oil problem

robrob10 · 03-07-2009, 07:26 AM

I have recently been informed (by the previous owner) that the Porsche I now own was leaking oil after it broke down and it broke down because the oil wasn't circulating throughout the engine properly- or possibly none at all. I'm about to rebuild the engine and I'm wondering #1 what could have made the oil stop circulating properly/what I need to replace, and #2 why did the oil start leaking after the engine broke down? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

E Sully · E Sully's Garage

Any pics? Where are the obvious leaks? What year are we talking about? Need a little info before I would even guess.

mca · 03-07-2009, 05:03 PM

I would take that PO timeline with a grain of salt (broke down THEN the oil leaked).

It could have busted a big leak somehow which then caused the engine to seize. Can you pinpoint the source of the leak? In what way did it break down?

robrob10 · 03-07-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E Sully

Any pics? Where are the obvious leaks? What year are we talking about? Need a little info before I would even guess.

It's a 1980 911 sc. I don't have any pics because the car broke down quite a while ago and I just recently purchased the. Also i'm actually quite confused on whether the oil was leaking at all at this point because, I think it's the oil sump plate- the cover holding the oil in the engine, was removed just around the time the owner spotted the leak, but that was around the same time it broke down.
-smith

robrob10 · 03-07-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mca

I would take that PO timeline with a grain of salt (broke down THEN the oil leaked).

It could have busted a big leak somehow which then caused the engine to seize. Can you pinpoint the source of the leak? In what way did it break down?

I can't say exactly where the leak was because the previous owner told me about it and she spotted it a long time ago when the car broke down. When the car broke down she said that one day she turned the car on and it started to make a terrible noise and then it stopped turning on all together.
-smith

mca · 03-08-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robrob10

It's a 1980 911 sc. I don't have any pics because the car broke down quite a while ago and I just recently purchased the. Also i'm actually quite confused on whether the oil was leaking at all at this point because, I think it's the oil sump plate- the cover holding the oil in the engine, was removed just around the time the owner spotted the leak, but that was around the same time it broke down.
-smith

Maybe someone was trying to get a look at the oil pump via the sump plate. Sump plates don't usually spring leaks. Possible that the pump failed and they were trying to see if it was somehow obstructed?

Eagledriver · 03-08-2009, 09:32 AM

I'm sure you'll find the problem when you take the motor apart. Why spoil the suprise?

-Andy

911 tweaks · 03-09-2009, 05:46 AM

sounds like el seizo to me... "when the car broke down she said that one day she turned car on and it started to make a terrible noise & then it stopped turning on all together". Sounds like it would no longer turn over i.e. start since it was seized due to lack of oil lubrication due to oil pick up tube on oil pump became dislodged and loss of oil pressure... enjoy the tear down... hopefully not too much damage inside... depends on how long the engine ran with lo or no oil pressure as to the extent of internal damage...
Bob