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Oil Leaks

EllisO

EllisO

PCGB Member
Member
I've just had my car into OPC Swindon for the second time this year to have some oil leaks looked at. Last time it was the cam cover gaskets, which were done, but this time its the cam chain covers that need replacing. This means engine out, so a large bill (c£5k once you include VAT). I don't think the actual repair is that difficult technically, so I'm thinking that it can wait until the end of the summer when I SORN the car for the winter, then I have 6 months to do the job myself. That way, I can do anything else in the engine bay that needs doing (clutch feels quite worn), give everything a good clean etc.

Am I mad to be thinking like this or should I just throw it at a non OPC specialist who would be a bit cheaper?

Has anyone else here dropped the engine out? If so, how easy is it and what specialist kit do I need?

thanks

Ellis
 
You have Steve Bull in Devizes

and Northway's nr Reading

Both will be considerably cheaper and will give you a fair assessment of the condition of your car and what needs doing!
 
The gaskets can be replaced with engine in !you can either lower the engine in place or remove tin ware etc
If its small drips of oil,leave,they are getting on now,and leaks do become part of the aircooled experience!No guarantee a new gasket will fix it.
Hope it helps
 
Hi Ellis,

As Paul says, unless the leaks are really bad I woould leave for now. I had a complete engine rebuild to fix mine at OPC Swindon and it cost an arm and a leg!

If you can live with it I'd just accept it for now. For the record, I have never had a 911 that did not leak some oil, even a 997 from new. Maybe I have just been unlucly.
 
It's enough to form a small pool of oil on the garage floor under the left heat exchanger, but this takes a few weeks to accumulate. Not so worried about this (will buy a tray to catch it), but it does cause a degree of smoke when the car is heating up. Once it's burnt off the dropped oil, it doesn't seem to be a problem.

I'd like to get it fixed and if I can do it with the engine in, then all the better. As I said in the original post, I had the cam cover gaskets done earlier this year. Porsche Swindon say its the cam chain covers and that these are warped? Could understand if these are plastic? Anyway, the car is on the way back as I write and I don't think that I'll be doing anything until I SORN it at the end of September.

Paul - how easy a job is it? I'm fairly competent mechanically, so am happy to have a go!
 
Have not removed the chain boxes in car so perhaps Paul can elaborate. I am assuming there is no difference in the chain box design between M64/03 and M64/20 engines. I wonder how you get the box past the camshaft ? I assume you would remove the engine hanger and lower alloy pulley guard (motor consule?) as this fouls the covers slightly and you would have to remove the lower chain ramps as you cannot get the box off without turning it if you dont, as the location pins get in the way (you could prize these off i guess?)? You would need a sprocket removal/holder spanner (sorry can't remember the P tool number off hand) to remove the camshaft sprocket. The rest would be basic tools i think.You would then have to re-time the sprockets. Oh and check for parrallel. To be honest unless there is a simpler way that i'm missing i would not want to do this(assuming it's possible) in car. The chain housing covers yes. Chain housings erm no. To remove just the covers you would have to first get the exhaust out of the way(up to the heat exchangers) drop the engine hanger(support the engine first !) and the alloy pulley guard (as this makes getting the covers off difficult). Then it's just a case of undoing the nuts and taking the covers off. It might well be possible to do it without removing the hanger and guard. Over to Paul for that.
 
Laurence, how is your rebuild coming along?

Wasn't there a thread on this?....Very interesting and certainly educational for most of us.
 
Parts at the machine shop at the moment, i have entrusted them to Nick Fulljames of Redtek. The thread will return when i have something useful to put up i.e. when i get the parts back to reassemble everything.
 
No he said cam chain cover ,not housing.The covers do warp,new covers and gaskets required.
Its not difficult,but fiddly.I will have a look and come back to you after Silverstone this weekend etc
 
I fitted new Cam Chain Covers and gaskets on my 993 Carrera engine when I had it out last year. Dropped the engine out myself with a friend assisting, not too difficult a job. The only issues can be fasteners that at the age the cars are now can be a little temperamental, use plenty of penetrating fluid.

If I remember correctly once the engine was out to get the Cam Chain Covers off I had to remove quit a few items, Cat, Heater Ducting and Tin Tray around the engine. So changing them in situ I reckon my be difficult but then the RS may have a different set up.

Also the covers are Aluminium, I changed mine for new as I had already bought them thinking they were plastic like the rocker covers. In theory being Ally they should not warp and only the gasket and the rubber "doughnuts" under the nut washers may need changing.

Another possible source leaks around this area are the gaskets sandwiched at the end of the Cam Chain Housings but you cannot change these without a major engine strip.
 
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