6 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHDiagnose the oil leak?
Leading reported evidence
Replace those can be
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
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
Depending on when the IMS bearing (single row 47mm OD on your 2002, I believe) , clutch and AOS were replaced, those can be replaced while you're in there.
Leading evidence: 'Replace those can be' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check earlier i finally looked' (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
Depending on when the IMS bearing (single row 47mm OD on your 2002, I believe) , clutch and AOS were replaced, those can be replaced while you're in there.
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 · Original poster
Unfortunately, instead of checking earlier I finally looked after noticing the "weeping" while under there.
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 · Original poster
I was not planning on driving the car much but I'd like to get a ballpark idea if this might be a large repair bill.
Replace i noticed a distinct area of what appeared
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.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
So right after stripping the aluminum oil plug during my first attempt at an oil change, I noticed a distinct area of what appeared to be dried oil and some wet bolts on one side of the oil pan?
Replace i noticed a distinct area of what appeared
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 · Original poster
So right after stripping the aluminum oil plug during my first attempt at an oil change, I noticed a distinct area of what appeared to be dried oil and some wet bolts on one side of the oil pan?
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
Depending on when the IMS bearing (single row 47mm OD on your 2002, I believe) , clutch and AOS were replaced, those can be replaced while you're in there.
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
Depending on when the IMS bearing (single row 47mm OD on your 2002, I believe) , clutch and AOS were replaced, those can be replaced while you're in there.
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.
Rennlist: 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: 20261027T165639Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
So right after stripping the aluminum oil plug during my first attempt at an oil change, I noticed a distinct area of what appeared to be dried oil and some wet bolts on one side of the oil pan? Then there's a hose next to the pan with actual oil leaking. Hoping the photos might lead to a decent diagnosis. I was not planning on driving the car much but I'd like to get a ballpark idea if this might be a large repair bill. I have a feeling it is. Also wondering how long I can let the car sit. There is now a silver dollar sized oil stain that has accumulated over last 6 weeks. Appreciate all who take a look and take the time to share of their knowledge. Thanks!
Looks like the rear main seal (aka RMS) and/or IMS bearing flange seal are leaking. It's relatively minor when you have no drop of oil hanging there or no oil stain on the floor.
No reason to not drive it just make sure oil level is good.
Chances are it will leak a little less parked up, after having driven the car but to stop it from leaking you'd need new seals and even then there is a risk that will leak still when
A. The sealant between the two case halves in that area has failed
B. The crank's flywheel flange is not centered relative to the bore in the engine case, in which the RMS sits (search go/no-go gauge)
Replacement of either seal requires the transmission to be removed. Depending on when the IMS bearing (single row 47mm OD on your 2002, I believe) , clutch and AOS were replaced, those can be replaced while you're in there. Or you wait till it's time to replace one of those and then fix the leaking.
Driving it is better for the car than parking it, even with that minor oil leak.
It honestly looks pretty good under there for a dirty old 25 year old engine.....Just clean it up/pretty it up and drive it...... It's not really a leak if it doesn't drop on the floor... We call that a "weep" ......
A silver dollar sized fresh oil stain has accumulated on the floor over the last 6 weeks. Unfortunately, instead of checking earlier I finally looked after noticing the "weeping" while under there. I'm getting the sense it "ok" to drive (I need to get it at least smogged this month). Then it'll be up to my mechanic to see what's really going on and extent of work. I know I'll need to upgrade the initial IMS bearing swap to the solution, and when we do that I'm assuming I'll be hit with the 5k "while your in there" recommendations. That's what I need to put off a bit longer with a newly acquired 968 that needs to be sorted.
Bottom line, this advice puts me more at ease for the time being. And yeah, I'm ordering the steel plug! Sucks to **** up the first part of your first oil change. Actually I count jacking the car up by myself as a win. It's the little victories I guess. Thanks for the feedback all!
Bottom line, this advice puts me more at ease for the time being. And yeah, I'm ordering the steel plug! Sucks to **** up the first part of your first oil change. Actually I count jacking the car up by myself as a win. It's the little victories I guess. Thanks for the feedback all![/QUOTE]
You aren't the first or the last to bugger up that drain plug. Here is the link to it:
Billet Stainless Steel Magnetic Drain Plug for Boxster, Cayman, 911, Panamera, & Cayenne Models (18 x 1.5)
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
