Frank996

I had a strange driving experience today that I thought I'd share with you.

Took the car out for a good drive yesterday for 1.5 hours and everything was smooth as ever. Then today when I was to reverse the car out from it's parking space I first, as always, checked the oil level which showed full so all good. Put on the safety belt and started the engine. Started to revert when the display turned red and showed a square kind of symbol with coolant warning (I believe it said) and the thermometer warning light came on but still at min temp. I quickly drove the car back into its space and turned off the engine.

Walked down to the local ESSO station and bought a bottle of coolant but saw afterwards that the coolant in the car is 28 liters as per the manual. Wanted to check the error message again so turned on the engine and nothing came up in the display (other than the normal stuff). Decided to take the car for a short drive to see what the temperature would do, and it did move quickly upwards but then stopped around the 80dgr mark (or just a millimeter or so as usual). Drove for about 20-30 min seeing that all seemed fine (no rise in temperature, no unusual sounds or general feel etc). Decided that this was probably just a sensor or something that had to be reset (i.e. power off/power on)

Drover for 1.5 hours or so and pulled over for lunch. Left the car for 30 min or so and when returning to the car and turning the key I noticed that the —RPM started around 1'200 and then feel to around 600 to then move back to 700/750. Never have I seen this before and got quite worried. Continued the drive and did notice (not 100% sure as I was on my toes) that the temperature did rise a little when running in Idle OR when climbing steeply over a pass in the pre-alps (1'000 meters or so over a short distance) but nothing extreme from the 80dgr mark. I didn't feel any difference in acceleration and/or speed at any time, and no difference in the engine sound (drove with open windows).

Took the car for a quick wash and left the engine off of course. Started as normal (I think) and drove it back home.

So, what does all this mean? Could it be the radiator or something else that have caused this or something else?

How does the coolant thing work? I take it it's the little white canister to the left — when looking at the engine from behind — with a min/max indicator and I can't for the life of me see where the actual level is. I tried to open the lid but it was impossible with my bare hands so need some kind of tool to get it open. The car was fully serviced in January and all fluids etc were topped up/changed.

I'm having the car in for the air-con fix in a couple of weeks time and won't be driving at all before then so should I ask the garage to look at something specific. Its at Porsche Zentrum Bern so it's an official garage with offical prices...

Any pointers would be highly welcomed.

Thanks,

Fred

KrazyK

Fred, this has the makings of a disaster for your car. You cant visually check the coolant level? You cant remove the cap? Theres no coolant smell, no steam, no visible leaks, or puddle on floor at front or back of car?

You should do a lot more reading about the 996 or find someone competent to help you. Sorry but its very hard to help someone through forum posts who lacks basic mechanical skills.

WalterRohrl

Frank, the little white canister on the left side of the engine bay with probably a blue lid is the coolant reservoir as you suspected. If it won't open with your bare hands, try it with a glove on (any glove should do). Remember lefty-loosy and righty-tighty :-)

Do this when the engine is COLD and see if you can look in and see where the level is.

If it is low you probably should take it to someone qualified to figure out the issue. The coolant level should not get lower over time. If it was in fact filled to the correct level when you bought the car and if you are able to verify that it is now low that coolant went somewhere, which needs to be corrected.

There is nothing wrong with not having mechanical skills and still enjoying a fine car. I don't prepare my own tax returns but have no problem enjoying the way I spend my money... :-)

Anyway, please let us know what the issue is/was and I'm sure plenty of others here would be happy to help figure it out. Kudos to you for at least opening the hood and trying to see what is going on.

Imo000

But he IS asking how to do his taxes.....and not just that but asking how to add and sbtract too.
That gas station coolant is not for this car, don't put it in the 996.

targa996

Yeah .. Frank ... Bad to mix regular coolant with Porsche coolant. You need dealer coolant or Pentosin or vW equivalent only. You should be able to see level with flash light in reservoir on left side of engine. If you lost significant coolant could be radiator, water pump , hose or a number of other sources. Any mechanic should be able to pressure test or find leak for you .. Could be reservoir itself , but go to Porsche specialist if you need to replace a part.

Not sure about warning light .. If level is low when cold .. That could be light you see. When engine is warm level will be higher .. So light goes off. If you didn't see steam or obvious leak .. I would check level cold, add right coolant (mixed with distilled water as required) to min mark and go get system checked.


If you see oil in coolant or oil itself looks milky do not drive car but tow to Porsche shop.

318touring

Try to do this when the engine is cold, significantly easier to remove the cap.

fpb111

Frank/Fred
What year is the car? How many miles/Km on it?

Probably the most common reason for losing coolant is a crack in the " little white canister to the left ". Usually at first the leak is slow and only when the fluid is hot and under pressure. Look for residue or other signs of fluid leakage on the fender wall under the canister. If the canister is more yellow than white it is likely that it needs to be changed.

If your car was recently serviced and all fluids were changed it is possible that there was an air bubble that finally burped out making the level lower.

The first pic is a bad cap. The second is the reservoir. The black device on the reservoir is the pressure release with the bail down, normal. The square that the bail is mounted on will rise when the car is warmed up, normal.

Frank996

Thanks for all your replies.

It's a 2002 996 C4S with 88'000 km on the clock...

I don't drive the car that often (weekends only or on Bank Holidays) so it is left standing in its place in the garage. When reversing out, I always check to see if there is oil or any other spills and nothing visible or obvious to date. I therefore think nothing is leaking in wast amounts if any at all.

When I say I can't see where the level is of the coolant, I mean it's difficult to actually see not meaning that there is no level.

The 1 liter bottle of coolant has printed on the label it is to be used by Audi, Porsche and some other makes so I guess I'm good. Have not topped anything up as I couldn't move the damn cap one mm Will try again later today and see if it is willing to work with me...

KrazyK

Fred, I hope my post did not offend you but it is up to you to at least be familiar with the basic fluid systems of your car. Yours came with the owners manuals, right? You have many 996 threads about coolant flushes, parts to watch out for, leaks, etc. There are also some great books out there.

You must educate yourself by searching and reading as much as possible if your going to own and drive a 11+ year old super car, which the 996 is regardless of the nonsense you read otherwise. The cars value has certainly depreciated from the purchase price but the repair costs are still consumate to an $85,000 car.

I suppose you surprised many of us with your post about such basic knowledge. The dealer really should have at least given you the "guided tour" of the car's systems on delivery. I suggest you become a quick learner or quickly make friends with the more mechanically inclined.

If you put your mind to it, in a few months you can do a clutch change by yourself if you want. If I did it, so can you.

Frank996

Hi KrazyK

No offense taken. I'd rather hear it straight and value the input from someone who seems passionate about 996'ers than wannabe's

I'm not as blank when it comes to mechanics as it might seem. My main problem is that I do not master French or German and as it has it I live in a quad-lingual country where English is not a widely spoken language.... at least where I live. This said, even though I would like to do some mechanical bit myself, I don't have the time or space to do it so I'd rather just read and learn about it than actually doing it myself if it makes sense? That said, I would not have the nerve to start removing this and that hahaha...

Anyway, so I got to talk to a mechanic down at the VW garage — a stone's throw from where I live — and was told that I could safely pour the coolant I had bought into the car without problem. It took three bottles (I.e 3 liters of coolant) so that makes me think there might be something with the radiator... As I said earlier the cap was like welded stuck so got the concierge to help me out and finally got it lose. Checked the cap and no residue and while at it did all other caps and all looked tip top (i.e., no oil and coolant mix — mayo — to be seen anywhere).

Took it for the same spin I did yesterday and the temperature was much slower to reach the 80dgrC and was rock steady at the mark when in slow traffic as well as cruising speed. No more coolant warnings and I will ask Porsche in Bern to check it out while they have it in.

Thanks again all for your input as always...

KrazyK

Fred, glad I didnt offend. Sorry about the translation problem.

Thats close to a gallon and the system capacity is @6 gallons. Seems odd a Porsche dealer would have missed this during their PPI if they did one.

I would at least do as others suggested and have the sytem inspected and pressure tested.

Frank996

Yes, that is my plan

targa996

Make sure vW coolant is the right one for the 996 ... There are two types. I forget which one is compatible with our cars .. But should be pink ...if you do a quick search here I'm sure you can find that info

Wausau 911

While we are talking about coolant, as far as the Wetter fluid is concerned, am I correct that it can be added to the reservoir, and if so how much? Thx for replies.

Rapewta

The coolant specified for the 996 is "phosphate free". Most if not all local auto parts stores should have this.
I have had to put a pair of channel locks (adustable pliers) on the blue coolant cap to get it started for removal. I use a rag on the cap to keep it from getting marked up.
Engine cold of course.
The temp indicator is dual purpose... high temp and or low coolant.
You can actually use a flashlight to shine in the side of the resovoir and see the level without removing the cap.
I wouldn't sweat it. If the engine coolant temp gauge indicates a normal temp for the car, somewhere between 180 and 220 degrees f... you are not going to
damage your car.