[Renalicious]

Ok, got my car back for the 3rd time. Got an alignment done, and they also fixed up the power stearing leaks. Turned out that it was the pump itself that was leaking. Nothing too major, they torqued some bolts and all is well. Here's hoping <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Replaced a coolant clamp as well. This weekend I'll try to take it out on the highways for some runs and see what happens. But for now, finally, it looks pretty clean under the engine <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Renalicious]

Sigh, looks like I spoke too soon, AGAIN. Looks like the power stearing is STILL leaking. Not only that, but I think I may have uncovered another significant oil leak right under the intake runners. I'll post some pictures of what I manage to see (I don't have any lifts or stands <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



One is the underside of the car with brown drips. The other is by the right front tire with another brown drip. The one that's kind of blury is of the engine block right by the dip stick. And finally of the exhaust pipe, all blackened by oil. Ugh. I get embarrased when I accelerate and leave a cloud of blue smoke behind me <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Anyone wanna take a guess as to why there is oil under the intake runners? Though I don't think I wanna know how much it might cost to get it fixed X_x Needless to say I am now seriously considering stowing the car, and saving up for an engine overhaul.



        [attachment=2934:attachm

ent]    



However, now that I think about it, the oil leak may be due to the upper balance shaft leaking. Seems plausable.

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[angusm]

"However, now that I think about it, the oil leak may be due to the upper balance shaft leaking. Seems plausable."









hi - first porsche, and first post; just bought a 968 and am dealing with oil leaks just like yours, at first everyone thought it was power steering but it turns out that the gaskets at both ends of the lower balance shaft are leaking oil; it seems a pretty safe bet that the upper ones should fail at the same time so I would check that.



-Angus (93, charcoal coupe)

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[Renalicious]

Well the upper ones shouldn't fail as often because unlike the lower one, it isn't sandwiched between a hot engine and a super hot exhaust pipe. So I guess that causes less 'stress' on the rubber parts. Still, I'll have to go through the records and see what was done and when. But I don't think there is any mention of the upper balance shaft being done at any point in time. Then again, there is a sizable gap in the records left by the second owner. I do know however that the front seals were replaced when I went in for that 116K mile service when my water pump seized <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Still, I'll only be driving the car on the weekends from now on (no longer my daily driver to work), so I don't need to worry about it so much anymore. I'll just rinse the engine, top off the oil and away I go.



See, it's not the oil leak itself that's annoying. It's the fact that it all gets dumped onto the exhaust pipe and I have to SMELL it, and see clouds behind me, ugh. Not to mention having to go back to the repair shop time and time again to get something fixed (when it all should have been done at once). But now I can start saving up money for that engine overhaul, which I'm hoping to do sometime next year before the Porsche Parade.

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[angusm]

well good luck and let us know what you discover about the leak

-Angus

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[Scott Collins]

[quote name='angusm' date='Sep 26 2006, 04:10 PM']well good luck and let us know what you discover about the leak

-Angus

[right][post="26438"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Renalicious-



Please smack me if this has already been said... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



The balance shaft gaskets are prone to "seepage", basically they

get soaked, and just overtime seep. They seep. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> I rebuilt

the top end of my '87 944. No more seepage.



This is common. It's worse, I think, if you

don't drive the car. Anyone who has a different opinion, please

chime in. But I believe that these cars need a certain "lubrication",

internally, to prevent drying out.



Sorry about the problems you are having. Some if it comes with the

territory, and some seems to be rotten luck. Many of the parts are, to put it

bluntly, on borrowed time, since there isn't a 968 in existance that

is less than 11-12 years old. If there is, I would like to look underneath. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



I have spent months on Ebay, skimming the category of "Porsche 968", and

my garage is evidence of this axiom, a self-evident truth that requires no proof:



Owning a 968 Means That You Can Never Have Enough Spare Parts

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[ether_joe]

assuming you're running synthetic, what about switching to Dino and see if that helps seal up or slow down the leaking?



(my understanding is that dino oil is bigger molecules?)

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[Renalicious]

I think there is more than seeping going on under there. Everytime I rinse out the underside, later that day there is fresh oil dripping from the tray. And not driving it is really more of a choice of not wanting to sit in traffic than anything else. I'll still take it out on the weekends and tear around, despite all the leaks <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



There is also a house purchase coming up soon, so by not driving it I'm saving like $80/week on gas too. I'm not too stressed about it, I just wish it was all done at once that's all.



At this point I don't know if natural oil will help either hehe.

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[Scott Collins]

[quote name='Renalicious' date='Sep 26 2006, 09:57 PM']I think there is more than seeping going on under there. Everytime I rinse out the underside, later that day there is fresh oil dripping from the tray. And not driving it is really more of a choice of not wanting to sit in traffic than anything else. I'll still take it out on the weekends and tear around, despite all the leaks <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



There is also a house purchase coming up soon, so by not driving it I'm saving like $80/week on gas too. I'm not too stressed about it, I just wish it was all done at once that's all.



At this point I don't know if natural oil will help either hehe.

[right][post="26448"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Ren-



From the look of your photos, you have a big time leak or leaks. One thing to watch out for: oil getting on the timing belt. That could result in a catastrophic engine failure. Bent valves, the works. Be careful here, and make sure you

know your belts are staying dry.



Have you removed the belt cover for a look? Also, the one photo shows oil leaking on the pipe near the o2 sensor. Is this correct? I would

look above that to find the possible source. Any chance the oil filter is

improperly seated? Can't understand how the shop

you are using can't get this straightened out.



Hope this helps a little.



Scott

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[Renalicious]

Ok, had some time so I took the car to the shop again to have it checked out. And the verdict? The upper balance shaft is leaking. The cost? about $650. Ugh. All that for a $2 part, grrr. So basically no point in taking the car out anymore untill it's fixed, since it'll just get worse and worse. I should probably just save money and get that engine rebuild in march =/



Man, this sucks <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Renalicious]

To make matters worse, the shop forgot to put my engine shield back on! GAH! Seriously! I think it's time to go some place else for car repairs <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ether_joe]

yeah if they forget s***e you don't want em doing a rebuild . . . ?





just suffer through this time my friend there are happy twisties ahead. . .

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[Renalicious]

Ok, so an update on what's going on. The part from Germany FINALLY came, the breather box, and connecting hoses. I will also be getting the power stearing patched up with new hoses. Hopefully this should fix the oil leaks, as the guy thinks I have bad crank case ventilation causing oil to be forced out of everywhere. I should know more later today <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Next month it's new clutch hydraulics and break lines!

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[Renalicious]

Ok, so they put the breather box in, new connecting hose, patched up the upper ballance shaft, and replaced the power steering hoses. And degreased the engine. The power steering was apparently leaking near a cooking coil. There was a previous repair that was done poorly, and it was the source of the leak. So here's hoping that these repairs will significantly reduce the leaks. I'll take it out for a spirited test drive and see what happens.



I wish I took my car to these guy sooner, but I suppose no money was wasted on maintenance, just the wrong things were repaired heh.

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[Renalicious]

Leaks of woe no more! Almost! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



The only thing that needs to be done now is the rear main seal. So I may as well do the clutch too. That means the next repair will cost $$$$. New clutch, flywheel (any luck on that project Flash? heh), and hydraulics. After that the engine should be good to go for a long while! Or at least untill I need to replace the cams <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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