RMS leak on 997!
12-24-2004, 10:21 AM
#1
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RMS leak on 997!
I saw this on 996 forum...anybody know about this?
"I think it has to occur three times until you get a rebuilt motor.
BTW ,I had my car in for service on Monday at the dealer and there was a 997S with 2K miles diagnosed with a RMS, clearly this problem has not been fixed with the 3.8L either"
"I think it has to occur three times until you get a rebuilt motor.
BTW ,I had my car in for service on Monday at the dealer and there was a 997S with 2K miles diagnosed with a RMS, clearly this problem has not been fixed with the 3.8L either"
12-24-2004, 10:26 AM
#2
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Yeah, it was me, that's what the service manager told me about a 997S that was having an oil leak problem. I asked about it later, they said they 'fixed' the problem. I didn't want to pry as it's not even my car and they didn't want to discuss it either.
Hopefully just an isolated problem.
Hopefully just an isolated problem.
12-24-2004, 11:32 AM
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RMS, Rear Main Seal. A small number of 996 cars with the m96 motor (3.4,3.6 &3.8L) have developed a chonic oil leak at the RMS, thought to be due to overly loose tolerences on the machined main block. This is a problem not seen in GT1 engines (GT3, GT2, Turbo 3.6 engines) due to different, more precise machining methods employed in the hand built construction of those motors.
Typically, the dealer will RR the RMS up to three times, if it occurs again a rebuilt motor is in order.
This is a very rare problem, but a real one. The bulk of m96 motors have never and will never experience this problem. Even if it happened out of warranty, it's only a 800$ fix.
The problem is inherent to the m96 motor, which includes the 'new' 3.8L 997S motor. They did attempt a fix by using a Cayenne style RMS, only time will tell. Drive your car and enjoy it.
Typically, the dealer will RR the RMS up to three times, if it occurs again a rebuilt motor is in order.
This is a very rare problem, but a real one. The bulk of m96 motors have never and will never experience this problem. Even if it happened out of warranty, it's only a 800$ fix.
The problem is inherent to the m96 motor, which includes the 'new' 3.8L 997S motor. They did attempt a fix by using a Cayenne style RMS, only time will tell. Drive your car and enjoy it.
Last edited by C4S Surgeon; 12-24-2004 at 12:00 PM.
12-25-2004, 11:02 PM
#6
Three Wheelin'
how rare? the Motor Trend long term 2004 996 had this problem - what are the odds of the one car a major magazine uses, having this rare problem.
12-26-2004, 02:40 AM
#7
Drifting
There are many places for oil to leak from in any engine. I consider the 997S RMS report a rumor until I get a VIN for the car and have someone I know check the computer for the warranty work done on that car.
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12-26-2004, 07:20 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by Tool Pants
There are many places for oil to leak from in any engine. I consider the 997S RMS report a rumor until I get a VIN for the car and have someone I know check the computer for the warranty work done on that car.
12-26-2004, 08:09 AM
#10
Drifting
After over 5 years of Boxstering I have not found the service advisors who have come and gone at my local dealership to be a very reliable source of technical information. The newest one use to work for Honda.
My 2003 Boxster friend had oil leaking from where the transmission bolts to the engine, the usual place for a RMS leak. He took it in and had it fixed. Sometime later I was at his house to help install some trim pieces. He told me the RMS had been replaced and showed me the warranty invoice. It was the oil seal for the transmission input shaft that had been replaced, not the RMS.
This single 997 S RMS report has already been repeated on a UK 996 message board, and twice on rennlist. I guess this is how internet rumors start. But I can verify what was replaced with the VIN.
I am also watching for the first 997 report that can be verified and, if it can be, shame on Porsche.
My 2003 Boxster friend had oil leaking from where the transmission bolts to the engine, the usual place for a RMS leak. He took it in and had it fixed. Sometime later I was at his house to help install some trim pieces. He told me the RMS had been replaced and showed me the warranty invoice. It was the oil seal for the transmission input shaft that had been replaced, not the RMS.
This single 997 S RMS report has already been repeated on a UK 996 message board, and twice on rennlist. I guess this is how internet rumors start. But I can verify what was replaced with the VIN.
I am also watching for the first 997 report that can be verified and, if it can be, shame on Porsche.
12-26-2004, 11:55 AM
#11
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how often does RMS occur, one poster asked.
i don't know, but from my own exp. i have had 3 993 (M96, not gt3) only one had RMS (2002). dealer used some gauge to measure tolearance. replacement engine was ordered and installed in less than one week. you should not have to suffer THREE rms before PCNA give you a motor or whatever to fix the prob.
i didn't get any arguments after i told the dealer, "my uncle is a heart transplant surgeon. how would mr porsche (can't remember CEO's name) like to have his heart REPLACED THREE time before it is fixed!"
i don't know, but from my own exp. i have had 3 993 (M96, not gt3) only one had RMS (2002). dealer used some gauge to measure tolearance. replacement engine was ordered and installed in less than one week. you should not have to suffer THREE rms before PCNA give you a motor or whatever to fix the prob.
i didn't get any arguments after i told the dealer, "my uncle is a heart transplant surgeon. how would mr porsche (can't remember CEO's name) like to have his heart REPLACED THREE time before it is fixed!"
12-26-2004, 09:38 PM
#13
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yah i know it's just a car. thus should be MUCH easier to fix no?
12-27-2004, 04:26 AM
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I think it's a little bit over presumptuous to relate this leak as an "RMS leak". There are many other oil leak sources in an engine and it hasn't been clearly stated where this leak was from, if I'm not wrong.
Moreover, I understood that RMS problem on 996 could be solved at any Porsche dealers provided a typical $800 [passed warranty] intervention [shaft seal + four cranckase bolts replaced] on the engine? Am I wrong on this one? [Source: readers from renntech.org].
It would mean that RMS issue have been localized and corrected. Hence, engineers at Porsche would have corrected this issue on 997 engines. Isn't it logical?
Moreover, I understood that RMS problem on 996 could be solved at any Porsche dealers provided a typical $800 [passed warranty] intervention [shaft seal + four cranckase bolts replaced] on the engine? Am I wrong on this one? [Source: readers from renntech.org].
It would mean that RMS issue have been localized and corrected. Hence, engineers at Porsche would have corrected this issue on 997 engines. Isn't it logical?
