Hey guys, I've done many oil changes on my 2007 Porsche 997.1 Turbo, but for some reason this time instead of opening the crankcase bolt to empty the oil pan, I opened the Oil Pressure Relief Valve on the passenger side. Imagine my surprise when I saw the sleeve, spring, and piston drop into the catch pan. So I reassembled the pieces and pushed it back up into the hole. The spring was really loaded, and I had to push pretty darn hard just to get it to start threading. Finally I got it in, and I just finished the oil change like I should have. Afterwards, I was worried that maybe the piston should have gone up into a second cylinder (for lack of a better word) like other pistons do. The oil pressures are normal at idle and acceleration, but I'm worried that my not putting the piston in a second sleeve that might exist that I've left the valve in the open position all the time.

Did I put it back in correctly, or do you think that I should pull it back out and start over? Should the spring be compressed when it's replaced?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Hi,

If you re-installed according PET it should be OK.

Regards
Hans

 

Well I certainly put the parts back in the order that they are supposed to be. One thing that is concerning me is that there wasn't a spacer with my assembly. If you look at your PET diagram it shows part #20. I didn't have that part. Do you think that maybe the 2007 year model didn't have that part?

 

I had a look to the 993 PET underblock (base for the 997 turbo underblock) and washer 20 is used there as well


Without washer 20 the spring is less suppressed so the valve will open at a lower oil pressure.
I think washer 20 is also used to prevent pin 21 to slide in spring 19.
So I think its wise to order ring 20 and mount it.

Regards
Hans

 

I completely agree with your diagnosis. The physics say that without the spacer the spring will be less loaded thus causing it to be more easily compressed and opening the valve at a lower pressure. Either the spacer was not in my assembly or I lost it somehow when the valve came out. I don't see it anywhere. It wasn't in the catch pan, and I don't see it on the garage floor. That's why I was wondering if maybe the 2007 model didn't have a spacer. Pin #21 does not slide into spring 19. The spring 19 holds down pin 21. It sits on top of it, but that was good thinking!

Maybe the best idea is for me to call Porsche and order the spacer for my car and have them tell me whether or not it should be in my vehicle. I have the Mezger engine; so hopefully it is different although I doubt it. Stay tuned!

 

Well, I wanted to give you an update since you were so kind to assist me. The story has a happy ending. After 2 weeks of stressing out, ordering the new spacer, and one bloody knuckle, it turns out that the spacer was on there the whole time! When I removed the assembly, I looked at the assembly while I waited for the oil to drain. The spacer is so precisely fit to the sleeve that they didn't separate when they hit the pan the first time. All of that worry, and it was right all along.

Here are some lessons for others who might do the dumb thing that I did:

1) There is NOT a second chamber that the piston needs to be inserted into. I used a mirror to look into the chamber, and the hole at the top isn't as large as the piston, and the shape of the chamber is uniform in size all the way up. The piston is smaller than the chamber in diameter. I'm guessing so that back pressure isn't created on the underside of the piston.
2) If you ever do this, don't worry about much oil coming out when you remove the assembly. I only lost about 1/2 of a quart of oil.
3) If you make a mistake, don't get in a hurry. Check the PET diagram before trying to put things back together.
4) And finally, never work on your Porsche after a few drinks!

Thank you.

 

That is very good news.

Unfortunately the distance between Boekelo The Netherlands and Dallas is quite some miles otherwise I would visit you and drink a beer together.

I wish you many happy miles with your Porsche.

Regards
Hans

 

It would be a fun drive in the Porsche though. If you make it, the beer is on me.

Cheers,
Warren