The vanishing coolant
06-26-2010 | 06:14 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
The vanishing coolant
The coolant light came on in March, I looked at the recovery tank and noticed it was low so I filled it in-between the low and high lines. A few days later the light came on again, no leaks, no oil in the coolant, no coolant in the water.
I took it to Porsche, they had it for 2 days under a pressure test and found nothing wrong, filled it for me and it was fine. They told me it was probably an air bubble in the system and when it popped the coolant settled causing it to be low.
Today just about 3 months later, the recovery tank looked low so I opened it up and it was dry. I added about 16 to 20 ounces to fill it between the 2 marks.
I went for a 75 mile drive came home and its just where it was before I left, in-between the 2 marks for low and high.
I am puzzled again, no coolant in the oil, I changed the oil 2 weeks ago and its still golden color, not foamy or funky.
I took it to Porsche, they had it for 2 days under a pressure test and found nothing wrong, filled it for me and it was fine. They told me it was probably an air bubble in the system and when it popped the coolant settled causing it to be low.
Today just about 3 months later, the recovery tank looked low so I opened it up and it was dry. I added about 16 to 20 ounces to fill it between the 2 marks.
I went for a 75 mile drive came home and its just where it was before I left, in-between the 2 marks for low and high.
I am puzzled again, no coolant in the oil, I changed the oil 2 weeks ago and its still golden color, not foamy or funky.
06-26-2010 | 06:21 PM
#2
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas
Does it look like it's leaking at the cap? I recall reading something about early caps going bad, and allowing fluid to leak out and evaporate. If the cap is original, it might be worth replacing and they're cheap.
06-26-2010 | 08:51 PM
#5
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,034
Likes: 254
From: Centerton, AR
The coolant light came on in March, I looked at the recovery tank and noticed it was low so I filled it in-between the low and high lines. A few days later the light came on again, no leaks, no oil in the coolant, no coolant in the water.
I took it to Porsche, they had it for 2 days under a pressure test and found nothing wrong, filled it for me and it was fine. They told me it was probably an air bubble in the system and when it popped the coolant settled causing it to be low.
Today just about 3 months later, the recovery tank looked low so I opened it up and it was dry. I added about 16 to 20 ounces to fill it between the 2 marks.
I went for a 75 mile drive came home and its just where it was before I left, in-between the 2 marks for low and high.
I am puzzled again, no coolant in the oil, I changed the oil 2 weeks ago and its still golden color, not foamy or funky.
I took it to Porsche, they had it for 2 days under a pressure test and found nothing wrong, filled it for me and it was fine. They told me it was probably an air bubble in the system and when it popped the coolant settled causing it to be low.
Today just about 3 months later, the recovery tank looked low so I opened it up and it was dry. I added about 16 to 20 ounces to fill it between the 2 marks.
I went for a 75 mile drive came home and its just where it was before I left, in-between the 2 marks for low and high.
I am puzzled again, no coolant in the oil, I changed the oil 2 weeks ago and its still golden color, not foamy or funky.
If you don't want to pay for the diagnostics time you can just replace the cap. Cost should be less than $15 ($13 is what I think I paid for the Boxster's cap).
(You might consider replacing the oil filler tube cap too. The one on my Boxster developed a leak after so many years and the symptoms mimiced a bad MAF.)
Anyhow, after replacing the cap then keep an eye on the fluid level.
Sincerely,
Macster.
