CabrioArtie

Looking over the engine today and noticed some wetness from these two bolts. Everything else is dry. Left side upper cover.

Is this a gasket replace or something else?

pp000830

Hi Artie,
A little oil weeping from cover bolts is not a big concern. If the covers were leaking and dripping on the exhaust and smelling it would be something to address. If it still bothers you give the bolts a shot of spray electric motor/electronic cleaner and they will be bone dry and you can see how many months/years it takes for the weeping to become evident again.
The middle of this page discusses oil leaks and valve covers:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...nsumption.html
Hope this helps,
Andy

fatmike

Air cooled Porsches leak oil. They smell like burned oil (and leather). It's just part of it. The trick is knowing when to spend a bundle of money to fix something and when to leave it alone. I think you got some good advice from Andy.

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Edward

Andy is right on. Leave it alone unless/until you get oil that drips then puddles on top of your heat exchangers. You'll see and smell smoke, very unpleasant and time to address. Until then, seep happens

Edward

CabrioArtie

Thanks, I'm not getting any drips on the heat exchangers and there is no smell or smoke.

I wasn't planning on doing anything at the moment, but was curious if this was caused by a failing gasket or something else since its only at the bolt.

pp000830

The gasket excludes the bolts from the sealed-off area of the head. Over time a small amount of oil can slip past the gasket and then wick past the gasket and show up on the cover and bolt.
No biggie,
Andy

drmatara

Interestingly, the other day a friend of mine came by and wanted a ride in my 993. It was a chilly night, so I started the car and we drove about 1/2 mile then return back home. Next day I saw a puddle of oil leaking onto the floor from what it seemed the passenger side valve cover. I put a piece of carboard underneath and the following days it was still leaking. I though it's time for valve cover gasket replacement, however I decided to take it for a nice long spirited drive and see if the leak got worse. I checked the oil level and everything looked good so, I started my drive. After about 30 miles I returned home parked the car and put another rather large piece of carboard underneath and to my surprise next day there was not even a drop of oil under the car. The car returned to it's previous self, so I guess the lesson here is if you drive the car make sure you fully warm up the engine this way, when it cools off and contracts it does so fully sealing the oil in. This is just a theory and I leave others to chime in, but though it was an interesting finding.

911PERVY

The engine tray (if fitted) holds alot of oil, driving for 30 miles probably moved/burn it off, when it fills up again you may have your oil patch on your floor again

drmatara

No engine tray fitted and now on the second day in a row, drove the car again yesterday and today not one drop of oil nor any burnt oil smell so I think she's cured lol.

IXLR8

Well you won't know until you clean the covers with a water based degreaser and you inspect them after a drive or a few drives, depending on the severity of the leak.
If it is a valve cover gasket, you'd be amazed how dry your covers will look after you replace them. Old hard rubber gaskets don't seal well compared to new soft rubber gaskets.

Clean them till they look like this and then check them every few drives.

wicks

I just did mine just like Alex's. Was doing lower lifters and plugs so was in there anyway. Clean and dry. It's a fun little project to DIY, like entry level stuff. Order up all new bolts and new gaskets. Really can't mess it up.