993 Oil Leaks

[vrobinson]

My newly bought 1996 993 has an oil leak - it's now leaving "spots" on the drivers side on the driveway.

Reading the various Forums it seems that the 993 is prone to leaks from the cam covers or from a badly fitted filter.

Anyone got any more specific ideas on helping me to diagnose the problem - and an indication of likely costs for one of these events from a specialist?

Thanks in anticipation for any help.

[clubsport]

Have you investigated the above,,,oil filter and lower covers account for the majority of leaks...
Lower cam cover gaskets and new bolts cost about £20 for parts.....easy replacement for diy...shouldn't take specialist more than 1 to 1-1/2 hours labour....you need wheel off and look behind offside rear arch liner to get to oil filter.....any other leaks can often be more expensive, ranging from oil pipe leaks to the nightmare of barrell leaks......if not filter or cam covers, often best to leave if not leaking too much until you need something else done...have fun!

[VerySideways]

No offence to Paul but in my experience when the oil filter is leaking it's not the filter in the wheelarch but the one on the engine casing, it's fiddly to get to because even once you've taken the engine undertray off there are a couple of oil pipes in the way, but you CAN get your hand in there (well i can and my hands aren't small). I have fixed several 993 oil leaks just by tightening this oil filter - has the car had a service in the last thousand or so miles?

As to the cam cover gaskets - exactly what Paul said

[clubsport]

VS, the filter under the wheel arch is changed more frequently than the 2ndry filter which is supposed to last 24k miles.......so arch filter seems to be changed at a ratio of at least 2:1.....problem is often with the thing not havng been tightened enough at the last service...often rectified in minutes.

[VerySideways]

Paul - i've not seen the arch filter leak myself, everytime i've seen a filter leak it's always been the little one on bottom of the engine casing... and agree, tighten it and the problem goes away.

@ vrobinson: check both!

[johnmaddox]

Agree - small filter caused leak on mine - quarter turn fixed it. How they loosen is a mystery to me.

[sportsandclassic]

Hi

They loosen because they are not tightened up correctly to start with as they are very akward to get to and get any amount of turn on them.....i always double check any i fit.

The oil filter under the arch liner is very prone to corrosion issues and normally develops a pin hole in the end of the filter and leaks oil out at a tremendous rate....

Mike

Sports and classic

[giw12]

Your symptoms are exactly the same as mine.....cured by a trip to an indi who tightened up the bolts along the bottom of the engine casing.

Had the de rigeur flattened cardboard box underneath the engine ever since (2 months ago) and no drips to report.

[Hot Pepper]

Agree that it is usually the filter in the engine bay. Happened to me. Never had any probs with the one in the wheel arch.

[vrobinson]

Thanks to everyone for your help/replies - your comments helped to put me in a more informed position when I took the car to a garage to have the work done.

Pleased to report that PORTIACRAFT (020 8959 1604) did the work for me today -they located the leak to one of the lower cam covers. Replaced and all seems ok. I also got them to re-gas the Air Con which again is now working fine.

All in all, I was very impressed with PORTIACRAFT - did the work in one day and at what I thought was a reasonable rate. Also found them to be efficient and helpful (also gave me a Certificate for the Thatcham alarm that I need to give to my insurance company).

Thanks again for all your help!