just purchase a 13 pan tt. i have 2 oil leaks i found one rear of engine PCV tube crack(goes from valve cover to valve cover). also the other one is above the ac compressor. i power washed it and hopping to look at it better as i drive it more. but just wondering if its anything common.

still new to this forum and learning a bunch of stuff love all the info i been reading. i already changed my oil mobil 1 0w40 and have other issues with windows now. i will be wrenching myself!!!

 

There is a vacuum pump on the backside of the head in that area that is prone to leaking. Porsche will tell you it can't be fixed and that you need to get a new pump. I think they're like eleventy billion dollars. Or you can get a re-seal kit on ebay for twenty bucks. Get a mirror and see if that's your problem. I think it's on the rear of the passenger side head. The front leak by the compressor could be a cam cover gasket. But then again, it could be from a lot of different places too. You've done the right thing by cleaning it off and then watching it to see if you can locate the source. My car has a leaking timing cover because I suspect the aluminum bolts snapped. It's a rare problem but Porsche says its an engine-out fix. I think they're lying. It hasn't annoyed me deeply enough to address it. It's a slow leak. I'll get to it eventually. Reason I mentioned it is because I only found it during an oil change and noticed oil covering the compressor area. Tracing it back led me to the timing cover. High pressure air moves fluids around a lot.

 

thanx for the reply but the vacuum pumps on the right side head (passenger). i also have read about broken timing cover bolts!!! hoping thats not it!!

 

Yes, I mentioned the pass side head. I didn't know what side your leak was on, so I was just offering an idea. For your sake, I hope it's not the t-cover bolts either. Looking at the job, I am convinced one can remove the bolts (even the broken ones) and replace them without removing the engine. I have a strong suspicion that once a broken bolt is located, some careful work with an extractor could probably get the remaining stem(s) out quite easily. Then again, I am not sure how difficult removing the engine is. it may be a pretty simple affair.

 

Can you please post a pic showing area of leak around the AC compressor. Unfortunately I have much experience with oil leaks. Fortunately my first 2 were repaired under factory warranty. Have another now (car currently in shop). Have aftermarket warranty so will cover repair depending on what is found. I might be able to offer my insight after I’ve seen your pics.

 

dont have pics of the leaks sorry ill take some when i see it leaking again

 

Sometimes it is difficult to isolate the exact source of an oil leak. An old trick from the 60s was to first clean the area of all oil seepage. Then spray the area with a jock itch powder. I think we used "Tinactin" (sp).

On any oil seal gasket, O-ring, cork, etc. I always use a very light "smear" of silicon gasket sealant - just enough to "wet" the gasket surfaces. Factories sometimes advise that additional sealant is unnecessary, but I think they are considering only production costs.

 

Above ac compressor is the power steering pump. My entire pump recently feel off, which I have never heard of before. But may be worth checking out. My car is also a 970 turbo

 

ok ill keep on my eye on the level thanx!!!!

 

found my oil leak!! seen my valves covers seeping and found 2 broken bolts on the valve covers one the back of the heads. but thats wasnt my leak. on the drivers side timing covers near valve cover another broken bolt. i just end up using one of my old bolts off my valve cover. just too see if it doesnt leak anymore.

 

The aluminum bolts for the timing chain cover and cam covers are known failure points for the V6 engine (and possibly the V8). Surprisingly very little written on the Panamera forums about this issue. This engine is shared with the Mayan V6 and the Cayenne V6 and you will find much more information on these forums about this issue.

I think this is a much more common issue than reported. I suspect most Panamera owners never know they are leaking oil because most are not wrenching themselves and the underbelly engine tray catches the oil so that it never stains the ground.

I’m attaching the Porsche bulletin about this known issue below. As you will read, Porsche’s “fix” is an engine out reseal. Ask me how I know…

 

The V8's are known to have this issue as well. In typical Porsche fashion, they choose the most complex process possible to repair these things. Sure, pulling the engine and completely re-sealing the cover is the most surefire way to fix it. But I'd wager that a crafty grease monkey with a set of EZ outs and some time to kill could also stop the leak just by finding the broken bolts and replacing them. With the engine still in the car.

 

If possible get a new M6 x 30 Al bolt from a dealer or online Porsche parts source. Torque spec is 4 Nm + 90°.

I actually added 1.9 bottles of Lucas Oil Stop Leak last oil change and so far oil level is stable....​​​

 

Are the bolts something that can be replaced before they break assuming it can be done without removing the engine? Are they prone to breaking during removal?

 

I haven't had any Al bolts break on me, neither spontaneously, nor upon removal. I see no harm in taking them out and replacing them with new ones as long as you are able to torque it as specified. (I do think it's unnecessary and not the primary cause of leaking). I never dare reuse the old bolts knowing they are "torqued to yield". The only Al bolt I reuse is the oil drain plug because it has an Al gasket to compress into form. Porsche says it is reusable with no finite lifespan...​​​​​​

EDIT-. The Al bolts that hold down the air intake distributor (intake manifold) are also reusable.