Is RMS Leak a big issue on 2000 996s?

I just got my first Porsche (a beatiful 2000 blue/beige convertible with only 19,000 miles) and I couldn't be happier. But I just read an article on Excellence magazine on 996s that says "The number one leak for all 996s continues to be the RMS. Depending of who you ask, the problem seems to affect between 50 and 100 percent of cars..." They make it sound pretty serious! How concerned should I be about this? Should I take it to a dealer to get it checked? Should I take out an extended warranty anticipating I will have this expensive problem? Look forward to hearing from the experts, thanks!

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I read your post and, to tell you the truth, this is a typically issue we have here on Rennlist. I'm sure you don't know about it. Although it's not life threatening, it is still something that should be addressed. But, there is really only one or two people here that can really handle a post like this. This is a problem that can only be addressed by Tim or Dell . -td

Buckle up!

I have replaced mine 7 times, I am about to give up and sell the car because of it...............no............... just kidding. 97k miles on the original. It seeps a little but doesnt drip. Unless it runs out, I woudnt replace it.

I have a 99 with no leaks or drips at all. RMS is just an oil leak. A lot of cars get RMS...Volvos, Jettas etc.....911 is no exception...a 700 dollar repar ...no problems....its the best and most reliable car you'll own

3 RMS's for me. If you get it done at the dealership they give you a 2 year warranty/guarantee.

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No one??

Two here, on my '00 C2. The first was early in the car's life. The second was replaced when I bought it and did the clutch last fall, and we used the last, best redesign of the seal and installation tool. Dry so far. But I have a Land Rover. Little leaks don't freak me out. If all it is is the RMS, it's just a seal. A drop of oil on the driveway. More than that, replace it. A few hundred bucks. If that scares you, you bought the wrong car. However, if you're worried that RMS leads to something catastrophic, don't.

Hasn't this topic been beaten to death about three years ago? If you do a search, you'll have literally hours of reading. Bottom line is that lots of 996s have had the problem, I won't quote a percentage since no one outside of Porsche knows for sure, so don't be surprised if one occurs. The good news is that it is a relatively inexpensive repair, since most shops charge less than a thousand dollars to replace the seal. I believe that the consensus view is that if you have a minor RMS leak, delay having the leak repaired until you need a clutch replacement.

WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!!!!! TIM?????? Where's the DAFS icon for this guy? Sorry I'm a bit late to the party. Albeto, run, don't walk, this RMS thing is HORRIBLE and affects ever single 996 ever made which will lead to catastrophic engine failures. The 996 is not a good car to have and is one of the most unreliable cars ever built by PAG. I can tell you as a statistician that an anecdotal range of 50-100% is about a solid as evidence we have. I can only hope for internet hysteria numbers like that when running research. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And when you say "they" say the problem is...., who the f'in BLUE HELL is "they"??? Seriously, Bob, is that you? Are you just here to screw around with us. I thought you went away for good.

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Would this be a good time to bring up that gonad irradiation thing? I think I have this problem. I've certainly noticed that my fella gets larger when I drive the Porsche.

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Alberto - like many other have stated here RMS leak is not catastrophic. Most seals, if they do leak, will only weep not drip. The cost is about $700 - $800 to get replaced if your car is not under warranty. Don't worry about it. If it does leak, then you can either 1) wait until you need a new clutch and have both of them (RMS and clutch) replaced at the same time, or 2) if you replace the RMS, have them check the the clutch and replace it if it has less than 50% wear left. There will be no additional labor involved if you do both at the same time. Nice set up! OK, here goes! Alberto - Welcome to Rennlist! Congrats on getting the P-car! It is customary for "newbies" to 1) introduce themselves, 2) tell us a little about their cars, and 3) post a couple of pics of the car. You did # 1 and #2 (soft of) but did not do #3. Your car "sounds" beautiful, but we haven't "seen" it yet. Or stated another way, Come on "newbie" post the @#$%^&* pics! Just in case you haven't been around here long, the last statement is all in fun and has become an "inside" joke around here. It is all meant is good fun! Again, welcome to Rennlist! Hey, td is that what you were looking for?

just a ps to my last post. If you already purchased the car, why are you NOW looking into this horrible problem that affects the car you just bought? Research after the fact brought on by anecdotal panic??? by the way, are you getting softer in your old age? you're starting to apologize for whippin the newbs into shape.

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Only one cup-o'-joe so far this morning, so I'm not cranked up yet. Besides, he didn't mention that he had been lurking and since he seemed to be worried (scared) about RMS, I didn't want him to "blow a gasket" or suffer a "personal RMS leak." Yeah, I know.... I'm a thoughtful guy!

Well get that coffee flowing and get to work!

Alberto, man you screwed up buying a 2000 996. If you had done your research here on Rennlist you would know that 99% of those engines spontaneously grenade. Seriously, at 19k miles on a 2000, if you had a PPI and/or the car is CPO'd the only thing I would be concerned about is that it hadn't been driven enough. Now go out and enjoy the car and drive the crap out of it. And when you're out take some pics and post them.

[QUOTE=LVDell;4508698]WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!!!!! TIM?????? Where's the DAFS icon for this guy? Sorry I'm a bit late to the party. who the f'in BLUE HELL is "they"??? Deke Thornton ?

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SIR, YES SIR! I'll get right on it! OOPS! How did that one ^ get in there?

RMS issue continues in less percentage in some 997. American market is very important for Porsche AG, but if US Porsche owners, and PCA couldn't convince the brand to recognize this issue as a design failure, nobody could. It's incredible. In internet you can read the Bible of RMS in all Porsche forums. Porsche dealers just do what Porsche AG obliged to, and the damaged is always the same: the customer. Here you have an interesting article from 'Total 911' Magazine: http://soloporsche.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1188478815 PS: Welcome to paradise

Thanks to all for your "warm" welcome to rennlist! I'm in the right place, this will be fun. And to think I was thinking of going for Corvette's... I got it on the RMS, thanks to all for the feedback, it's not catastrophic. Addict: your summary of the feedback was very helpful, I also take the feedback on what I need to do as a way "newbie". I will "post the @#$%^&* pics! Alberto

I think RMS is an engineering flaw and nothing to be proud of for Porsche. It is a common enough issue to be recognized as such. Is it a deal breaker? No. Given your ultra low mileage your car's been sittin' around and I wouldn't be surprised you running into it, but would I be alarmed about it? No. Just go out and drive and if it happens, handle it.

Here is the story on the car: I just bought the car last Thursday (it's one week old!), I drove from Cincinnati at 5AM (skipping work) to Pittsburgh to test drive the car. I loved it and it was at a good price ($37M, original window sticker $81M), so I paid and left my daily driver (2005 RX-8) there (I'm sure I'll pick it up some day). The car only has 18,000 miles, the paint is great (even better after I gave it a nice wax on Sunday), not a scratch, it has factory 18in wheels with brand new tires. First time I drive a 911 and I have to say it's like nothing I've ever driven. I tood a fast turn yesterday and the car did not even move! It's a huge step up from my BMW 545 (which I sold), my mint 1967 Corvette (which I loved, but I wanted something I could drive everyday) and my Mazda RX-8 (daily drive, that's fun, but a bit soft on the engine). So there you have it, a bit on the car, hope you enjoy the pics. I enjoy the sarcasm and energy on the forum!!!

Nice looking car but easy on the Armor All on the tyres OK.

Welcome. That 67 Vette is so nice!!! If you ever think of passing that car along to someone who will also love and appreciate it. Let me know. BTW, Love the cab too. Great color combo. Need to "harvest" them pumpkins though and will be the beginning to yet another beautiful car in your stable...

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Nice! And Welcome! There are a bunch of great guys here, and a lot of opinions as well. But everyone here has two things in common - a love for the 996 and a computer Again Welcome (and thanks for the Pics). -td Oh, since you are a newbie, you get a pass on the DAFS this time, but just to give Dell his fix for today:

I've done considerable research on the RMS issue, and this is what I've come up with: Rear main seals are designed for anti-clockwise crankshaft rotation, when looking from the clutch, which is a standard on front engine cars. There are little grooves on the inside of the rubber seal (the part that contacts the crank). These grooves are oriented so that the movement of the oil film creates a low-pressure area, sucking the rubber seal tighter around the crank, preventing oil from leaking out. However, when PAG decided to build a rear engine car, they were unable to commission a manufacturer to make a seal with grooves slanted the other way for a "pusher engine" - and making the car drive backwards wasn't an option. So a conventional seal had to be used, although it wouldn't perform properly on a clockwise rotating crank. This really hasn't created a problem for many, many years. As you know, 911s have historically leaked so much oil that a little dribble from the RMS isn't even worth discussing. As the generations of 911s kept coming to market, the good engineers at Porsche started figuring out how to eliminate other leaks. With the launch of the lower-temperature water-cooled engines in the 996 series, advances in manufacturing and the availability of new alloys fully sealed the engines up � with the exception of that pesky, original, wrong-direction rear main seal. So it still leaks, and will continue to until the engine is moved to the front.

Van, if that info is spot-on, good on you. Love it. So for remanufacturered engines, does porsche put in a diff seal?

Interesting theory... And what about the engine of 996 TT/GT3/GT2 coming from GT1 ? They don't leak

Man - that was all made up. I probably has more to do with where the journal holes are on that last bearing surface. These engines make a lot of oil pressure -- and it won't take much oil pressure to make it past the best seal. Also, thermal heat cycling (that's what's detrimental to ALL engine seals) could be a factor if that area of the engine gets hotter (perhaps due to the design of internal coolant passages?).

P.s. Rotational oil seals like that ARE directional, and even have an "arrow of rotation" printed on the surface -- but if a backwards seal was really the cause, someone would have noticed by now.

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they leak too, but not as common as on the non GT1 engines.

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_______________________________________________________ +1 Excellent post!!!!!!!!!!! I am so f'n tired of the 996 bashing due to RMS failures. Go buy a different car and fooo-get-ubout-it. Rant over.

Oh Yeah, I almost forgot. Excellent looking 'vette and 911 Alberto. Enjoy both in good health.

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All my friends and people I know in www.soloporsche.com and Club Porsche Espa�a who have GT3, GT2 an TT never had this issue. Perhaps I was wrong when I thought that this fantastic engine based on GT1 was realiable and never leaks...

Joaquin, pay no attention to Choi. He talks out his *** most of the time with no facts to back up his talk. Have RMS's leaks happened in the M64 engines (GT2/3, TT)? Yes, but it is EXTREMELY rare. Have only heard of a couple instances. That is what we in the statistical world call, "by chance". This is one solid motor and don't let anybody try to tell you otherwise.

I'm on my third RMS. No big deal.

ALberto - your car l@@ks sweet! Thanks for sharing the pics!

Tim - And thanks to you for the summary on RMS and the pointers on posting in rennlist!!!

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Your analysis is difficult to believe. After all, the lower balance shaft seal on the entire 944 line is made for a counter-rotating shaft. If they'd wanted to use a counter-rotating specific seal for the RMS, they'd have found one.

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Thanks Dell. That's what I've heard from my friends . They are not someone who likes gossip. They are always talking about tested proofs. I can't remember the number of track days thay did last year. Went to Spa, Nurcburgring, and several spanish circuits with GT3 an GT3 RS. They use these cars in extreme conditions, spending their $ in what they prefer = run into circuit. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup, brake disc (rotors?), orange Pagid pads, ATE superblue, always in their cars, and changed continiusly. They never had a RMS leak. They always say is yhe best engine ever made. Some pics incluidng a private trackday in Nordschleife with Manthey Racing: Manthey Racing in a private trackday Olaf Manthey The famous carrusell Running in wet conditions Walter Rohrl and his "everyday car"

Nice pics...look at that straight amazing how long that is, thanks for sharing. BTW...my favourite has to be the one with the registration plate of " AC D 666 ", for some reason I am drawn to that one even though it is another silver car

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He said it was a joke

Excellent pics Joaquin, thanks for posting them.

nice pics juan... those club sport look amazing... one of my dream cars!

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Impossible to believe, in fact.

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Even laughable, perhaps.

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Tell us what you Really think, Dell

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Actually, for a rear engine car you need an anti-matter seal because the crank turns anti-front engine.

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Just as tired of him as most are with the crap that spews from his mouth. Used to be a cool cat here on the boards then changed his avatar and all went south from there for BC