1995 993 timing chain housing

[911vintage]

I just got my 993 back from an oil change and it's leaking like a sieve! I know that it had a leak from the timing chain housing but only a few drips. Now it's leaving a streak when I pull away and when I park it's leaking a lot more. Leak stops after a minute or two of driving then resumes when parked. The estimate for the reseal was $4600 so I just lived with the few drops. Did they overfill or do I have to bite the bullet. is the estimate fair?

[Marine Blue]

Did you check to make sure it’s not coming from the drain plugs? Any other changes from last change to this change like a different oil or viscosity?

The timing covers are a known weak point and if the leak is isolated to the covers you can have this done for much less without dropping the engine. On my Targa the timing chain covers started with a slow seepage which stayed that way for 18 months. That developed into a few drops and I lived with it but then it started leaking in earnest 8 months later and I bit the bullet and had them resealed. Fortunately nothing else was leaking.

[TorqueHead]

Having just resolved the previous owner's overfilling with oil, I can tell you that my C4 leaked a lot of oil until I drained it and properly filled it to the correct level. I was amazed when all leaks stopped.
I would check for overfilling first.

[Kein_Ersatz]

Cause & Effect, immediate post oil change by someone other then yourself, check the oil level. Too many "wrench" use the dash level gauge and do not wait for the engine to warm up. Filling up 9+ quarts with the slow fill rate of a air cooled 911 can cause "wrench" to cut corners / lose track of how much oil they took out and put in. Especially if not using / counting quart containers, using a shop fill hose of 5gl jugs.

[Cobalt]

If your timing covers are leaking that badly I would not drive it. Although I agree with others could be overfilled which is bad and time for a new shop or could be they tried to fill it all at once quickly and it backed up the filler neck and left a mess of oil in and about the filter slowly dripping down as you take off. Again time for another shop.

$4600 seems excessive for the timing chain reseal at that rate drop the engine and reseal everything. It shouldn't cost much more.

[wesleyc]

It’s a pain to do without dropping the engine. If you’re in need of a new clutch in the near future this could give extra motivation.

[midnight911]

I replaced the timing chain cover gaskets. Easy DIY. No need to drop the engine. But it shouldn't leak that much from the cover. If it is leaking that bad, it should be very visible. Since it's after an oil change, I suspect the small oil filter just in front of heat exchanger on the passenger side. If it's loose, just hand tighten with a slight force.

[911C2S]

Originally Posted by midnight911

I replaced the timing chain cover gaskets. Easy DIY. No need to drop the engine. But it shouldn't leak that much from the cover. If it is leaking that bad, it should be very visible. Since it's after an oil change, I suspect the small oil filter just in front of heat exchanger on the passenger side. If it's loose, just hand tighten with a slight force.

I wouldn't exactly say this is a easy DIY. Did you remove the AC bracket? You'll have to pull the crank pulley and half of the rear end of the car apart. Do you have a DIY you followed? Thanks

[911vintage]

so I replaced the valve covers with billet Aluminum and it pretty much stopped it. I don't let the car warm up too much and I drive it below 3000 rpm until temp comes up a little.