Oily Waft ?

[J4CKO]

When I havent used my car for a while I notice an oily smell for a while, it goes away and then on subsequent days it doesnt seem to happen, the oil level hasnt dropped and I cant see any on that path, not panicing just its a horrible smell and oil smells are never good. I know if I go out tomorrow it wont appear but after not using it for a week (Tendonistis in foot not conducive to old Porsche clutches) it wont make an appearance.

 

[J4CKO]

Mine had similar symptoms, if I started it briefly a couple of times, say to take it out of the garage for a wash, then to put it away, then took it out for a run, I'd get a burning oil smell. It turned out to be a slight leak from the back of the cylinder head which would run down on to the exhaust, and it wasn't until you got the exhaust properly hot that it burned off.
Mine eventually reached a point where I could see oil smoke from the bonnet if I stopped before it all burned away, and I got the Head gasket changed. The exhaust is positioned to catch drips from most areas of the engine it would seem...

 

[J4CKO]

Think that may be it, does seem a bit gunky round there, wont be changing the gasket for that just yet, might see if I can stick something over it to try and stop it, obviously if it gets much worse then it will need doing.

 

[J4CKO]

Just had a look, not s lot of room back there is there, can see a telltale stain on the downpipe, would just be a standard oil leak otherwise but obviously it gets dropped onto a hot pipe, great.

 

[J4CKO]

Anyone know where the oil makes it's way to the head, obviously it is the left hand side (i.e the back) as the oil is on the engine number sticky out bit, am guessing the rectangular openings take water to the head so it is either the raised thing on the back of the head or the round hole next to the leftmost rectangular opening. AM wondering whether it is coming from the cam cover gasket, pity it is such a pig to get at.

 

[Eldavo]

I have exactly the same oil leak. I can see oil on the engine id plate but is seems to be coming from an inch or so higher up rather than out of the HG. It's very slight and has been there the nearly 3 years I've had the car, although I'm determined to get it fixed at some point!

Like yours, it runs onto the exhaust and burns off but it's not noticeable in smell when running, etc. As I said, it's very slight though.

 

[Sandspider]

As I recollect, there's a small cork seal at the top of the back of the block. (Under the rear lifting point). This can perish and leak, and only costs a couple of quid and a few mins of time to replace it. Worth a look? (Though having said that, when mine had a wee leak from there it didn't drip on to the exhaust, just ran down the back of the block and emerged somewhere near the sump cooling fins...)

 

[sulzeruk]

As Giles has mentioned, on the 8V engines, there is a cork gasket that gets knackered. £2 from your OPC and held on with three 6mm bolts. 10 minutes to change. If there is oil on the engine number, this is where it will be from.
Alasdair

 

[J4CKO]

Does that apply to my S2 ?

 

[sulzeruk]

Nope, S and S2 use a rubber gasket for the cam cover which leaks. You can take the cover off and clean the rubber gasket. A small bit of gasket sealer can be used at the ends of the gasket to seal the ends.
Alasdair

 

[J4CKO]

That sounds preferable to it being a head gasket, might just order a new Cam Cover gasket, can refurb it and make it look pretty when it is off.

 

[Eldavo]

I've replaced that gasket on mine and it's not where it's coming from. Seems to be above the id plate.

 

[J4CKO]

Think I will get my endo cam on the case and have a proper look round, not sure where the oil would be escaping from, not sure what are oil galleries and what are water. if it is the head gasket I will get it done, it is due belts anyway, so I guess it is going to double the cost but then it is all done, if the belts are £300 ish I guess with a gasket being fitted it will be double that or a bit more.

 

[Fat Albert]

I had the same issue on my Turbo and it turned out to be a cracked cam Cover, obviously yours will be different being a 16v, but a little oil can go a long way when it is splashed on the exhaust!

 

[J4CKO]

Yes, that is true, this is a small drip but can generate a real stink, was thinking back pressure, breathers or something so it isnt the end of the world, not even a hint this morning

 

[Fat Albert]

It was the embarrassing cloud of white smoke that erupted from the bonnet every time I stopped in a traffic jam or traffic lights that spurred me on to fix it!

It was first thought to be the cam-cover gasket but after changing it twice TWG found the cover was actually cracked, but found a second hand one for me for £60

 

[supersport]

I have this oily waft, where abouts os the engine no. will give it a quick look when I get home.

 

[J4CKO]

Behind the exahust manifold, from the front of the car look at the left hand side of the engine, it drips that way as it is on an angle and runs off the sticky out bit with the engine no on, down the block and onto the hot exhaust, suspect your 2.5 may be slightly different but suspect that it will be the similar issue, sounds like yours is easily sorted.

 

[J4CKO]

Ok, got my Endo cam in and it is coming fromt he nut on the back of the head, as seen in this picture, so I suspect the seal is knackered on whatever this is, what is behind this nut ?


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-924-944-968-used-parts-sale-wanted/582081-wtb-944s2-cylinder-head.html

 

[J4CKO]

Am thinking my car has been run on overly thin oil, the chap who sold it me said he had always used Mobil 1 which is a very thing fully synth, am thinking perhaps going to a 10w40 might stem the oil leak a bit, any ideas ?