new oil return tube leaking

[jdowty3]

I replaced all 4 oil return tubes last month wiht the motor out of the car. I installed the engine on Sunday and finished getting it ready to run Monday evening. I started it up yesterday and topped off the oil level once it was warm. I didn't see any leaks when I shut the car off but found a small puddle when I looked this afternoon. A slow drip was coming from the head end of the oil return tube between cylinders 2 & 3 (of course to hardest to get at with the exhaust installed). I tried turning the tube a little but the leak got worse. I also tried levering the tube towards the head to compress the seal alittle more but didn't notice any slowing of the drip. The tube is fully extended just like the other 3 and the circlip is seated. I jacked up the drivers side to stem the flow for now.
Any thoughts? Bad seal on that end? Anyone else had this problem and installing new return tubes?

[bell]

sounds like you nicked the o-ring while installing the tube, i did the same thing, mine didn't seat properly on the cam tower side.
i'd pull it out and replace the o-ring if there are any marks on it, if they look ok then it just didn't seat right.
that tube is a pia, i used hose clamps on both sides of the tube and a wide screwdriver to carfully inch them into place.....good luck

[dsmeyer]

What brand of oil return tubes did you use?

I put in some new aftermarket tubes once and they leaked.
I switched them to the collapsible kit that Porsche sells and it
has been dry for years now.

[johnnyo]

When installing the collapsable tube did you fit the longer tube portion inti the cam tower and shorter tubetowards engine? flow oif oil is from towers to engine this orientation yields a lesser likelyhood of seepage from where tubes slide into each other, if infact leaking from the larger O ring area, the tube on the drivers side front is hard to get to the circlip without removing heat exchanger, what I did was to crimp up the tube with channel locks bending it up and removing the destroyed tube purchased anther collapsable tube and easily installed it and spread it into the engine/cam towers, then the trick was the I finessed the circlip with a screw driver into the slot by pushing top then side then bottom of clip until it found its seat in slot all this was done while car sat on the ground in my driveway, just a little patience and once youdo it you will never fear the return tubes again, OHH yeah to prevent or minimize any leaks I used Loctite 574 which is a flang sealant and never looked back, in the least it is recomended to lightly grease the O ring for easy insersion, I chose the Loctite, Good luck!!

[dsmeyer]

Originally posted by dsmeyer
What brand of oil return tubes did you use?

I put in some new aftermarket tubes once and they leaked.
I switched them to the collapsible kit that Porsche sells and it
has been dry for years now.

Also I put them in with Dow Corning 111 O-ring Silicone Lubricant and Sealant as Bruce Anderson recomends on all of the O-rings.

[jdowty3]

The tubes are from Pelican and are good quality. It is also facing the correct direction and Dow 111 silicone grease was applied. I think Bell is probably correct and I damaged the O-ring on that end. It was a major PITA to get in even using 2 hose clamps.
I'll get 2 new end O-rings and R&R it this weekend. My only real concern now is getting the circlip out of the groove without damaging the tube.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Curil T is your friend. Pelican carries it. Clean the mating surfaces well, then put a small bead of it on the inside of the case and head.

[john walker's workshop]

the o-rings occasionally get cut on installation. doesn't matter who you are. getting the tube to collapse again is the next problem. those inner green o-rings don't like to slide after they've been sitting awhile, even with the dow 111. i've given up at times and ripped the collapsible tube out and put a fresh one in.

[bell]

i used the colapsable ones from pelican, and the silicon lube makes the job easier, the first time i did this i didn't use it and was an even bigger pia.
i learned that the next time i have to do this i will have an extra tube/o-rings on hand.
john walker tells it how it is, it's easier to start from scratch once it doesn't cooperate