1984 3.2 Carrera buy - but leaking o

[Carreraman]

Hi! IM looking at a 1984 3.2 Carrera which has recently had a full rebuild with Top end heads etc - but the seller ( who seems like an honest chap btw)
tells me there is a little leakage which according to him might be because of the fully synthetic Oil - and switching to semi-synth or mineral could be a way to tighten it according to him.

He is not making excuses, just telling it as it is. Is this a big worry ? Or normal? Caveat emptor?

Thanks!

[mudy]

How recently is recently?
Some engines never leak most leak a bit but it does depend where it's leaking from.
I have heard that fully synthetic is not a good idea on these cars as it's too thin and there for leaks can occur - begs the question why he used fully synthetic

[graemel]

0W/40 caused leaks on the air cooled cars. 15W/50 as original was the oil of choice

[Koln-RS]

It's my understanding that older engines are more prone to leaks and a low viscosity synthetic oil will be more likely to find its way out via any weak points.

But, once it is leaking, the weakness has been established and changing to a higher viscosity mineral oil may be too late.

[neutral 3]

My 80 SC seeped oil, my 86 3.2 did the same ( I ran that on Magnatec and it loved it ) and so did my 88 3.2.
See if you can get it up on a ramp. Be warned though, a week after buying my last 3.2 it was smoking and useing oil. It needed a top end rebuild. He had had my pants down the T....r.

Also the large oil feed pipe under the engine was rotten, these can corrode very badly. Pig of a job to do and cost me £ loads

[BertBert]

did anyone mention that Porsches are not for poor people?

[g7jhp]

Due to the motoring magazines peddling the myth that SC's and 3.2 Carrera's were the affordable Porsche the tag stuck.

Entry prices used to be affordable, the cost of proper maintenance over a few years of use soon adds up.

Often lack of use brings a certain set of issues (oil leaks etc) and running one as a daily (I used my 1st 3.2 for 2 years and 2nd for 7 years) ironed out the niggles but still required preventative maintenance.

The good thing is they can be rebuilt (but at a cost)!