Oil leaks - I know, I know.......

mickey356 · 03-17-2010, 08:33 PM

I did the searches and I have Waynes book as well so go easy.

The weather has finally warmed up around here and I went for a nice ride and then went to check my oil. While the car was sitting at idle and I was checking the oil I could smell burning oil. No biggie, smelled it before, but then I saw smoke, not much. I looked under the car and could see oil on the driver side heat exchanger smoking. The temp gauge said 210. The car hasn't seen that temp in months.
My car has leaks as all 911's do, and up to now they've been small (1 qt per 800 miles). I have never noticed drops under my car either.
I plan to drop my car off next week to get the SSI's etc.... installed and was thinking about trying to sort out some of the leaking since it seems to be getting worse with warm weather. Waynes book says the crankcase breather, the oil cooler thermostat o-ring and the oil pressure switch can all be accessed by removing the fuel injection. How much of a PIA is that? Would is just be easier to drop the engine? I was thinking about having my buddy do a leakdown and then seeing what we've got and going from there. I don't want to waste time chasing oil leaks if I don't have to. Are there any words of wisdom out there to help me figure this out? Thanks as always

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Much easier to drop the engine/transaxle. You can take the CIS off in a big piece all together. Then you have easy access to the front and top of the engine, can get the rear main seal if that is a problem, easier to change spark plugs, easier to adjust valves.

If you were even considering an engine drop, I reccommmend it since you (or your technician) can do a "full service" on all the mechanicals back there much easier that way.

G450X · G450X's Garage

Check the oil return tubes for leaks since they'll be really easy to change when you swap out the heat exchangers.

steve911T · 03-18-2010, 11:54 AM

I have/had the same oil leaks. I did the top of the engine by removing the right half of the fuel injection and was able to fix the oil leaks. Yes, it was a royal PIA but the positive it took less than 5 hours to do. Engine out, 20 minutes. Next stop is the oil return tubes and will pull the engine oil cooler. Unfortunately, I have to take off the heat exchangers for the cooler. Good luck. Steve

mickey356 · 02:23 PM

Talked to my buddy today and we're gonna drop the engine next week. On the list is leak down, plugs, plug wires, valve adjustment, oil leaks and of course the SSI's & muffler. The mechanics time schedule/table lists CIS removal as a 7 hour job and an engine r&r as 5.5, I figured it'd be about the same either way and dropping the engine will give better access so a better job can be done. And if there is anything catastrophic, well, at least the engine removal part is already done.

I'm scared to death because of what we might find with a leak down and valve adjustment but I guess you gotta suck it up and take it like a man (I'll probably take it like a screaming little sissy-mary). I was hoping to sell a couple toys beforehand so I had funds saved but I guess depending on what we find I may have to pony up now and fill up the kitty when I sell the other things. My wife LOVED it when I told her I was dropping the engine and I wasn't sure what the repairs would cost. She'll no doubt motivate me to fill the kitty back up and fast.

steve911T · 03-18-2010, 04:40 PM

Mickey, who are you taking it to in Wilmington and I am not sure why you are removing the CIS. You should check the clutch, seals, throw out bearing, replace the sound proofing pad, check the CV boots and really the list will go on and on. That is why I am waiting until next winter and remove it at that time. Good luck when he does a compression/leak down and that is when it will really get expensive if he finds something suspect.
Steve

Flat6pac · 03-18-2010, 04:59 PM

Steve, Your 3.2 injection comes off a lot easier than the 3.0 of an 83. Any day I would rather pull the 83 engine than pull the injection.
Bruce

mickey356 · 03-18-2010, 05:09 PM

Ironically I was just talking to him (he comes to my restaurant to eat alot) and he said that I should order an insulation pad so we can replace it while the engine is out. We're dropping the engine to have better access to oil leaks and any other things we'll need to look at. If it turns out the engine needs a rebuild at least then I have to engine out and can, if needed, take it to Will Pyle at Fairwinds, a Porsche specialist. I'm hoping I don't end up there. If the leak down #'s are decent I can just clean things up, put on the SSI's etc.... and put the engine back in. The only reason I'm doing a drop is because he's got the tools and shop to make it easy. We have an "arrangement" when it comes to labor. Lets just say this'll probably cost me a lot of free dinners.

He, we, won't do any "major" work, that will go to a specialist if need be. I have my Bentley and both of Waynes books and his knowledge, tools, lift, etc.... so I think we'll be in good shape.
As I said already, I'm scared to death only because I don't want to be pinched by having my car (daily driver) out of commish and having to buy P&C's, cams etc..... now as opposed to collecting them as time and money allow. In a perfect world I'd be able to drive my car for a few months while I sell an MG Midget, my go kart and possibly my replica speedster, get a decent reliable daily driver and have a nice chunk to start collecting all the things I want for my engine for when the rebuild time comes. The "fear" is things not going according to MY plan. That said, they rarely do.

yelcab1 · 03-18-2010, 05:53 PM

You said: my 911 leaks oil as all 911s do.
Not true, mine did not leak one drop because I fixed them all.

1 qrt in 800 miles, that is a lot of leak.

I would own a Porsche as a daily driver, but I also would have a back up car so that when the porsche is down for 4 weeks being worked on, I have a way to get to work. Daily driver with a 911 means 300 days out of 365 days a year.

Good luck. Dropping the engine is the right thing to do. Good luck with the leak down as well.

mickey356 · 03-18-2010, 05:57 PM

Well said Yelcab.
My 911 too will NOT have oil leaks.............anymore.

I do have another car. It's a replica 356 speedster. A great little car but not much fun in the rain. I'll be OK with it.

rusnak · 03-18-2010, 06:03 PM

You guys should search and read the oil leak threads. Tons of info.

Among the tidbits: 3.2 can have the "triangle of death" oil leak big 3 items replaced with the engine in situ. Only the airbox and afm need to come out. Oil on the exhaust cross pipe is the tell-tale sign of a leaking thermostat o-ring or oil pressure switch.

The 3.0 engine needs to come out to change the above.

Before changing anything, you should start with a clean engine to trace fresh oil leaks.