 5 bar when the engine is cold. It should settle to around 2 - 2.5 bar at tick over when she's warm. In fact you won't be doing the engine any harm at all by not revving the engine above 2500 to 3000 revs per min until the oil pressure has settled to around 2.5 bar. This is because you can then be absolutely sure that the engine is up to working temp and you're not doing the engine any lasting harm by over revving it when she's too cold.

It's pretty much a religion amongst most 996 owners that you wait for the water temp to reach 90 deg C and then for the oil pressure to fall to 2 - 2.5 bar BEFORE you give it any stick. It just takes a bit of patience!

Hope this helps. Sleep well - and here's a pic of my dijon for you to compare!

Adrian.

Richard_Hamilton · May 22, 2011

Welcome Steve! I'll second what Adrian said. Well put.

Adrian - that engine is indecently clean. Was that taken when you bought it?

adrian996 · May 23, 2011

No, no!! That was just yesterday.........[8|]

Yes, taken soon after I got it - but it still looks pretty clean![

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t1x · May 23, 2011

Adrian,

I have to second what Richard has said. That is a spotless engine. Does it look the same now????

How old is your car?

bazhart · May 23, 2011

Don't worry if the oil pressure falls to 1 bar to 1.5 bar on tickover when hot - as this is normal especially if the oil is mobil 1 or similar and the mileage is getting up there.

The 3.2 carerras often read zero at tickover and there is no load on it then anyway.

The running oil pressure will not be higher than 5 bar because there is an oil pressure relief valve that opens when the pressure gets up there.

Only worry when you see mayonaise in the expansion tank as this will probably be caused by a cracked head or core plug in the head falling out.

Baz

adrian996 · May 23, 2011

Hi Tiku ........and thanks! [

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She on a June 2003 plate. The car is very much a second car for (lucky) me - I run 'round in a £250 diesel Citroen most of the time. I also do a bit of amateur detailing on the side so I'm quite in to all that sort of thing. She's just tipped over the 24k mile mark and yes, she's pretty clean!

Having said all of that, it might be quicker to just say that I look after it like it took me eight years of saving and £50k to buy![

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Here's the whole thing. I'll shut up now!