Mystry oil leak becomes blown airbox

[Scott R]

I sprung a rather large (for me) oil leak in the past few weeks. I had not driven my 911 much since last summer, however we had another car in the shop and I needed to use it. This oil leak was dripping down the drivers side rear, and onto the engine tin and then down on top of the cat, and exhaust line.

This weekend I pulled a few things apart and noticed that the plastic engine shroud was again wet with oil. This is after I removed the engine this summer and resealed it. I suspected the breather or the breather hose, however what I found was far more interesting.

First there is this:




Oil dripping from the heater fan, and down the fan bracket?!?

Then this:



Oil running down the side of the air box, and oil all over the linkage connector.

Then the best part:



If you can make it out the area around the vacuum port is cracked, and it looks like a repair job, there is also a split that travels towards the back corner, and then a little bit forward of the plug as well.

None of this made any sense until I found that my replacement breather line (1" rubber hose) from this summer was kinked and not allowing crack case pressure back to the oil take very well.

I did a test with carb cleaner, and sure enough I get a VERY pronounced idle increase when I shoot around this split. The question is this: Would you repair it with epoxy? Or replace the box? I have a spare box, and once the weather gets better I have plenty of time. I just want to know how you guys would deal with this.

(oh and yes there is a pop-off valve installed)