RMS/IMS leaking

Sure there would already lots of previous posts about this topic, but nothing really matches, and some didn't even have pictures. See the pic included, basically there is a very thin layer of oil on the area indicated, looks like coming out of the rectangle opening that is just visible in the picture. The area directly underneath where engine and transmission meet is dry, maybe any oil that seeps through got burned off? There is no oil on the ground. I managed to catch this because I was under the car trying to figure out my transmission noise and leak (see https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...rrr-noise.html and https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...n-leaking.html ) Just wondering whether this is the onset of either RMS or IMS leaking, and if IMS it means that the outer(?) seal has failed or starting to fail. k4jKKFG.jpg

The pic is not that clear to me just where the oil is coming from. I can tell you that based on my experience with two RMS leaks (one in my 2002 Boxster, and one in my 2003 Turbo) that the RMS (or IMS) leak will have oil at the bottom where the engine and transmission bell housing join. If this region is dry, shows no signs of oil leaking, the odds are that the leak is not due to an RMS/IMS leak. There a plenty of other places the oil can leak from. Spark plug tubes, camshaft cover "gaskets". A failing AOS. An oil filler tube with a crack in it. You need to get the car on a lift and ideally with the help of an experienced tech examine the car and check all possible leak sources to eliminate these, or not as the case may be.

Thanks Macster, much appreciated. The oil seems to have seeped through the rectangular opening highlighted in this updated picture. The area immediate in front of the rectangular opening is dry, as mentioned in the picture. g1cNJ0e.jpg Is the rectangular opening just below the IMS flange, or on the lip on the engine? Took this clearest picture I could find from Bentley's video. 9T6v9Az.jpg

Well, it is not clear to me that it is the RMS leaking. In both my Boxster's case and that of my Turbo the area/region where the transmission (manual in both cases) and the engine block joined was wet with oil and the oil was carried towards the rear of the car -- by air flow of course -- and the bottom of the engine -- in the case of the Turbo -- was wet with oil. The oil leak was enough to wash away the cosomline and any dirt that the oil collected. Based on the picture if the RMS is leaking it is not leaking that bad. The general rule of thumb is if the oil isn't making a mess or oil is not hitting the ground the leak's not bad enough to bother to fix. However, different owners have different tolerances for leaks. There is at least on concern if it is coming from the RMS area, and that is the leak could be form the iMS end flange. In some few cases (I do not know the percentage) a leaking IMS can be a prelude to a bad IMSB. However, the flange (or bolts) can leak without the IMSB being bad. Back in 2002 when I had my Boxster's RMS done -- under warranty -- the IMS flange and bolts were upgraded. The new flange had a much better seal and the bolts were micro-enapsulated to seal the threads. Word I had then was often it was the IMS end flange/bolts leaking not the RMS but the RMS got all the bad press. To bring this to a close you need to be sure the leak is not coming from above the the bellhousing, from the upper regions of the engine, that it must be coming from a region of the engine covered by the bellhousing. If it is coming from behind the bellhousing then you have to decide if you want to fix it. And you have to be prepared in the case of a manual transmission equipped car to maybe deal with the clutch. Then of course there is the IMS flange, bolts and last but not least the IMSB. If you want to fit an upgrade to this if you have the transmission out to fix an RMS leak that would be the time.

Yes, for me I need everything to be running as intended, so if Porsche never intended whatever it is to leak, we can't have it leaking :-) My car is a Tip which means that it should never need any clutch replacement, however after my appointment with the indy next week, I'll start assembling the parts for IMS (and AOS) replacement. Might as well by RMS as it's just $20. The indy never done a Tip C4 before so they are a bit unsure however I'll judge their reaction again, when I see them next week. They've, however, done a few IMS replacement with LNE's bearing.

Oil seepage in 10-15 year old sports cars is not rare. This isn't something I would burn money trying to track down...you'll have ample opportunity to put money into your 996...