987 Boxster S ( 2007 with the 3.4L M97 engine) - oil leak?

Chuckie66 · May 31, 2018

Hi Guys,

I don't think (hope not) this is an IMS issue, its an M97 engine with the newer style IMS bearing. However there is oil underneath the engine - see pics
I'm new to Boxsters and porsche so looking for good advice before I do anything. Also what is very large bolt in terms of engine part?

thanks for looking
chuckie

Dylan1 · May 31, 2018

I’m not an engineer but my similar age 987 had bore scoring issues not that uncommon to that vintage with oil loss and burn up
hope yours is ok

C2dweller · May 31, 2018

Don’t worry - the main part in the picture is the chain tensioner which has a seal which we replace *alot*. Normally leaks after an oil change, if not spotted beforehand! About 50p for the seal ... but a bit of time to lock the engine and remove the tensioner.

Do the above - clean it and check after a few few weeks!

Kind Regards Lee Jones

Chuckie66 · May 31, 2018

Chain tensioner sounds a lot better than a bore scoring issue.... Must admit I would have thought bore scoring would be dumping oil out the exhaust rather than in the engine bay. Me hoping anyway?

Looks like a smaller amount of oil on the opposite side (passenger), could that be from the Chain tensioner gasket also?
Is it an engine out type job to replace the chain tensioner gasket(s)? and are there multiple gaskets? Roughly how time consuming at a garage? I can do some work myself if its easy to get to.... Also worth doing any other pre-emptive work?

Thanks for the responses

Chuckie

C2dweller · May 31, 2018

To do this without risking the timing chain jumping, you want to lock the engine. You do them normally in pairs.

About 90 mins to do the job - varied on familiarity ???

You will lose oil as well, so best to renew oil if timing is right.

Kind Regards lj

Chuckie66 · Jun 1, 2018

Thanks lj

If I've understood correctly, lock the cylinder bank 1,2,3 from behind drivers side by prising out the plastic cam stop ends and at TDC insert a locking tool - can you recommend an affordable one? Then simply remove the tensioner, change the o ring and tighten back up to XX NM? Then repeat process on passenger side for bank 4,5,6
oh and drain oil first...
Think I can do this

and then if oil is still appearing then something higher up on the timing cover.

Someone mentioned a cam cover leak - is that common? how best to check?

Appreciate the advice

Chuckie

C2dweller · Jun 1, 2018

From the pictures, the leak has spread a little but this is probably just by the passage of air. I’d still start with this and recheck after a few weeks.
kr Lee Jones

Chuckie66 · Jun 4, 2018

Have sourced a camshaft locking tool for the 987.1 engine (apparently it has 3 chains rather than 5 like the early boxtsers) 99 euros from https://www.forcetools-kepmar.eu/epages/457210838.sf/en_GB/? before i order it wondering if anyone in Bucks/Berks rents/loans them out as probably only use the once?

Dumb question... Not having worked on a flat six before, am I right in thinking the cylinders 4,5,6 are in the opposite rotation to 1,2,3 and their camshaft is facing the opposite way towards the exhaust and accessable from underneath the car? most guides describe doing the timing tensioner on cylinder 1,23 where the camshaft locking tool is behind the drivers seat.

Finally, any recommendations for an independent porsche garage in Maidenehead area as struggling to find anyone interested in fixing the leak, hence the DIY.

Motorhead · Jun 5, 2018

Charles,

The cylinders are numbered from the front (ancillaries) end of the engine: 1,2,3 on the RHS; 4,5,6 on the LHS. So bank 1 (cylinders 1,2,3) is behind the driver on your Boxster (assuming RHD). For the flat-6 engine, the inlet cams are on the top of the engine; the exhaust cams are on the bottom.

Have you tried RSJ Sports Cars in Slough, Northway Porsche in Reading or Tognola Engineering in Windsor & Datchet?

Jeff

Boris the spyder · Jun 5, 2018

Hi Charding, there was an oil leak discovered on my RS60, turned out to be just an O ring for the camshaft solenoid. A common fault apprarently, oil had dripped down from the front of the engine and back along the bottom. No floor drips however.