I've got 39+k miles on my 06 CS. It's been gradually using oil with increased frequency. I was fearing bore scoring, now I'm not so sure.
I just prepped the car for Winter storage (topping up the fuel, adding Sta-bil, tire cradles, etc) and noticed a fresh oil puddle on the right (passenger) side of the engine that wasn't there before I got gas.
I wasn't planning on doing my 40k major service until Spring, nor am I anxious to start the engine looking for leaks on my QuickJacks, until then.
Any thoughts?
Is the vehicle inside? If so I would think while it’s on the quick jacks is a fabulous time to take a cursory look. A puddle is a description that is too flexible as a description. Is it a stain from successive dripping or did it drop a quarter cup? If it’s a substantial leak it might jump right out at you. As to timing, if you aren’t going to drive it till the spring, it can wait or you can take take a look now that is totally your call.
Thanks Boristhespyder. I'm tying up loose ends before heading out on a trip - then cold weather sets in. I know my query was a loaded question, I was just hoping to get some feedback from somebody that experienced a similar pitfall. The oil puddle (probably a cup) seemed to occur once I parked the car, there wasn't even evidence of drips backing up my drive into the garage nor any previous drip evidence. I suppose I should at least start the car to determine how severe the leak is - whether it's drivable to a shop or requires towing. My mechanical abilities are limited. If it's an AOS hose or cam plug I'll likely have a shop take care of it. I'd feel better if I had some idea of the issue's cause and severity.
I would not start the car to do so. I'd have it towed regardless (AAA has free towing if you have it!) There should be no relation of an oil leak to the AOS, but there's a small chance it could be a cam plug.
One catch on oil leaks and the 987 - the underbody panels hide a good portion of possible leak points. Oil can sit in those panels for quite a while, then suddenly decide to drip out. Why the oil decides that is a puzzle to me - but it happens.
It's entirely possible you have a very minor leak and it's accumulated in the underbody panels. It's great you have quickjacks since they'll make it so much easier to remove those panels so you can see the actual source of the leak (unless it's from the transmission which doesn't have an air-flow panel under it - but it does have that big aluminum reinforcing plate that could behave the same way.
Can't suggest much without eyeballs on the car. If that's not possible, it might be a good time to take it to your mechanic - many of them are entering the winter season when Porsches hide in garages to avoid bad weather. Your mechanic might welcome the work.
Maybe it’s just me fellas, but a car with a mild oil leak? I would rather stop every 20 minutes in a drive and top it off than let AAA near my car with a towing rig. When I was 16, we went to Disney World via car from the New York. The 131 sedan started leaking some oil, we identified the spot It was a brand new car too, anyhow, my dad and I just made sure it had oil all the way to New York. it was no problem at all just a little extra maintenance. It wasn’t losing much either so it was fuel & oil checks each stop. As to Don’s remark about needing eyeballs on the car? Every now and then I’d hear my dad on the phone at work say, “ I can’t fix it over the phone, the tools won’t reach”. 😎
Sorry to hear it,
@docman
- From my experience, here's my hot take:
1) The QuickJacks are a godsend per oil leak tracing. Either now or in the spring, get it up there and remove the rearmost plastic/fiber underbody panel. If it's like the 987.2, it's just 3x 8mm screws and a few 10mm plastic nuts. (2x plastic nuts - one on each side rail - are easier to access before/after the QJ as the QJ gets in the way.) The bottom panel soaks up the oil, and I bet you'll find a sludge of caked oil and sand/dirt/grime sitting there. Whatever is hitting your garage floor is likely overflow. Clean up the engine and drive it when you're ready. Make sure you top off the oil to the correct amount before you do anything. Clean up that bottom panel, leave it off, and drive it around until you figure out where the leak is coming from. I believe you can even store the car on the QJ for the winter if you so desire; you may want to check that.
2) What you can immediately do is to try and examine the type of oil by look/smell. I'm guessing that it's likely not CHF-11 (power steering oil) all the way on the passenger side; I was leaking CHF-11 on the driver's side and it looks/smells differently. Sadly to say, it could be your valve cover gasket (A Loctite sealant, not a rubber gasket was used in 987.1) but it's pure speculation. I was also leaking engine on the driver's side, which required a pricey and partial engine drop and a new gasket seal installation. Meanwhile, it's premature to tell what's going on there until you get under there to take a look.
So again, either now or in the spring, you could clean it up and spray talc things to try and figure out where the oil leak is coming from. If you wait until the spring, you're likely fine but may encounter an accumulating mess over the winter. Also curious to see if it's a steady leak or if it only happens when driving. Assuming you top off your oil before your next start, I doubt you'd need it towed, TBH -- but that's just me. Let us know how you get on with it. Cheers.
