964 Cylinder Leakage

[Davie Boy]

I'm a novice here, so forgive me. Is the 964 cylinder leakage problem progressive or can it happen overnight? In other words, can you go from bone dry to rain in just one day?

[Don Plumley]

Rain usually indicates failure of a seal. So it would not happen overnight.

[Davie Boy]

That's kind of what I thought. I figured there'd be some warning signs.

[Rouxzy]

If you're talking '90, 964 then there is no seal. It is metal on metal. Eventually they all leak. Porsche was doing a fix on these if if happened during warranty. The '91 came with a seal. My '90 engine had the update with the seal during rebuild.
Tom

[Davie Boy]

Yes, it's a '90 964. But seal or no seal, would a heavy cylinder leak occur like this overnight or would it start slowly?

[FRED/LI]

Do a search here or on the other board...there are multiple sources for your 'leak'.
Don't assume it's the cylinders yet. Could be the power steering pump seal at the camshaft, oil line, valve cover, chain cover, tensioner seal, and on and on.......

[Davie Boy]

Actually... it's my mechanic that's telling me it's the cylinders. The problem is... I just spent a good chunk of dough having them repair several smaller leaks, i.e. valve covers, oil return lines, etc. When I got it back, the car was bone dry. About a week and maybe 40 miles later, I walked into the garage to see a good sized puddle under the car. It was leaking even heavier than before. I turned the car on, have my wife give it a little gas while I watched, and the oil came down like rain. I automatically assumed something had come loose or wasn't fitted right, and had it towed back to the mechanic. The cylinders was his diagnosis. I'm thinking "second opinion."

[stevepaa]

I can not imagine how the top end seal would be suspect if the oil is pouring out. I suspect the oil ring in the passage way with the headbolts might be it. Or the valve covers are not fitted down tight.