What does this mean?

[ddcookson]

Recently arrived back from a 10 day holiday to find under my 996 C2 Cab approx 2/3 drips of oil located middle towards near side of rear wheels.
Can anybody advise.
Could this be RMS early sign.
1998 car, 40000 miles.

Thanks kindly.

[leeme3]

I think (but may be wrong) that RMS normally results in drips pretty much in the middle so could be a shaft oil seal or something similar. Of course wherever the leak is the drip will find the lowest point before fallintg off onto your garage floor so where it drips and where it leaks from are not necessarily the same.

Best bet is probably to pop it into a specialist and ask them to stick it on their ramps - if you happen to need a clutch soon the RMS can be changed at the same time saving a fair bit on labour costs. Also, if you do need the RMS changed make sure whoever does it uses the 'new' specialist tool, apparently it sets the seal better thereby reducing (but not eradicating) the chances of another failure in the future.

[BliarOut]

Possibly, or someone else suggested a breather pipe. Mine's doing it and I'm waiting to get her into the garage for a look. Has anyone got an picture of the underside of a 996? The leak just seems a little too offset towards the N/S to be RMS as I would expect that to be pretty much on the centreline of the car. Saying that, it may be leaking and tracking towards the nearside.

Time for Google images I think.

[BliarOut]

Ah, lots of lovely images of the underside

www.c-speedracing.com/howto/996rms/rms1.php

[leeme3]

Anyone see watchdog last night.... TT instrument pods failing? At least it's not just us that suffer these sort of things (and I seem to recall a lot of TT's had ignition pack issues as well). Of course RMS is potentially more catastrophic if not dealt with.

As ever, the forums and message boards, by their very nature, tend to carry more bad news than good. Get it checked and if it's gone get it changed (or try it yuorself if you're brave enough to follow the instructions in the previously posted link). Then go back to driving for fun!

[ddcookson]

Thanks guys,
the leak appears to be dripping from the silvery metal coloured area which has I think the word Variocam in itallics written on it.

As you can tell i am non mechanical so apologies for the description, thought this detail may help. If by chance it is RMS how much to expect.

Thank again

[BliarOut]

Is your leak definitely engine oil? Mine seems too thin to be engine oil. I'll have to get her up in the air and have a nose around and see where mine's coming from. Have you got any pictures of your leak?

[nel]

ddcookson said:

Thanks guys, the leak appears to be dripping from the silvery metal coloured area which has I think the word Variocam in itallics written on it.

Don't know the 996 engine really, but from what you're saying above it sounds like the leak is dripping from the area of the cam covers (or the leak is from higher up and just routing this way). The boxer engine design does mean that the cam cover gasket is sitting in a permanent puddle of oil and can eventually end up leaking, particularly if a thinner grade of oil is used (e.g. 0W-40). I've had both these gaskets replaced on my 993 as the oil dripped onto the engine tray then got pushed out into the slipstream of the car, putting oil spots on my car's arse.

IF it's just a few drips from a cam cover then it's not serious in my opinion and you can keep driving but keep an eye on the oil level. It can probably wait until the next service.

Also agree, RMS should be from the bellhousing between the engine and the gearbox, so central.