If the valve is down how will he bleed his system? He smells the odor in the engine compartment.

 

Update:

Brought the car back to the indy shop today. I didn't have any distilled water so I didn't add any water to the coolant tank; I figured I showed the tech the low coolant level. I told the shop about the smell and lowering of coolant. Tech test drove the car, and we discussed the following:

1) The "burning smell" I've been smelling may not be coolant. Tech thinks it may be me slipping the clutch on the numerous inclines in Seattle and my neighborhood, or it may be just "hot" engine smell. I'm guessing burnt coolant is somewhat 'sweet?' So as of now, I'm just going to put this smell thing on hold.

2) Tech pressure tested the car and found no signs of pressure of loss and no visible signs of burnt coolant. I ask him again about the reservoir tank, he says he saw no visible cracks on the tank.

Tech thinks it may be just air bubbles being worked out of the system. Stated he'll top of the coolant and monitor it for now.

So I drove off around for ~15 miles to Costco and filled up with gas. At Costco parking lot, I popped open the rear engine lid and checked the coolant level. It was still below min at the same level this morning. Now I'm scratching my head, did the tech really top of the coolant? Maybe he forgot. I can't confirm b/c I didn't check the coolant level immediately when I left the shop.

But nonetheless, I drove the car for ~25 miles more after leaving Costco and went shopping to get some food/distilled water, and headed home. As soon as I got home, while the engine is hot, I opened the engine lid, coolant level hasn't changed. 4 hours later, when engine is cool, I checked again. Coolant level hasn't changed. I tried opening the reservoir cap, but that thing is stuck on TIGHT! I can't open it. Figure I try to add some distilled water to the "max" line, but I can't open the dam cap. Either the tech really tightened it, or somehow this coolant pressure system is really pressurized.

So as of now, I'm going to monitor the coolant level for a few days. I likely won't get a chance to drive the car until 3 days from now. I'll keep the thread updated. I'll probably swing by the shop again this Fri and have them open the cap for me and top of the coolant so I can get visible confirmation and monitor the coolant level again.

Also I'm going to leave the pressure relief valve UP to help bleed the system while the car sits for a couple of days.

 

Thanks for the offer! I'll definitely keep that in mind.

 

Sorry for the delay, just saw this post. Here you go.

Actually, were you hoping to have the cap off? If so I'll go back out and grab another shot.

 

Of course! We local guys gotta stick together

 

Thanks for posting your cap. Your cap does look different than mine. I wonder why that is? Nonetheless my cap has been screwed on TIGHT. Can't get it off.

I was able to unscrew the coolant cap a few days ago and when I did so, I heard a puff of air somewhere coming upfront. Makes me think this coolant system is really self contained and is pressurized.

I'm going to try again tonight and see if I can unscrew it. Maybe I need to eat my wheaties.

 

Even if you wrap a shop rag around it and get a pair of channel locks on it?

 

Looks like yours isn't an OEM Porsche cap and might be a generic replacement is my best guess.

 

Good idea. Will try that tonight.

 

Out of interest b/c I don't have any "Porsche coolant" handy, I wondered if it's okay to use anything else beside Porsche approved coolant.

Threads on rennlist/6speed yield no clear answer.

I did a search and found this article: http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site_5/C...ntifreeze.html

Indy garage above gave sound reasoning as why "extended life antifreeze coolant" is compatible with Porsche coolant. FWIW.

Has anyone used any of the above coolants as a top off?

 

A burning smell from a clutch or brake material is totally different from coolant. Just add distilled water to top off.
I have used nothing but Porsche coolant, my perspective for difference in price its not worth the gamble.
The caps get hard to unscrew due to the residual pressure, and the seating to the tank.

 

Any OAT coolant or OAT compatable would be ok. That said it doesn't hurt to stick with Porsche branded stuff. If the engine is ice cold it may be easier to get the cap off.
If this were mine I would spring the $25 for a Porsche cap. Yours looks like a generic (although it seems to have the fox, Fuchs, logo.)that doesn't = same pressure relief.

T10Chris thank you the cap pic was perfect, just wanted doc to see the part number.

 

Doc boy, you need the special Porsche interlocking expansion tank cap tool. It is only $28.75. The catch is that it only works with one of the Porsche assembly line robots and they are $12,675,022. 17.

 

Saga continues: tried taking off the coolant cap last night, couldn't do it. I don't have a big enough channel lock to turn the cap. Today, I spoke to the shop, told tech the coolant level has dropped to below min since prior visit; wanted to confirm he topped off the coolant a few days ago, says he did.

So I have an appt to go back to the shop this Friday and I'm going to have the tech take of the cap and top of the coolant in front of me, and likely have the tech drive it for a few minutes to have him re-eval the coolant level to see if it drops again.

Tech doesn't know where the coolant is going. Asked me when last oil change was done (had to check, done Sept 2015); he thought out loud maybe coolant is getting into the engine or poss even a cracked head!! He still claims coolant tank is not cracked due to them putting the coolant system on a pressure test, and the test showed no leaks. I thought Mezger engines were robust and bullet proof, if something is wrong with the engine I just may go ballistic, esp since the PPI turned up nothing major.

Ugh.. I'm really hoping this is just a simple problem and doesn't turn out to be a nightmare. If you have guys have any suggestions, I'm all ears!

 

If you are loosing coolant, as I said use your nose, after a run sniff the front grills. You get the smell you have a radiator weep! i doubt you have any coolant intrusion in the engine.