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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHOil Leak sign of IMS Issue even if IMS was replaced recently?
Leading reported evidence
Replace previously)
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
and this may be more likely the RMS leak issue (it wasn't replaced previously).
Oil Leak sign of IMS Issue even if IMS was replaced recently?
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Leading evidence: 'Replace previously)' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'rms leak issue (it wasn't replaced previously)' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check oil contents' (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
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I bought a '03 996 a month ago which had the IMS replaced in 2015 (the receipt doesn't state which replacement part was used).
Oil Leak sign of IMS Issue even if IMS was replaced recently?
rms leak issue (it wasn't replaced previously)
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
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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 suspect a cause
1
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Suspected cause · Original poster
and this may be more likely the RMS leak issue (it wasn't replaced previously).
Oil Leak sign of IMS Issue even if IMS was replaced recently?
Check oil contents
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
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Suggestion
Agree 100% with b3, best to check your oil contents before dropping the tranny.
Oil Leak sign of IMS Issue even if IMS was replaced recently?
Clean area
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.
Oil Leak sign of IMS Issue even if IMS was replaced recently?
Coverage and how to read this overview
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.
9 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: 20261027T000231Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I am trying to tell if a mechanic was telling the truth or hunting for money ... background:
I bought a '03 996 a month ago which had the IMS replaced in 2015 (the receipt doesn't state which replacement part was used). At my first oil change, the mechanic stated that he saw oil leaking which could be a result of an IMS problem.
My understanding is that the only precursor to an IMS failure is metal shavings in the oil and an oil leak wouldn't be indicative ... and this may be more likely the RMS leak issue (it wasn't replaced previously).
Is the mechanic right and its worth my time/money to have the IMS replaced again? If its more likely to be the RMS issue, i'll wait since i don't seem to be losing oil at any significant pace.
Thanks for your collective wisdom,
Marc
Marc,
Bare with my analogy...
A little oil leak is like **** in your underwear. Not necessarily a bad thing.
But... metal in your filter is like blood in your urine.
Get my drift. Which do you think is more serious?
An oil leak could be a sign of an IMS issue, but it could just be the classic RMS condition that is more of an inconvenience than anything.
The mechanic is probably erring on the side of caution and may not have much experience with 996 RMS/IMS issue diagnosis & maintenance. I wouldn't hold it against him, but maybe get a second opinion. Or, better yet, snap some pics of the offending issue & let the more knowledgeable folks around here weigh in.
Agree 100% with b3, best to check your oil contents before dropping the tranny.
I agree with TonyTwoBags and B3 to see the area of where the oil leak is located and the amount if its a small amount or a significant amount. Then to look at the oil filter and the cup assembly for sediment or metal particles. Good analogy B3.
^ The "area" of the oil leak would be the same for both the RMS and the IMSB (the bottom of the crankcase where it meets the transaxle). You can't tell which is leaking until you remove the tranny... Once you've done that, it'll be pretty obvious. Oil leaking from the IMS bearing, doesn't necessarily mean the bearing is failing - especially if it's a replacement with the oil seal removed - this simply means the IMS flange seal is leaking...it doesn't say anything about the integrity of the bearing. RMS as long as it's not a serious leak (it usually isn't - usually more of a "weeping" with a bunch of dirt/dust gathered around it) just live with it until you're ready to do more work (i.e.IMSB).
And find another mechanic to get a second opinion...Go with the one you feel is honest but more importantly experianced with working on the M96 engine.
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