RMS replacement just for preventative measures

I realize that the RMS is an issue. Despite this, i just purchased my first Porsche a 1999 911 C2 coupe with 39,000 miles. I wanted to know if it would it be wise to replace the RMS every so many miles, say 10k or whatever as a preventative means to bigger engine problems, or is it that once you replace it, the new one no longer is of concern? I guess what i am trying to ask is, is the problem fixed once the leaking RMS is changed, or does it end up leaking again at some later point? Have Porsche owners been experiencing the same RMS leaking problems over and over again? Thanx, Peter

"If it aint broke don't fix it"

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. IMO. You should try to relax and enjoy the car. My understanding (and I am new) is that there is no causality that you can identify in the failures. You can join PCA and go through all the tech q's and a's and get a good sense for that. You're likely to exchange a good part for a bad one. BTW, I'm going though the newbie thrash too. I bought my car new in early October. - first week, just look at it, drive it only in the sun and don't put it away dirty. nervous wreck while driving - third week. drive it only to work, with indoor parking. wash 2x/week -7th week. drive it in all weather, wash on weekend - 9th week. get stone chips from recent ice storm road gravel. drive car downtown on saturday night and park in street, eat dinner, park car in corner of lot, go to movie. - 11th week. drive it everywhere ( and ALWAYS park defensively. I do that on all cars). continue to obsess about extended warranty. to buy or not to buy, that is the question. - Now. wonder about wings, splitters, spoilers, spacers, etc... Then again, there are WAY worse problems to have in life, huh?

Jim, You get any chips this week on 217?

Peter: Changing the RMS isn't like changing oil filters. Depending upon the area of the country in which you live, you are talking about $1K for a RMS replacement. Why would you do that unless it was necessary?

Either the crankcase is concentric to the crank or it aint. Changing the seal won't fix misalignment so I'd leave it alone until you see leakage. My bet based on the odds is you won't have any problems. Good luck.

I"m taking her tomorrow for the annual inspection. I'm going to ask the SA to check for seepage around RMS area and if none found, or none that they think is significant, then I want that in writing as well. Good idea or no?

Agreed. Simple as that. C.

As stated above don't mess with it unless it leaks. Notwithstanding the cause of an RMS leak (since no knows exactly what is causing the seals to leak) a leaking RMS will not cause any damage to the engine itself. The amount of oil that leaks out is not significant enough to cause problems unless it goes on for a very long period of time and the driver never checks the oil level. As for an inspection, don't pay extra for it. You can easily diagnose whether there is a leak or not by simply getting under the car. If there is seepage there will be gunk all around bottom of where the transmission and the engine block attach to each other. If the leak is significant enough oil a couple of drops will appear on the floor after the car has been parked for some time. What would be the purpose for the clean bill in writing? Is this a prepurchase inspection?

I was thinking that if an RMS seal takes a while to develop a leak (if it ever will), then as long as my car is under warranty and the annual inspection turns up negative on the RMS, I will have at least something to point to should it go start leaking right after the warranty expires. Half-baked idea, I know, but didnt' see the harm in it.

Why do you think you will even have a leaking RMS in the future? Most Porsche do not have any problems. How about some positive thinking?

True, I've never had it nor personally known anyone who did. All over the web though. Congrats on the 996 and enjoy it! Ciao.

Leave it alone. BTW, leaking RMS's are a problem with these cars. I had 2 so far on my 03 C4s, one more and I will insist on a new engine.

BTW, leaking RMS's are a problem with these cars. It may be a problem on your car, but not most Porsches. It may become a problems on my car, but will remain a probem on a only few porsches. Largest Porsche Dealer here in Chicago replaced 5 RMS last year. Hardly an epidemic.

I'm of the same mindset as 1999Porsche911. The "epidemic" is way overblown. Enjoy the car!

Just speaking from personal experience. First went at 4,300 miles and the second at 11,500, within a year of the first.

I agree with '99, all that leaks is not the RMS. A few weeks ago I was sure I had an RMS, saw oil at the motor/tranny junction while having tires changed at an independent p-shop. I took it to the dealer expecting the worst, turned out to be the oil fill tube had leaked/overfilled at one time. They fixed it, not a drop on the floor, bone dry under the car( I look), and guess what? My 1qt/1500 miles has all but stopped. Don't waste your time and money with pre-emptive repairs, what if they f it up while installing it? Don't ask for trouble, the RMS should last the life of your car, but I would have them document in the service record that the car was inspected and no leak present.

Well, I am fortunate in the sense that my mechanic is a good friend of mine and honest enough to put oringal and quality parts and charge a decent price. He would only charge me 500 dollars. thats not a bad deal for something that costs 2X as much elsewhere. But I am not going to spend a penny if I dont need it!!! I definitely check fluids and and everything else on all my cars, and this baby will get even more attention. I think it is just all the anxiety of wanting to buy a 911 for SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO long and then reading so much negative stuff about blown engines and seals, that I said F it and take the plunge and enjoy your dream car. But if all i have to do is monitor the oil levels and if and when it becomes an issue, then change the RMS, hell, i have to do worse repairs on some of my other cars (i also have an MB SUV- new tranny at 60k). So now that i am not going to worry anymore about the RMS, especially now that i have a seals/gasket warranty, are there any other issues to be aware of with this year (1999) Carrera.

DITTO, DITTO , DITTO................ Let the car tell you if it needs a seal. It's not the seal that's the issue - don't be confused.

No, nothing on 217 but I caught a few on Stafford Road on the way down to Frys... Gives it some character...did get some new tires at Firestone in L/O. They met the Tirerack prices and gave me a better deal on the extended tire warranty. Got 4 N4 Potenza SO2A's...nice... Jim

Firestone in LO...I'll keep it in mind. Guess I'll be getting tires fairly often on this rig...they say 20k miles. or less...

Figure max. 10,000 rear 20,000 front.

That must be because the rears are more expensive

So, is it posible to predict a seal failure - is there something to look for during a PPI besides a leak? Emanuel

OK!, My opinion on that: The only time the seal has any signifigant probability of failure is if the seal is not sitting concentric to the shaft. If there is signifigant error the seal will fail. If the seal is original and not leaking you have nothing to worry about. If it has been replaced recently I'd wonder why and take the effort to remove it and measure the concentricity before buying into that motor. I doubt there is any practical way to meaure concentric error to > 3 thou's with the seal in place. I would really like to get a look at a "failed" seal to see if it shows one side of the lip worn out as expected.