Hi there, I'm a new 996 owner, just a couple weeks now, came from an e46 m3 and loving the change!

The car :



50k miles

Had a pretty large going over in April (1600miles ago) which cost £3,400; major service + rear brakes, rear coilovers and other suspension work, radiator and other to fix a coolant leak etc..

When i took ownership I put it in the garage for my friend to look over her, he said its in great condition, but found a small engine oil leak.

I got:
2 x 5L of Motul 5w40 x-cess 8100
Porsche oil filter + metal housing with new o-ring
Sump plug + washer

The mechanic did the oil change and cleaned up the underside of the car to see where it was leaking.

He found it is coming from here, next to the oil filter:




He is not sure what it is, maybe a oil pressure release valve?


I need to know what it is to buy a new copper washer/ part..


Thanks very much in advance



Also, I fitted led rear numberplate bulbs and hids in the headlights, (how easy is it to get the lights out!) cheers to someone on here for the how to, I couldn't believe it!
Looking at aftermarket led rear lights, smoked or clear... undecided.

 

If you are referring to the large hexagon-shaped bolt, that is a timing chain tensioner. Do not remove it without locking the engine at TDC! If the leak is minor, probably not worth fussing with.

 

Definitely agree don't fuss with it.

To repair the leak safely, you need to lock the cams, lock the engine at TDC, remove both bank 1 and bank 2 tensioners (bank 2 is a PITA because its under the aircon), then remove the IMS (main) paddle chain tensioner (the one in your pic). Then replace the washer and re-torque.

 

Thanks for the info

It's going into porsche to be done on wednesday


1.4 hours for the job (both sides) @£99+vat /hour labour (reduced from 120 as it's 'old')

+ while im there wheel allignment for 'only' £150, special offer as they have just got a new machine, for £28k


Can't live with an oil leak

 

That's a great deal on an alignment, there is a similar priced deal at a dealer with their fancy machine in Reno, NV.

That sounds reasonable to do the tensioner washer, since to do it properly it should include locking cams and verifying timing afterwards.

 

Logray, just out of curiosity. How prone are the tensioners to leaking? After doing my IMS I'm wondering if one of them (bank 1-3 on a 3.6L) is leaking.

 

It's an aluminum washer, so as long as it is torqued properly I can't see it leaking very much. And it wouldn't be the tensioner leaking, just the area around it where the oil can seep past the washer and base of the tensioner.

 

how many tensioners are there? 1 each side?

I got that impression from the parts department at the dealers, he said the parts will be £9 a side

 

There are three externally accessible chain/paddle tensioners.

One for cylinders 1-3 chain, one for cylinders 4-6 chain, and a third for the ims to crank chain.

The washers are about $1 USD a piece, retail. There are also o-rings on the tensioners, which are also probably about $8 USD a piece, retail.

 

Are the metal washers on the outside 1 time use (crush washers)? Obviously I took them out to do my IMS and I'm wondering if they should have been replaced....

 

Yes I believe they are dispose of single use... that being said I didn't replace mine when I did my IMSBR, and they didn't leak - are you certain use torqued them properly?

 

Hey Logray,

Got out to the car in the garage yesterday. When I put them back together I couldn't find the torque spec so I did them 'good and tight' - so I was pretty sure (after your comment) that they weren't down enough. I'd say the main tensioner was at ~45 ft lb and the 1-3 bank (not leaking) was probably closer to 35 ft lb. I put both of them down to 59 and did a test in the garage. After idling for over a minute there was no leak - so that's a good sign. The real test will come once I get to do another drive.

 

Glad to hear. Hope the leak is resolved for good. I am a chronic over tightening "good and tightener" (to the point of helicoil/timesert usually), so I have to pay special attention to torque specs.