5 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH2001 996 Carrera water in oil
Leading reported evidence
Use penetrant dye
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
To find the crack I used a penetrant dye test kit I got cheap off Amazon.
Leading evidence: 'Use penetrant dye' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check air oil separator' (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.
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Suggestion
If you have "water in oil only" then first check the AOS for internal crack.
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Suggestion
If you have "oil in water" or some of both then the oil cooler is suspect and should be checked just to eliminate that incase you are lucky enough for that to be the cause...
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Suggestion
It has engine water/coolant ran to it and an internal crack can fill the oil with water/coolant..
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Suggestion
Yes Len Hoffman has the repair process down pat...
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Suggestion
If you have "oil in water" or some of both then the oil cooler is suspect and should be checked just to eliminate that incase you are lucky enough for that to be the cause...
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Suggestion
One last thing you might try before pulling your engine is to remove and pressure test your oil cooler residing under the intake plenum on the passenger side (US cars).
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5 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Help, I have found a lot of water in the engine oil. While a normal 5 mike drive to the store I saw a puff of smoke but no overheating.. Then a few miles later continuous smoke.
Someobe suggested before pulling the begins to check and replace the oil separator. That was done with no help.
I believe it is a cracked head. Are there any tips in finding the crack?
I am pulling the engine but assume these cracks will be very small to see.
Also if it is a cracked head, is it best to replace of repair.
Thank you in advance
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I had the same thing happen to my 1999 C2 Cabriolet. One last thing you might try before pulling your engine is to remove and pressure test your oil cooler residing under the intake plenum on the passenger side (US cars). If it holds pressure, then you're probably looking at a cracked head. Has the car recently overheated or run low on coolant, due to a coolant leak? In my case, a cracked coolant reservoir tank caused low coolant level resulting in a cracked head. Was the smoke coming from one exhaust pipe only, if so, that would be the start of your identifying which head is cracked, just remember the exhaust pipes cross over so a smoking right pipe is coming from the left head, etc. To find the crack I used a penetrant dye test kit I got cheap off Amazon. 1st step is a cleaner, 2nd step is a dye, 3rd step is a developer, and the crack will appear as dye colored once the developer is sprayed on. If indeed your head is cracked, the acknowledged expert for repair is Len Hoffman (Hoffman Automotive Machining) in Georgia. His website will explain the entire process, including shipping to and from. Was a super easy process. A new replacement head will cost you $3K+ whereas, when all was said and done, my cost was about $1500 which included new headbolts, valve seals, valve job, coolant reservoir and anything else I could think of while I had the engine apart. Make sure you tag and bag all hardware and components, maybe even take fotos, to make reassembly easier. At first glance it seems like a daunting task, however, if you approach this endeavor as a series of steps, and complete each step in sequence, eventually it's all done! Best of luck to you, and I'm sure there's plenty of info on this site to help you along.
If you have "water in oil only" then first check the AOS for internal crack. It has engine water/coolant ran to it and an internal crack can fill the oil with water/coolant..
If you have "oil in water" or some of both then the oil cooler is suspect and should be checked just to eliminate that incase you are lucky enough for that to be the cause...
That said the cracked head is the most common, there are plenty of pictures in the archive to show where to look for the cracks..They usually start at the sharp edge of the spark plug hole and go either to the welch plug or to the exhaust valve spring seat...
Yes Len Hoffman has the repair process down pat...
