A little background... 2008 Cayman S Tiptronic, 3.4, 49,000 miles, purchased two months ago. I changed oil immediately upon possession. Cleaned and detailed engine at same time. Two or three weeks ago, I noticed a small oil drip on my garage floor. Wiped it up and it stayed dry for a few days.
Then I noticed another oil spot. Both times the fluid was definitely motor oil and fairly clean. This was several weeks ago.
This morning I go out and there’s a slightly bigger spot but nothing to the point that I would call ‘major‘m under the rear of the car slightly ahead of the axle.
I back the car up on ramps and crawl underneath and it’s obvious that there is a misting of oil on various areas coming down the right side and underneath the engine. No gunk like grease, but more of a fresh film of oil. I spray degreaser under the air and hose it off then take the car off the ramps and remove the engine cover to look from the top side.
Engine looks very clean from the top but I pull the top hose from the AOS and it has quite a bit of oil in it. Definitely more than just a mist which I see in various threads as being the norm. If I tilted the hose down there was enough oil that it would drip out. But around the AOS is dry.
Also there is absolutely no smoke upon start up and very little if any soot in the tailpipe. However, upon start up the engine idles rough for about 30 seconds then smooths out and is fine with no drivability issues.
I’m wondering if I should start looking for replacement AOS ? Don’t want to spend money needlessly, but don’t want the situation it’s going to get worse (I detest leaks of any kind).
Hi . I have 2 Porsche’s a cayenne and a 987 cayman . Both idol rough for about 30 seconds . I’ve talk to my independent shop that specializes in Porsche’s and they said it’s normal . The said something about on a cold start the engine pulls in more air to warm it up faster ( I think warm the catalytic converter faster too) . So I don’t worry about it anymore . I did some research here and it’s seems others have heard the same from Porsche service departments .
I also just replaced my AOS . I have been getting more smoke at start up . Just changed it Monday and haven’t gotten any smoke so far .
The leak I don’t know about . I would not think the aos would be a leaking issue unless it’s broken . I had what I thought was an oil leak before . My car never leaked anything until I had the rear CV boot repaired . After that I noticed a small Leak . I got under with a flash light and found it to be transmission oil from the axle seal. The Porsche dealer either damaged it when doing the CV boot or it was just old and the new work they did caused it to fail . That’s when I found my independent repair shop and they fixed it right up .
And I have zero smoke on start up or acceleration.
I would replace the AOS and look more for any other leak sources while doing it.
That’s the plan. The leak is very small ( although any drops under her car or cause for concern with me), maybe two or three drops over the course of five days. There are two of what appear to be ‘air scoops’ under the driver and passengers side of the car, just a head of the driveshaft/CV joint. The leak appears to be above the one on the passenger side and it’s just slowly dripping down through it and off the scoop portion onto the garage floor. So it’s coming from up above that area and I believe that’s where the AOS and it’s various hoses reside? The AOS may be going bad ( dripping but not leaking enough to blow smoke) but I’m starting to think that one of the hoses that comes from it may either be cracked or coming loose.
Yes that sounds reasonable. Replace the AOS and hoses to it.
I’ve never pulled an AOS, but it appears that the smaller, ‘L’ shaped hose that connects to the crankshaft could be a prime suspect for becoming brittle and crack? What type clamps does it have?
How do you have a Cayman from the future? (2098)?
I should have taken a picture of the clamp when I had it off last week . It took me a few minutes to see what type of clamp it was . It’s the type that if you put pliers on the parts that stick out and squeeze the pliers the clamp loosens up and when you release the pliers the clamp gets tight. I just found a Picture of one online .
Thank you! A spring clamp. Should be easier to manipulate than the ‘sqeeze’ type that are on the other lines.
