911 rear ended, now the engine is all messed up,,,help please.

zook · 08-07-2007, 05:26 PM

Hey,
My '74 was rear ended 2.5 months ago. Not a ton of damage, the body shop bill was about $9,000. When it was hit, it ran extremely well, good oil presure, no smoke, and only seaped a little oil. Now that i've gotten it back, it is leaking tons of oil, has almost no oil presure and is smoking like crazy(not out of the exhaust, just from the oil all over the place. Also, the left side cam chain cover has a crack next to one of the bolts. (definetly from the accident) I took it to Holbert's Porsche and they said that it didn't have anything to do with the accident (b they didn't even mention the cracked cam chain cover even though i told them about it) but that the engine just needs to be resealed. When i asked how that could happen vitually overnight, his answer was just "that's how it happens." I think it has something to do with the fact that a Nissan Pathfinder was siting on the back of the car the last time i drove it, what do you guys think?

Thank You,
Patrick

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

Take it some place else. It sounds to me like Holberts just made a rush to judgement because they've seen so many of these 2.7 motors leak like sieves. They don't just start leaking like crazy overnight. It's a gradual process unless something like an o-ring let's go. "It just needs to be resealed" is not an acceptable answer IMO it sounds to me like they are just shaking you down for money.

There should be evidence of the collision. Take it to another shop so they can investigate it. If not collision damage then they should be able to tell you where the motor is leaking from and how it should be fixed.

ossiblue · 08-07-2007, 05:47 PM

IMO, the change in seepage is extreme for just sitting--even if some seals dried--and the drop in oil pressure is something that doesn't happen when the engine just sits. It may be possible, and I will defer to any who say it happens as I am no expert. This is just my knee-jerk reaction as a Porsche owner to your post. It doesn't smell right, and I don't mean the burning oil. The fact there is a crack in the chain cover indicates some stress on the engine from the accident if, as you say, it wasn't there prior to the crash. I'd search out another expert 911 opinion as to why the leaks and pressure drop.

BTW, without seeing or knowing anything about your car, the cost of the repairs you gave seems close to "market value" of many midyear cars. Maybe the additional expense of engine work would have pushed the car into the "totaled" category? Again, just a thought without any information on your particular car, it's condition, or your insurance coverage.

Addicted · 08-07-2007, 05:48 PM

Go find you a P-car mechanic that believes the wreck caused the damage and get him to put it in writing. Then open the yellowpages and find a solo practice attorney and take it to him. Insurance will pay! Good luck.

zook · 08-08-2007, 05:20 AM

To answer your question, the other persons ins is paying.

cashflyer · 08-08-2007, 05:47 AM

Pictures of the post-accident carnage may help.

Did the car that hit you hit hard enough to intrude into the engine bay?

If the car was hit in the rear with bay intrusion or damage to the motor mounting area, any decent Porsche mechanic will understand that there were abnormal stresses placed on the whole engine and transmission assembly.

Were these stresses enough to damage the engine or cause your symptoms? That's the question the mechanic needs to answer.

zook · 08-08-2007, 06:02 AM

I'll try to post some pics soon. The pathfinder went over my bumper so most of the impact was taken by the right quarter panel. The bumper, both absorbers (the shocks behind the bumper), quarter panel, tail lights, center panel, oil tank, and some odds and ends were all replaced. Actually, the oil tank was repaired but I am hounding the Ins. adjuster to replace it.

Thanks,
Pat