Engine spewing oil through airbox..Mechanic doesn't know why...Help!

[Thunder Punk]

Hi folks. Well, My '87 Porsche 930 arrived last week. I drove it home about twenty miles that night. The next morning I brought it to my mechanic to have things checked out.

I asked him to replace the oil in the car as I couldn't know when the previous owner had done it. So, I figured I'd be safe and change it.

My mechanic tells me that after changing the oil the car is belching oil into the airbox and then dumping it on the floor of his shop. He tells me that he's perplexed. I asked him if he checked the lvels while the engine was warmed up and he tells me, "yes."

He told me that he had the oil level to the top line on the dip stick. I told him to drain the oil until it was in-between the two lines so he did. He took it out for a run today and said it was fine.

So I go to pick up my car. I happily opened the door and loaded my five year old son into the passenger seat of the car. My wife was following us. She noticed a puff of smoke develope beneath the right rear of the car. Then she saw flames dropping to the ground. At first she thought it was sparks or something then she realized it was fire dripping to the ground. In a panic she began to blow her horn.

I'm figuring she's just seeing smoke from oil residue burning off of the exhaust. My mechanic told me that it would be a little smoky until all of the oil burned off. Problem is the car was spewing fresh oil onto the heat exchanger and it ignited. NICE!

I get my son out of the car and check underneath. Nice fire on the right rear heat exchanger. Not too small either. There was nothing I could do. I didn't have an extinguisher although it is a priority for me I never though that I would be watching my engine burn the second time I drove the car to get it back home. Especially after just having it checked at the shop and being given the green light on it.

The car didn't spew oil when I got it. I'm wondering if my mechanic missed something here. Oil Pressure bar is at 4 and the oil pressure guage is maxed when the engine is cold. Oil level is at the bottom line. Do you guys have any idea what may be going on here. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

[Paulporsche]

edited by me.

[MotoSook]

Has the wrench ever changes the oil in a 911? Did he over fill it?

[john walker's workshop]

ask him how many quarts he put in. 10 with a filter usually gets the level between the lines. undoubtedly it was overfilled. the extra oil burps through the hose from the filler neck into the back of the air filter housing. there is probably some still in the housing, and the paper element may be soaked too. then it drains all over the top of the engine and works it's way down to the exchangers. a better cleanup would have been good, but he would have had to remove the a/c pump, intercooler and air filter housing to do it, and that may have been too much trouble.

[Thunder Punk]

I think he did. He swears he didn't. Don't get me wrong. Me and this guy are friends. I know him very well. He owns a Boxster, has 30 or so customers that drive Porsches and has worked on 911 before.

Admittedly he says he's rusty on them. When he told me that I became very concerned so I asked him if he changed it on level ground and at temperature. He says he did. And I also had him drain some out so that the oil reads between the lines. Now, whether or not he did this while the engine was warm who knows.

What a way to start the ownership of this car.

In other events, the company I bought the car from (Jenkin's Auto Sales in Pompano Beach, Florida) tells me today that they are waiting on the bank to get the title to them so they can get it to me after my calling them about it today. I was told by my salesman that it was on it's way last week. Still no title. I asked the girl that told me this to tell me who has a lein on my car. She replies, "I can't tell you that." I'm like, what the hell.

I asked her if the car was on consigment at their lot and she tells me, "No." so I aske her how come they don't have the title. SILENCE!

I then proceeded to tell her that I've researched the car and that her dealership purchased the car at auction. After telling her this I asked her again why would the bank have the title for the car. Again she answers, "I can't answer that." I'm pretty PO'd at this point. The car has been paid for over a week and they can't seem to get the title to me. Something's fishy. I plan on contacting the Florida DMV tomorrow and the the Federal Trade Commision if I don't get some answers soon. I gave them till 3:00pm my time to contact me about this and they decided not to call me.

If they want to play ball then I'll teach them how to play. Can't stand dishonesty. And I won't tolerate it.

It'll be nice to get all of this behind me so I can get on with driving my car. I must have PATIENCE!

[Thunder Punk]

He said that he put in 11 quarts. This is not left over oil. This is fresh oils spewing out and igniting on the headers. We estimate now that there is between 9 and 10 quarts. The dip stick shows the oil level being at the bottom line now and it is still doing this.

Air filter? What air filter? He took it out because it was fouled and sent me on my way without one. I planned on getting a K&N anyway and figured the five mile ride would be no big deal without one. Hell, I would have ruined a new one anyway with all the oil this thing is belching.

Is there a valve or anything else in the oiling system that could be stuck? I haven't received my copy of Wayne's book yet so I'm still guessing here.

[MotoSook]

Was the engine idling when you checked the level with the dip stick?

Drain a little out of the case or tank...use the drain plug to control the flow, then screw it back in when you've gotten enough out.

Sorry to hear about the title issue...go to the top and demand satisifaction, else go after them w/o mercy!

[john walker's workshop]

no valve, but maybe a baffle in the hose to keep the oil at bay. SCs have them. high crankcase pressure (blowby) can cause the oil to burp through the hose. broken rings or extremely loose valve guides can cause it. why was it at auction i wonder?

[gerard vaglio]

Wow, that's a pretty dramatic way to start Porsche ownership.

It also sounds totally unecissary.

If the mechanic doesn't know how much oil to put in and then doesn't know he should clean up the mess so the car doesn't burst into flames you might want to consider another mechanic.

Look for someone who works on these cars all the time.

What your describing sounds like a basic mistake which may mean that he's not fimilure with 911s.

[Thunder Punk]

The only thing I can figure is a possible REPO. Maybe the bank has the title and it was never tranferred to the dealer when they purchased the car. Looks like their peanuts are in a vise. I may be wrong on this but I'm pretty good at smelling a rat.

None the less, the car is in decent shape even though they falsley represented it on the internet. Statements such as "AC Excellent, Paint Excellent, Tires Excellent are lies. And I've documented them. Even if they take the ad down it's too late. I have a copy of the site on CD. I actually did this for prosperity's sake. Looks like I might have to use it to get my damned title.

The tires are so dry rotted that my mechanic refused to drive the car on the interstate. There is damage to the wheels and paint. etc.

I've decided to fix these things and keep the car. But if they want to play around with my title then things will get really nasty for them really quick. I even told the girl on the phone this today and they never called back. Great after sale service wouldn't you say? That's ok though. I'm used to having to twist arms to get people to do the right thing. In my old age I've gotten pretty good at it. It's a damned shame that this is how adults treat other adults.

We'll see what they say tomorrow. If I get no answers then I'll start the process of reporting them to the proper authorities.

I agree with you guys. I don't think my mechanic is familiar enough with the car. He picked up the tab on towing to get the car back to his shop today and anything that was damaged in the fire he will replace. He's a good guy albiet not a true Porsche tech.
I'll be bringing the car to Greff motors next week just to have them go over everything again.

[gerard vaglio]

Hmm, your title problem posted while I was typing, that's a larger issue.

[Thunder Punk]

Originally posted by gerard vaglio
Hmm, your title problem posted while I was typing, that's a larger issue.

Yeah, for them!I guess fire is the issue of the day for me gentlemen. LOL! Both in my car and on the dealership's butts! Excuse me while I go get a beer.

I'm trying to laugh about this stuff. If there's one thing I have learned it is that things will work out most of the time. It's just unfortunate that I have to spend my energy to make it happen. It'll happen though. You can count on it. People usually wise up really quick when they realize their ass is on the line.

[Evans, Marv]

Hey, your luck sounds like mine. Hang in there, kick butt, and keep us posted.
Good luck.

[strupgolf]

Man, I think the oil problem is solveable, but the title is more complicated. I had to ask many times for my title from the dealer before I got it because it was being purchased from the seller, but he had not paid off the loan yet. Gave me a few sleepness nights, but it worked out fine. The real owner of the dealership DIED before I could get the title, and his name was on the papers. You got some more serious problems than I would want, but like you, go get them with all your might and skills, take their balls, crush them, and spit them out.

[Thunder Punk]

Unfortunately a lot of people only respond when pressured to do so. Hopefully I won't have to apply anymore. If I do that's fine too. I'll apply it until they've had enough. I really hate having to do that but sometimes it's the only thing that works. It will work out in the end but I'm not in the mood to be jerked around right now that's all.

I'll get with my mechanic tomorrow. If he has no answers i.e. "I over filled it" then I'm yanking the car and I'll get it to Greff's. My mechaninc is friends with Randy Greff so I asked him to give Randy a call tomorrow. Whether he does this or not I won't know. I would imagine that no answer tomorrow would indicate that he chose not to call Randy.

What other damage should I look for if he did overfill it? What seals would blow out? I'd like to know so that I can keep an eye on them until I get a couple hundred miles on the odometer.

[john walker's workshop]

no damage, just a mess. a real mechanic can give you a reliable run down on the car. have him check it thoroughly. hopefully there aren't any other problems.

[jbrinkley]

thunder, does Greff do good work? I'm trying to find a place for an allignment.
good luck with the title issue

[Thunder Punk]

jbrinkley, he was recommended by several other members on this board. From what I understand, Randy Greff builds racing motors for himself as well as other here in the New Orleans area. I've been told he's been into it for over 20 years.

Even my current mechanic recommend that I talk to Randy about Porsches before my purchase. From what I hear, he is one of the best around these parts. I'm sure that expertise comes at a price but as others on this board have told me........ It's better to pay the piper now than to pay him twice. I think this message is starting to sink in really fast for me. I'm a slow learner until it starts to cost me loads of Bennies. My car will be heading over there next week. I'm just happy that my car didn't go up in flames today. More than that I'm glad I was able to get my son out of the car before anything really bad happened. It could have been much worse. I thank God it wasn't. It's been one hell of a day. No doubt!

[yelcab1]

I would not have paid unless I see the title, and the transfer in my hands. But, that is just me. Good luck with both issues.

[Thunder Punk]

The car was purchased out of state. I doubt very seriously that the dealer would have sent me the title prior to my buying the car.