MOT and small oil leaks

Just had annual MOT carried out .... Comment was nice car and pass. However the tester pointed out three oil leaks. 1. very slight and looks to originate between Engine and Gearbox ( manual C2 Cabriolet ) 2&3 The tester suggested were coming from Rocker box gaskets. The first is prob the start of a RMS weep, but will wait until it gets worse, the others I think migght originate from the Spark Plug seals, Is there a member with knowledge who can shed light on this for me, with likely costs Thanks Image

3.4 or 3.6?

Richard .... many thanks for responding, The car is 3.6 facelift model with now 20K miles, still on its original front tyres and Brakes ( the later only 1/3 worn), I try and keep the car spotless and in Guards Red is my ideal car. Any help would be welcome, I will be booking car in for annual service in three weeks at Parrs of Crawley so they could fix leaks then, it would be nice to know what to ask them to do, and whether it is going to cost a fortune.

The reason I asked is because the 3.6 doesn't have the plastic spark plug tubes and seals. I'm sure Parr will investigate it better, but if the leak is from that area it could well be from the cam cover(s). The cover is sealed with a silicone sealant and it is quite a job to remove the covers and reseal. 3.7 hours book time for one side, 6 hours for both sides. And about a fiver's worth of sealant, but you can reckon on a few rusted nuts and bolts along the way. Parr are extremely good, but from what I have heard they seem to charge close to OPC rates, if not more. If you are facing a 6 hour job, it might be worth looking around - I hear AddSpeed in Horsham are very good, and much more reasonably priced.

Thanks or perhaps not for the info ..... looks like expensive. The only thing that disturbs me is that the same amont of leakage appears both sides with small drip stain onto exhausts. As I am not a believer in probability, I find it hard to recon that both "Cam covers" would have failed at the same time. ... Is there a likely "central" single cause further afield that would put oil on both sides. OR Do Porsche parts always fail in pairs ? Image

The only central leak I can think of is the RMS, as you are aware. Parr will diagnose it much more easily once they get the car in the air, but I can't think of anything that would cause a weep onto both exhausts coming from a single source.

Car booked in next week to be fixed .... I will for information post what is found

Thought I would update, Car into Parrs at Crawley, asessment of what looked like RMS and Cam Cover leaks ( which coincidentally coincided with Alternator failure ) revealed that they are probably all intact ( although RMS not actually yet examined) .... Reason being is because it appears that the Engine Breather pipe has colapsed internally and chucked oil everwhere. Parrs think that the oil has got into the alternator and that explains that problem, and also everywhere else .... BUT and there always is a but, to replace the Breather pipe is engine and Gearbox out. Apparently the pipe on my car is an update and there is yet another and more radical update still although the like for like type is still being offered. What to do ..... Out with Engine and Gearbox, replace the Breather Pipe with the same type ( newer type is £1800) ... I have decided that they take gear box off engine and replace RMS and Intermediate ( Because the Engine and gearbox are already out) to remove that future worry, also ccheck the condition of clutch and then take a view on fitting replacement. .... Oh what a B****r Ther goes Christmas 2009 /2010/2011 and my Olympic tickets in 2012. A word of caution, when you are told that you have an oil leak that looks like it is coming from the obvious places, just get them to check the less obvious places. BTW Car is also having major service inc Plugs, Brake Fluid etc .... and although it is a 51 plate with only 20K cost per mile is rising. Image

Oh dear - sorry to hear about all that. At least you have a diagnosis. Solution to the cost-per-mile-is-rising problem is that you'll have to drive it a lot more!