My car leaks oil

[86cabwhitefuchs]

It's an 86 Cab with about 69K on it, and the last time I had the engine out ( 915 rebuild, clutch?flywheel) I had the mechanic do the oil cooler seals, sender seal, and all the usual suspects. Now if I park it warm it drips a little right under the engine case, and I suspect the case itself has a slight leak ( case has never been split). It's a real healthy motor yet, and a beautiful car, but the "while-you're-in-there's" of repairing this leak ( rebuild, about 10K) are ridiculous. Anyhow, here's my question: If I should decide to resell at some point, will this slight case leak be a big issue, or are Porsche buyers kind of accepting of this tendency like Harley people? I've spent a bunch of money sorting this thing out, and it kills me to just look the other way on this annoying drip, but I'm trying to learn to live with it.

[petrolblue83911]

is it a leak that shows up as a few drops on your garrage floor? or can you look under it and watch it leak?

-a few drops are forgiven by most, a leak that drips as you watch the car idle or sit is a bad leak.

[86cabwhitefuchs]

Well, it doesn't smoke, but it drips and leaves a small spot on the garage floor when I put it away warm. For a few days. spot is typically about 6 inches in diameter.

[Super_Dave_D]

Originally posted by 86cabwhitefuchs
spot is typically about 6 inches in diameter.

I wouldnt call 6" in diameter a spot/drip - thats a puddle! Mine gives me a single drip and I look the other way but I could look away from that.

[86cabwhitefuchs]

Originally posted by Super_Dave_D
I wouldnt call 6" in diameter a spot/drip - thats a puddle! Mine gives me a single drip and I look the other way but I could look away from that.

.....so you'd rebuild it?

[the]

If the case has never been apart, I doubt you are getting a 6 inch leak from the case halves - that's not some weeping, that's a gusher. That would not be common, esp. since there are a million other places for it to leak from. Many of which would give the appearance, at first glance, of coming from between the case. The good news is it probably is something that can be relatively easily fixed.

[Pele911]

1st find the origin of the leak then you can figure out what to do about it. By the way its a porsche its gonna leak!

[vash]

my money is on the oil return tubes. get under the car and jam your finger into the grooves where the seals are. if you come back wet with oil, it is the ORT's. that one fooled me too. not a bad DIY fix.

[Gunter]

It can be hard to trace where it's coming from.
Clean the engine as best you can, use a dye in the oil and watch from underneath.
The mechanic should be able to find the leak.

[livi]

I suppose it couldn´t be simply the valve covers tightened slightly uneven ? Would at least be a quick a cheap fix.

[zrdstr3]

My Porsche does not leak and none of my Harleys leak, would not buy either with a leak. I would fix it.

[Early_S_Man]

Could it be the rear main crank seal that was changed when you had the clutch work done? Wouldn't be the first time one leaked after replacement!

[Superman]

Sniff the oil. It would require perhaps a 1/4 cup of engine oil to make that puddle, but just a few drops of transmission oil. For some reason, transmission oil crawls much farther.

[86cabwhitefuchs]

Originally posted by jvreed
1st find the origin of the leak then you can figure out what to do about it. By the way its a porsche its gonna leak!

See there, now that is what I hear from people occasionally. I'll probably take it back to the mechanic ( 95/hr) and ask him to definitively find this leak. The first crank seal they put in sprung a gusher after about 100mi., and seemed to stop when they replaced it. I told them to replace all of those top-of the motor O-ring seals while the engine was out and since then it's had a consistent ( not a gusher, but not a "few drops " leak. I hate seeing guys have to work for nothing, but I guess at 95 an hour, it's paying for reliable, expert service which should be stood behind.

[targa911S]

Mine always "Marks her turf" when I put her away. Couple of drips half dollar size. It's the front crank seal, has been for years.

[Richard Burns]

You say last time you had the motor out this work was done. How long ago? Has the leak developed since then or did it leak immediately? If it leaked immediately take it straight back to the mechanic for rectiication.
If it is a developed leak clean everything while its cold and not leaking take it for a drive to warm it up and then get under and look to see where it's leaking from.

[86cabwhitefuchs]

Originally posted by Richard Burns
You say last time you had the motor out this work was done. How long ago? Has the leak developed since then or did it leak immediately? If it leaked immediately take it straight back to the mechanic for rectiication.
If it is a developed leak clean everything while its cold and not leaking take it for a drive to warm it up and then get under and look to see where it's leaking from.

I had the trans rebuilt in June of last summer, the first trans seal blew 2 weeks later, when they took it out to fix that I told them to replace all those usual suspects ( oil cooler seals, OPS seal, etc. and it still drips a small spot when I park it. I got that " it's probably the case, there are sooo many O-rings and sooo many case bolts that most of them lake a little, and short of a rebuild, you might just have to learn to live with it", but I'm getting opinions on this board that this is just too much oil to be a case drip, and is probably another seal ( I hope so). BTW, the shop replaced the oil tank tube the first time around. I think I'm going to make an appt to bring it in for a dye check to find it for sure next week ( we're having a big snow dump right now). Too nice a car not to be potty-trained....

[mede8er]

Not to hijack....but I am about to do a general re-seal of my 3.0. Searching our hosts inventory I can only find a complete rebuild kit. Does anyone make a general re-seal gasket kit.....

TIA

[petrolblue83911]

I guess some of us have a lower tollerance for oil leaks, but personally a 6in drip after a few days would not bother me that much unless it was something new and was getting worse each time.

-if I let my car sit for a few weeks it will make a pretty good size stain but when I'm driving it daily i get a solid 1000 miles before needing to add a quart so I know I'm not loosing too much.

[nut11]

Oil return tube(s)?

87 Blk Coupe