6 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH996 oil leak
Leading reported evidence
Install with bolts
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The spindle carrier is fitted with bolts that pass right through the crankcase casting into the area that is under the oil level in the sump.
Leading evidence: 'Install with bolts' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Install with bolts' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Porsche changed the seal for the 997 for one that is made of a material that will deform to sit more in line with the crankshaft (which was a good idea) but at the same time removed the spring that holds the sealing lip onto the crankshaft (which seems the opposite of what was needed to me considering the force and amount of oil being thrown at it by the chains).
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Replace carrier and line it up without putting strain
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
Pre 2005 cars (including some 987's and 997's) usually have the old small bearing and spindle and if you remove the carrier to change the seal you also need to slacken the two chain tensioners and even then the chains pull the spindle accross to one side and is difficult to replace the carrier and line it up without putting strain on the spindle - which is undercut to locate an "o" ring and is very weak and could crack - eventually - some time later - breaking.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Pre 2005 cars (including some 987's and 997's) usually have the old small bearing and spindle and if you remove the carrier to change the seal you also need to slacken the two chain tensioners and even then the chains pull the spindle accross to one side and is difficult to replace the carrier and line it up without putting strain on the spindle - which is undercut to locate an "o" ring and is very weak and could crack - eventually - some time later - breaking.
Replace carrier and line it up without putting strain
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Pre 2005 cars (including some 987's and 997's) usually have the old small bearing and spindle and if you remove the carrier to change the seal you also need to slacken the two chain tensioners and even then the chains pull the spindle accross to one side and is difficult to replace the carrier and line it up without putting strain on the spindle - which is undercut to locate an "o" ring and is very weak and could crack - eventually - some time later - breaking.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Porsche changed the seal for the 997 for one that is made of a material that will deform to sit more in line with the crankshaft (which was a good idea) but at the same time removed the spring that holds the sealing lip onto the crankshaft (which seems the opposite of what was needed to me considering the force and amount of oil being thrown at it by the chains).
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Pre 2005 cars (including some 987's and 997's) usually have the old small bearing and spindle and if you remove the carrier to change the seal you also need to slacken the two chain tensioners and even then the chains pull the spindle accross to one side and is difficult to replace the carrier and line it up without putting strain on the spindle - which is undercut to locate an "o" ring and is very weak and could crack - eventually - some time later - breaking.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If it does need changing therefore - can I suggest that you make sure your chosen specialist is familiar with this problem or has an alternative modified spindle set up (as we do).
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
6 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
911uk: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T052503Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Been looking at a few 996 with a view to buying.Saw one in a garage ,started it ,had a check round and it looked nice and dry underneath the engine.Went back a week later and the car didn't look like it had moved but the were a couple of oil drips underneath.centre of the car about a foot in from the middle of the number plate.There was a bit on the nut head as well.The drops on the floor had made about an inch and a half circle,old time measuring ,anything in that ,should the alarm bells be ringing.Cheers.
Maybe not ,two common oil leak areas, Rear Main Seal and a common one around the cam covers somewhere, rms will cost 500 to 800 including clutch from an indie and the other a couple of hours labour. Would be best to negotiate with the seller to get them fixed first though, my c4s had both when I bought it and were done quite easily and have been perfect since hope this helps Mike
+1 Had my rms changed twice, but still weeps. It's a design fault that's never totally fixed. Some cars will stay dry, but don't expect them to stay dry forever.
:thumb:
It probably is just the RMS residue draining down. This is a weak spot - because it is one of the few engines in which the seal is held in a different casting to the crankshaft and unfortunately they are sometimes not perfectly central. On top of that - in most other engines - the RMS is usually at the other end of the engine from the cam drive mechanism - so the crankshaft overhang is low and there is nothing but a rotating shaft nearby.
Your engine has two chains on the end of the crankshaft at that end and therefore has greater overhang (making the crankshaft less stable) and the two chains are travelling at about 40mph and blast oil at everything in sight forcing lots of it all over the rear lip of the RMS which may or may not be central.
Porsche changed the seal for the 997 for one that is made of a material that will deform to sit more in line with the crankshaft (which was a good idea) but at the same time removed the spring that holds the sealing lip onto the crankshaft (which seems the opposite of what was needed to me considering the force and amount of oil being thrown at it by the chains).
However the leak rate will not usually result in damage and is really just a nuisance if you have a nice driveway or garage floor.
If the pool doesn't keep growing that is a good sign but if it carries on there may be a problem with the IMS bearing seal or carrier/cap. The spindle carrier is fitted with bolts that pass right through the crankcase casting into the area that is under the oil level in the sump. The bolts are covered in a sealant but the clearance in the thread often results in that oil dripping out past the threads and if so it will keep going and the pool will keep growing.
The seal on that carrier plate can also leak and there is more than one type (following several different bearing, carrier and spindle designs).
Pre 2005 cars (including some 987's and 997's) usually have the old small bearing and spindle and if you remove the carrier to change the seal you also need to slacken the two chain tensioners and even then the chains pull the spindle accross to one side and is difficult to replace the carrier and line it up without putting strain on the spindle - which is undercut to locate an "o" ring and is very weak and could crack - eventually - some time later - breaking.
If it does need changing therefore - can I suggest that you make sure your chosen specialist is familiar with this problem or has an alternative modified spindle set up (as we do).
Baz
