Noticed a small drip every now and then. Looks like the following gasket needs to be replaced. If I touch the gasket, it moves around more than I think it should, squishy - like it is not firmly seated.
2003 996 turbo with @63k miles

Recently got the vehicle, still learning my way around it. Actually, the area shown is more towards the passenger side of center. The gasket on the drivers side of center is firm, dry, well seated.
What is the area and part number of the gasket in question - any DIY guides to get me to this part? Would like to DIY when I change my oil in the next month.
Thanks

 

That is actually just a rubber cover. There are two o rings inside that make the seal

 

The black rubber bellows are dust covers, covering an aluminium pipe which has ring gaskets at each end. Remove two bolts and pull them apart and replace rings, you will have to drain the coolant first, you do that by removing the screw at the bottom of that pipe. Hope that makes sense

 

I had the same problem when I bought my car. This exact rubber gasket was swollen and squishy. Initially I thought that the leak was coming from the gasket area but actually the leak was coming from the power steering reservoir above the engine which contains Pentosin. If the power steering reservoir leaks from the area where the hoses plug in (where the red clips are), then Pentosin will flow down over the engine chain housing and down over this very rubber gasket. Pentosin will eat rubber on contact and that is why my gasket was swollen and squishy. It looked just like yours. I would check if you see "wetness" in the area above this rubber gasket first.

 

I'll have a closer look soon when I get it on ramps...but what you are saying makes sense as my power steering fluid (Pentosin) is a little on the low side (but not so much as to need constant topping off).
And I reached up above the gasket area (blind) onto nearby parts and it was a little gooey - indicating leakage above the gasket.

 

You need to replace both o-rings part# 999-777-411-40 and the dust cover part# 996-106-214-70

 

Incorrect. This rubber gasket is very easy to replace. It takes about 30 minutes. There is NO NEED to touch the water pump housing. The only tricky part is the fact that you will be draining the coolant from your engine and will have to refill and system and make sure you get rid of any trapped air. Having the Snap-on RADKIT plus makes it easy...

 

Sorry I just correct myself!!! You're too fast pwdrhound

Sorry, I was thinking about misalignment of the housing , like I had..... See post # 9 from And996tt....https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...leak-help.html

 

Pentosin is basically the only fluid on this car that will make rubber swell like that and get it all squishy. In my case, my leak at the power steering reservoir was very tiny but over time Pentosin made it's way down to this rubber gasket. I would get a drop of Pentosin on the floor under this area every couple of days. I finally found it when I rolled up a paper towel and wedged it under the hoses as they clip in to the power steering lid. I could see that "wetness" was being absorbed into the paper towel under the power steering return hose... The funny part is that the mechanic at Protosport (New Jersey) told me that my chain housing gasket was leaking and needed to be replaced necessitating an engine disassembly. Good thing I didn't listen to him....

 

I am curious to know what part you've replace since the part catalog only show the small o-ring between the reservoir and the pump...I also remember somebody here was looking at the red clips and could not found it and he had to replace the complete reservoir to fix a leak....

 

To the OP thomapa1, this is exactly what you will found. Insert with 2 o-rings and one protective ring. My engine being on the garage floor ready for the coolant pipes modification and installation, it was easy to take a picture ;-) (only 2 o-rings and one protective ring per side are necessary)

 

Thanks jpflip - good stuff!
(Although I have 2 things to work on now...fix the leak if Pentosin, then replace the damaged protective ring.)

 

Yes pwdrhound got you on the wright track! Do yourself a favor. Order, at the same time, the item#15 as seen on the part catalog picture( post#6). This o-ring was ovalized when I got it out and I had to replace it. Only $2.75

 

My leak was coming from the area where the power steering return hose plugs in to the reservoir lid through the red retainer ring. The problem was simply the fact that the smooth coated male tip of the hose had a small scratch in it and it leaked as a result. I replaced the hose and that fixed it.

 

Ok, thanks for this precision.