[Kaj Hallstrom]

I have noticed a very small oil leak from the pan. It's a drop or two and only after long drives. Normal?...after 75000 miles(120000 km)

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[ds968]

Yes. ( normal )


Both of my 968s have had that small leak start around 70 k or 80 k miles , IIRC , and they did not get any worse with time and mileage, as might otherwise be expected .. one car is car is over 115 K miles, the other over 125 K miles now.

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[MCL968]

Mine had a small leak, turned out to be the balance shaft seals.

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[Ryan]

Or the stupid pan gasket

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[Waylander]

and both jobs are a complete pain,

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[ds968]

and both jobs are a complete pain,

 

The reason I'm leaving it alone until ( and if ) it starts leaving small puddles on the garage floor or driveway, at this point it's less than a penny-sized drop in a month. 

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[Kaj Hallstrom]

I have been told that synthetic oil tens to leak more than regular. Not sure I get that if the viscosity is the same. I use synthetic on my Infiniti G37 as well.

Any explanation to this claim? 

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[ds968]

I have also heard that and from multiple sources, never bothered to check how valid that claim is because I don’t care , I’d rather use full synthetic even if there is a higher probability of seepage, than using conventional stuff.

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[pdxmike]

This thread is dangerously close to turning into a dreaded oil thread. 


Here is my understanding from having researched this in the past:

 

In a car that has been running dino oil for years, the improved viscosity of synthetics and/or the detergent additives can dislodge old deposits. In an older car, this means that older seals which may have dino-oil-based deposits on them can start to weep or leak. The operative word is CAN - in many many cases this will not occur but if seals are older it CAN be an issue. 


So the synthetic oil isnt really the problem - its the dislodging of deposits - basically cleaning the old, brittle seals - that causes those leaks to start.

 

If a car has always run synthetic, or if the seals are in good shape - there will be zero difference between synthetic and dino in terms of leakage.

 

And FYI - as an owner of a air cooled Porsche - I would be DELIGHTED to see my car have one drop of oil per MONTH. 

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[tejon007]

Air-cooled porsches tend to leak more, mostly from the pushrod tubes because the one end has a rubber seal against the very hot cylinder head which deteriorates the seals. If the location of the leak is by the oil cooler, you should change the seals...sooner than leaking PR seals.


I agree about the detergents in modern oils cleaning things up and causing leaks. Also, I think the molecules in the synthetics are smaller and can leak via smaller gaps than conventional oils...

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[Waylander]

of course the other thing to take into consideration is when these engines were designed 1970-1980, synthetic oils were not generaly available, if you look in you cars handbook, mineral 15W40 or 20W50

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[MLB]

Its also way too easy to strip oil pan bolts and then they cant be tightened to the correct torque (only 7.5 ft lbs i think) and will weep ever so slightly over time. If i ever remove the oil pan again theres one or two that will get heli-coils.

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[Ryan]

Oil change places are notorious for stripping aluminum oil pan threads. I never have anybody change my oil so not a problem, but I have a friend who has replaced the pan in his VW twice now and the places won't take responsibility for it. "Must have been somebody else" 

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[pdxmike]

The idea of someone taking a 968, or any Porsche, really, to an oil change place makes me nauseous.

 

Everyone's got a story. This one's pretty good.

 

https://jalopnik.com/lazy-idiots-at-lube...1748394648

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[MCL968]

In a way I agree with Mike, but in view of the larger issue, you do have a right to get what you pay for, regardless of what you drive and who does the work. I knew someone who took their car to a Jiffy Lube and they stripped the oil filter. Ponder that for a moment, they stripped the threads on the oil filter and it blew off on the freeway, disgorging 5 quarts of hot oil on the road and smoking the bearings at the same time. If the filter is supposed to be "hand tight" just how strong were this guy's hands?

 

He got a new motor out of the deal, along with an important lesson.

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[Kaj Hallstrom]

Now, That definitely leaves me a bit concerned. I have never done oil changes in my garage. Many years ago  I had an incident doing a change on my 928. They told me the thread was screwed up and it was leaking a bit. My Porsche masters fixed it by drilling a bigger whole that would fit an AUDI plug. BUT did they do the damage?...somebody did....God thing to look out for when you have oil changes folks!!

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[tejon007]

Most of the time you have a choice to have somebody else work on your car. I choose to the reserve the enjoyment of working on my cars myself.


However, sometimes you don't have a choice. For example, when I have my cars emission tested.

One time I had my car tested (thankfully, not the 968) and I told the guy where the gas cap release was and told him if he had any questions...just ask. After it seemed to be taking too long, I checked. He had the entire center console torn apart (he even had broken some plastic pieces) looking for the OBD connector. Why he would even need to find it was beyond me because it was a pre-OBD1 car??

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[az968]

Sounds like a minimum wage government employee......

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