RMS/Blown engines/FEAR
Discussion
Well I have had my 996 for four weeks and love it.
Then I read around the subject and discover that RMS's require replacement (seemingly) regularly, and that blown engines can result.
SO.........
Mine doesn't leak (checking obsessively), and has a Porsche warranty.
Forgive raking this issue up, but
1. If it doesn't leak I assume I don't have a problem
2. If the thing is leaking I would be able to see it on the floor
3. If it starts to leak then it will be covered under the warranty
4. If it starts to leak and I get it sorted quick then this is unlikely to blow the engine to pieces.
Would also appreciate a view on how good Porsche warranties hold up when an engine lets go, with a proper history and all the services done on time etc... The car is treated gently and warmed up slowly etc... Telemetry would show this is Porsche looked.
Thanks
>>> Edited by Vesuvius996 on Tuesday 15th February 18:58
Correct all points. If you park in the same place every night (like a garage) put a sheet of white paper under the rear of the car (i sellotaped it to the floor) & just check it on a regular basis, RMS failure is usually only a few drips per week so unless you do this it can be difficult to spot.
Extended Porsche warranties now cover RMS (they didn't used to)
I had RMS go on 2 previous cars (a 98 C2 & an 02 C4S) Both times when I noticed them dripping I was told it wasn't an urgent thing to get fixed, just don't leave it for too long.
Not sure on the warranty/engine thing, no experience.
Extended Porsche warranties now cover RMS (they didn't used to)
I had RMS go on 2 previous cars (a 98 C2 & an 02 C4S) Both times when I noticed them dripping I was told it wasn't an urgent thing to get fixed, just don't leave it for too long.
Not sure on the warranty/engine thing, no experience.
I have a targa (02), No warranty now. I was happy to take the chance and pay as you go!, that was before taking into consideration about RMS. Now I am worried. Shall I get a Porsche guarantee for 1000 pounds ish. What would be the cost to me if I had RMS repair without warranty?
Help/advice please
Help/advice please
Just so its clear 
RMS failure CANNOT affect your engine in any way!!!!!
Just check and maintiain your oil levels as normal - even with an RMS leak it is such an insignificant amount of oil you probably won't notice on the gauge.
At worst an RMS failure results in a weep, not drip, not leak, but weep of oil. Most people with RMS problems will not know about it as there is no evidence on the garage floor - the weep will only be visible on the underside of the car.
The WORST CASE scenario of RMS failure is that some oil fouls the clutch plate and you require a new clutch, anthough this is theoretical and I have yet to hear of it happening.
It is true that some people with repeat RMS failures are having their engine replaced by Porsche - this is to simply cure the problem and save porsche continually replacing the item as they are obliged to find a permanent cure for customers under warranty.
If Porsche are not paying for it then it would simply be a case of ignoring it until your clutch needs replaced and simply replacing it then - when it will cost you only the parts. The clutch is more likely to need replaced through wear than through a RMS problem, so if you play it smart and don't over-react then it will only cost you the price of the parts (£20ish) at the correct time.
As for warranty - if your engine goes pop and its not due to misuse (i.e. selecting 2nd instead of 6th and forcing a mechanical (level 1) over-rev) then your warranty will cover the cost of a replacement engine. I have had an engine replaced under warranty when a hydraulic lifter collapsed and mangled the whole engine. RMS will also be covered by porsche extended warranty, as would subsequent engine replacements if you had repeat RMS failures.
So calm down, relax, RMS isn't going to cause your engine to blow - it can't!
>> Edited by GreigM on Wednesday 16th February 09:16
RMS failure CANNOT affect your engine in any way!!!!!
Just check and maintiain your oil levels as normal - even with an RMS leak it is such an insignificant amount of oil you probably won't notice on the gauge.
At worst an RMS failure results in a weep, not drip, not leak, but weep of oil. Most people with RMS problems will not know about it as there is no evidence on the garage floor - the weep will only be visible on the underside of the car.
The WORST CASE scenario of RMS failure is that some oil fouls the clutch plate and you require a new clutch, anthough this is theoretical and I have yet to hear of it happening.
It is true that some people with repeat RMS failures are having their engine replaced by Porsche - this is to simply cure the problem and save porsche continually replacing the item as they are obliged to find a permanent cure for customers under warranty.
If Porsche are not paying for it then it would simply be a case of ignoring it until your clutch needs replaced and simply replacing it then - when it will cost you only the parts. The clutch is more likely to need replaced through wear than through a RMS problem, so if you play it smart and don't over-react then it will only cost you the price of the parts (£20ish) at the correct time.
As for warranty - if your engine goes pop and its not due to misuse (i.e. selecting 2nd instead of 6th and forcing a mechanical (level 1) over-rev) then your warranty will cover the cost of a replacement engine. I have had an engine replaced under warranty when a hydraulic lifter collapsed and mangled the whole engine. RMS will also be covered by porsche extended warranty, as would subsequent engine replacements if you had repeat RMS failures.
So calm down, relax, RMS isn't going to cause your engine to blow - it can't!
>> Edited by GreigM on Wednesday 16th February 09:16
This is a subject I am very interested in having just had an RMS replaced myself at a 36k service. There was no oil on my garage floor and no real sign of oil loss actualy car was using less oil than when new.
I have spoken to 6-7 frends and am yet to find anyone who has has a simmilar experiance and only a couple of people who have replied have actualy experianced the problem first hand.
The work was fully paid for by the warranty which seems to provide good cover.
It seems that if your car is looked at regularly any RMS issues should be picked up at service time and fixed by the OPC.This is how it seems to work to me but then I have done 67000 miles in the last 4 years so a service works out every six months.
I would love to hear from anyone who has run a boxter or 996 from new who has experenced RMS issues first hand.
I have spoken to 6-7 frends and am yet to find anyone who has has a simmilar experiance and only a couple of people who have replied have actualy experianced the problem first hand.
The work was fully paid for by the warranty which seems to provide good cover.
It seems that if your car is looked at regularly any RMS issues should be picked up at service time and fixed by the OPC.This is how it seems to work to me but then I have done 67000 miles in the last 4 years so a service works out every six months.
I would love to hear from anyone who has run a boxter or 996 from new who has experenced RMS issues first hand.
lightweight said:
I would love to hear from anyone who has run a boxter or 996 from new who has experenced RMS issues first hand.
That would be me - 2003 Boxster 2.7, bought new June 2003. April 2004 at aroun 10,000 miles - RMS leak diagnosed and fixed under warranty. I had no clue there was a leak until the car was on the ramps at OPC for a service. Oil use was non-existant.
Then the engine blew 6-months later, totally unrelated to RMS.
GreigM said:
I would love to hear from anyone who has run a boxter or 996 from new who has experenced RMS issues first hand.
That would be me - 2003 Boxster 2.7, bought new June 2003. April 2004 at aroun 10,000 miles - RMS leak diagnosed and fixed under warranty. I had no clue there was a leak until the car was on the ramps at OPC for a service. Oil use was non-existant.
Then the engine blew 6-months later, totally unrelated to RMS.
Sorry, this is off topic.
Greig, a friend of mine has just tried to sell his GT3 to his local OPC. Paid 78k 6 months ago, done 2000 miles. They bid £59k. One day you will admit you were wrong
fellas,
having waited half a lifetime for my 911, Two weeks in and i'm becoming paranoid about RMS / engine failiure !!She's a 99 4 cab tip with 47k and full history...having done only 4kin the last 10 months an oil service is due in march... so, do i service and warranty and if so is the porsche warranty the 'nuts' or is there a better alternative ??
cheers e-d
having waited half a lifetime for my 911, Two weeks in and i'm becoming paranoid about RMS / engine failiure !!She's a 99 4 cab tip with 47k and full history...having done only 4kin the last 10 months an oil service is due in march... so, do i service and warranty and if so is the porsche warranty the 'nuts' or is there a better alternative ??
cheers e-d
GreigM, I recommend that you read 9Ms post on this topic before claiming RMS failure is 'only' an oil leak:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154369&f=48&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154369&f=48&h=0
Midlife - I am in the forunate postion of having a warranty from Porsche.
I'm not on commission but I wouldn't gamble if I didn't. I think that £725 to cover a £60,000 car is cheap as chips for a year.
If I was you I would get the warranty, if only to give you peace of mind and STOP you worrying every time you squeeze the throttle.
I have saved for 15 years to buy my 996, and if I didn't have the Porsche warranty I think the experience would be spoiled for me, because I cannot afford a new engine if anything goes bang. Essentially I'd have no car for the next three years unless I got a loan to pay off the new engine.
No option, I think.
kevinday said:
GreigM, I recommend that you read 9Ms post on this topic before claiming RMS failure is 'only' an oil leak:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154369&f=48&h=0
Kevin, unless I am misunderstanding, what 9M is talking about are some of the symptoms of a larger problem which may have also caused the RMS leak - not faults caused by the RMS leak itself.
RMS = rear main seal I think. It's the annular oil seal around the crankshaft where it comes out of the block, i.e. behind the flywheel. As you can read in the other thread quoted above, because of the design of the 996 block and, it seems, the reultant lateral deflections of the crank under load, the RMSs get damaged and leak.
I have an 03 C2 that has now covered 13K. I suffered RMS failure at 10K, in my case the oil was noticable on the garage floor, one call to my local OPC and it was changed under warranty. Glad to say it seems to be ok. In my opinion it was no big deal and seems to have been blown out of proportion.
Small amounts of oil on floor (about 20mm in diameter) for the last couple of weeks. Had it confirmed at MOT time it was RMS failure.
Going into Porsche to have it done next week. Not a big issue and not that expensive (£600). Like darrenraven said blown out of all proportion. All cars have their faults and this seems to be with some 996's.
>> Edited by elms on Friday 25th March 13:33
elms said:
Small amounts of oil on floor (about 20mm in diameter) for the last couple of weeks. Had it confirmed at MOT time it was RMS failure.
Going into Porsche to have it done next week. Not a big issue and not that expensive (£600). Like darrenraven said blown out of all proportion. All cars have their faults and this seems to be the 911's.
Sorry, correction! 996's rather 911's. How dare you tar my 993 with the same brush sir? Outrageous!
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