[AFJuvat]

As some of you may know, I am a mechanic in a small independant Porsche only garage.

The other day, a 2002 996 with the Aero Kit option comes in for its annual service.

Annual service entails changing oil, top off fluids, inspect brakes, checking filters etc. The car had just over 6000 miles on it.

Oil filter housing had a few small pieces of metal in it when I removed it - not completely unusual as it is a very low mileage engine and this is its first oil change.

Car is filled with Mobil 1 15W-50.

I complete the service, torque down the oil drain plug and the oil filter housing down per the book.

Owner picks up car, and takes it home - 40 minutes later, he calls up saying the engine started knocking like crazy and the car dumped a bunch of oil on the ground.

Car is towed back to the shop, drain the oil - car lost half of its oil volume (about 5 quarts) and the oil that is left is loaded with metal bits.

Oil filter housing is the same.

Evidence of oil leaks between engine and transmission

Diagnosis: Real main seal failure, resulting in total engine failure.

Per conversation with the dealer, the rear main seals "let go if you look at them funny" and that "we never replaced engines under warrenty with the older 911's, but with the 996, we are replacing 2 or 3 per month."

So as an early Xmas present, the poor owner gets a new engine for his car that only had 6k miles on it.

So, for those of you that own, or are thinking of buying a 996, watch it for oil leaks sprining up out of nowhere or clunking noises like a hawk.

Quality control at Zuffenhausen just ain't what it used to be.

AFJuvat