DAM I Just RMS - The Horror

Amigo's, I had a scheduled oil change yesterday at Paul Miller Porsche with a detail appointment. A couple of hours later I got a call, asking me if I noticed any Oil leaks in my garage, I replied "no, why " "Well Sir you have RMS" the good news as per the service mangager is they have simplifed the resolution process of the RMS issuse and the car will be ready by tuesday and the detail is not on them. My question is this, after the so-called reolsution, as anyone had a second RMS problem thereafter ? Lastly, what is the problem with the Rear Main Seal anyway ? the fittings ? Hope all is well with everyone...

I for one have had one RMS and no recurrence yet, but its only been about 2k miles since repair. I'm going to start a poll thread - would be interesting to see some data (albeit weak) on this.

sorry to say.... If you get it once its a comin back... seems like the RMS is a physical manifestation of another inherent problem... now THIS you won't believe... I went to the dealer and test drove a 997 - after the test drive I questioned the rep about RMS and whether Porsche had fixed it... his response is that they have seen 997 cars with the RMS problem and that it is because of the boxer style engine where you have forces opposing eachother at 90 degrees and hence cause a bending... so he didn't say they fixed it... essentially told me its a "feature" of the 3.6 motor... can you believe this sh**!

"It's not a bug, it's a feature!" Looks like they borrowed a page from the book of hi-tech...

When is the new Acura NSX coming out? I hear this car is deadly reliable!!

So is the Toyota Camry

Thank you

you are correct! lets give you a "free rms repair" voucher! lol... Camry and NSX have better track records in terms of quality than the 996 does... and the NSX is a superior car at the track.

But it's vanilla- lack of flavour--no character--not to put the NSX down but the japs need to realize that you can make a machine too good! Too linear with little or no personality. I'll gladly take a european car whose numbers aren't as great as a NSX and have a lot more enjoyable driving sensation. ie. 911 oversteer. I fell that I am a crucial part of an automobile that needs me and my input.

I apologize for the ignorance, but what is RMS?

RMS Rear Main Seal All models of 996 and 997's excepte GT3 have had leaking problems. Look at the current poll for a rough idea of the problem.

Even the Turbo?

No, the GT2, GT3 and 996TT share a different engine case which dates back to the 964 engine case. In 2004 models Porsche enlisted a Spanish firm to cast a reinforce 964 "Style" case.. Completely different animal, between the NA cars and GT or turbo cars.

so youare suggesting that all 2004 and later models should not have the issue? How does that reconcile with the comments above about the 3.6l in the 997 model?

I can understand your desire for a 996 as I bought one for the same reason: "feel" - the NSX lacks character... I don't know about lacking but certainly not as as much character as the 996... as far as quality, balance and speed goes its a notch above as it was designed from the get-go as a race car with mid-engine placement - ultimately depends what you want - wonder when the "next" NSX is coming out... that should be really sweet.

The GT3 is not immune to RMS... see this thread: GT3 RMS

Just because a GT3 has had a RMS leak does not mean the GT3 cars or the engines used in the GT3, TT or GT2 are effected by the RMS problem like the engines utilized in the NA 996, 987 and/or the 997/987. RMS leaks are not a new problem. They have been occuring in cars for many, many years. I remember the my parents 81 camaro had 3 RMS leaks before it was fixed. My dad's current 02 Camary just had the RMS replaced two months ago. No car, not a honda, toyota, etc. is immune from a rear main seal leak. Its a seal, seals sometimes leak. Now that said, something about the engine design and/or parts utilized in the NA 996/987 engines (maybe the 997/987) seems to have some type of inherit problem that lets a much larger % of the cars leak. The problem is not in the flat 6 design in general but in the design of the flat 6 used in these particular cars.

Cpa4S, the normally aspirated 996 and 997 share the same engine design and engine case.. The GT3, GT2 and 996TT share the early 964 engine case. Two different cases, adn Porsche just upgraded the engine case for the GT series only.. not the engine case for the NA cars..

bet is correct.. The harmonics or rotating assy shift that knocks out the RMS in the NA cases are unique to that engine.. The GT3 failures is a actually installation error.. The air-cooled engine case is very proven.. If you guys want to see the case design and updated case go to.. https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...4&page=5&pp=15

Cpa4s 2004's have reported RMS failures as well as 997's.

Having owned both as street cars, weekend track cars, and professional race cars (an NSX in Grand-Am CUP in 2003 and 2004, a 996 since that time), I can say without reservation the 996 is a better car in almost all respects save one, reliability on the street (big qualifier here). Take an NSX to the track and run it hard (not DE hard, racing hard) and watch the parts break. Heck, I broke a rear control arm on one without an off-track excursion!! Excuse me, thats not a car thats built to withstand the rigors of the track in my opinion. On the track there really isn't a comparison if the cars are equally modified. The 996 is simply faster. The numbers look close, but the 996, with tons more low end torque is an easier car for most to drive fast and is faster in the hands of anyone that knows what they are doing. On the street, the NSX is a very comfortable car. So is the 996. I don't buy sports cars for Lexus like comfort. I buy them for performance. The 996 wins in this area due to the better driveability afforded by the larger engine. Even the 3.2/6spd combo in the NSX is pretty anemic below 4500 rpms. That just doesn't cut it around town. Sorry to break this to you Pete, I personally like the NSX. But the 996 is a better car. Heck, it should be, its 15 yrs newer technology than what went into the NSX. Now if Honda ever decides to build another one, I'll eagerly await it, but all signs at this point say that is either not likely at all or not going to happen until well into the future. Too bad they shelved the HSC, had they dropped a 4.0L V8 into it, they might have had a winner on their hands. As it stands now, that car isn't going to see production anytime soon.

yeah yeah......I am on my 7th RMS. Thinking of reviewing the RMS club rules so that only multiple RMS failures need apply

Hmm... I agree the NSX is all high end power with not as much low end grunt but when the power does come on its blazing fast no... magazines had recorded 0-100 mph in 10 seconds flat!! I think this was Car and Driver... now maybe the Porsche feels and sounds better (that's why I bought one) and is less expensive then the NSX making it a better value but I always though the NSX was a better track car... I guess it depends on the track given its lack of low end torque ... I'd imagine on a track with lots of curves coming out of corners would be painfully slow due to lack of low end torque. Thanks for your perspective... changes my thoughts on the car... I wish they had a V8 coming out for it... that would make it a screamer!

Just got the word, My Baby is ready again for prime time - Hope this sh^t never happens again - Thanks for your thoughts amigo. As always RENNLIST is the best forum.