Newbie needs thru-bolt seeping advice

[samurai_k]

Hello members,

I am looking for your advice.

I am in the process of considering to purchase a well cared for 97 993 driver. Has over 110K miles and lots of documented and regular maintenance done over the last 20 years, including a top-end job that had new rings/guides, polishing, & cleaning 20K miles/10 years ago.

Unfortunately, that last big job did not hold up and is starting to seep oil near cylinder 2 base and case, which I have been told is likely a thru-bolt o-ring failure.

Currently the car is seeping, meaning you can see a sheen of oil and road particles that have collected due to seeping, but no drip (yet). The car sat in a garage not driven for the past five years and is recently being prepped for sale. It is not clear if this seep is recent or has always been there for years.

I know this will require an expensive engine-out top-end/reseal job, but given the top-end job was done 20K miles ago, and came back with strong leak down/compression at 220 across the board, I don't think it makes sense to resolve the issue now as the engine is strong.

Question #1, is this a deal breaker? or...
Question #2, is this "war paint" that I hear these older driver 993s just exhibit and I just suck it up and ignore it and address it if and when it becomes a larger problem

Car is fairly priced to reflect this issue, meaning if I were to address the issue, and if I were to sell the car in the future I would be "break-even" in terms of total cost of ownership other than regular maintenance and taxes paid to purchase the car initially.

Other than this seeping issue, the car is a two owner sample, no accidents, and is mechanically solid with lots of relatively new things like tires, brakes, clutch, wiring harness, CCU, alternator, battery, rotor/cap, belts, sparks, fluids.

I plan to drive it and update the suspension, which is the only thing I think it needs...

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[prschmn]

I always tell potential buyers if the car is priced as you say=reflecting the issue then buy it
drive it and be happy. Decent 993s don't grow on trees.

[Ralph3.]

Asking price?

[cheekybird]

Buy it. I have owned 5 Porsche's and all leaked/seep oil when I bought them. They all stopped leaking shortly after I purchased them because I drove them, a lot. If price reflects this issue as you say, buy it, what do you have to lose? You have plenty to gain.

[samurai_k]

Thanks guys very helpful.

[Porsche 964]

If the vehicle has been sitting and not driven regularly, there will be seeping in most flat-6 engine. It's not a big deal, especially if it's not dripping.

With a top-end rebuilt, you should be fine. Clean up the oil residual, get a fresh quality oil and filters change, give it a long spirited drive and enjoy the it. The engine case will be dried afterward. Other areas of potential wetness are the cam timing housing but you can easily tighten up the nuts across slightly.


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[Porsche 964]

Oops! Forgot to mention about the twins distributor belt. I'd check the service records and replace the belt if it has covered more than 50K miles since the last replacement. The other part you might want to ask if the DME relay was replaced or at least get a functional spare in the glove box. Enjoy the 993!


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[samurai_k]

Originally Posted by Porsche 964

Oops! Forgot to mention about the twins distributor belt. I'd check the service records and replace the belt if it has covered more than 50K miles since the last replacement. The other part you might want to ask if the DME relay was replaced or at least get a functional spare in the glove box. Enjoy the 993!


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Thanks. All the belts were replaced along with new alternator and battery as part of presale prep. Reviewed the records and can't find a purchase for a dme. I have to assume it is at least 10 years old... Should I carry a spare and just replace it when it fails?

When the DME fails what is a typical symptom?

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[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by samurai_k

...

When the DME fails what is a typical symptom?

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DME "Relay"

The car won't start as the fuel pump will not get the 12 volts.

Stay away from the URO version.

Pelican Parts - European Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche • BMW • Mercedes • Volkswagen • Audi • Saab • Volvo • MINI

[samurai_k]

Ok. If I am driving the car and it fails would the engine just die?

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[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by samurai_k

Ok. If I am driving the car and it fails would the engine just die?

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Yes. Well know problem so most carry a spare one in the glove box.

Someone on this board make a digital version.

So if you buy the car but a spare DME Relay, put it in and used the "old one" as a known working spare that you will put in the glove box.

[samurai_k]

Thanks.

Besides the DME relay anything else that I should carry, short of my alu jack/stands and my go to tool box?

I'm going to take a several hundred mile road trip to get her in shape again...

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[JJ 911SC]

Bentley Service Manual, Wayne 101 Projects, Alternator Belt and the wrench for it.

[samurai_k]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Bentley Service Manual, Wayne 101 Projects, Alternator Belt and the wrench for it.

Thanks!

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[Porsche 964]

When no fuel is delivered from the fuel pump to engine, it will stall.


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