I started today on replacing my bad radiator fan motor (driver side) and replacing the series resistor for the passenger side fan because it only runs oh high speed or when the AC is on.

After I took the front bumper off I noticed a pink residue around my driver side radiator. Passenger side has no residue of any kind. Can any of chime in and let me know if I need to replace the radiator?

 

Looks like you have weeping at the seam. The cap is captured against an O-Ring by those bent over tangs to seal the joint. The O-Ring and or tangs lose tension and start to leak.

 

Should I replace both as preventative maintenance or only the one that's bad?

 

Search around, prices vary a lot. I would do both especially if the other one has not been changed.
http://www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/rad...rsche/911.html

 

get the csf aluminum rads. top shelf stuff

 

CSF makes some high performance aluminum ones for 996.
http://csfrace.com/csf-cools-porsche/
There is a factory rep on rennlist that offered to help anyone that needs it.

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...che-996-a.html

Crazy is a faster typer.

 

 

Agree... Do both as the other could fail and you would be doing the coolant bleed over again. Best to get it out of the way now.

 

Yes. And check the other two carefully. These radiators like to leak in packs.

 

Yeah, I had one leak and then the other side went a couple days later. Check out my thread on stock replacements if you don't go aluminum

 

Thanks everyone on the great advise, I'm going to replace all the radiators, now I just need to decide on oem or the aluminum ones? I'm leaning more towards the oem just because I know my oem ones lasted 14 years...

 

If you go OEM- Behr, AKG and Porsche are all one in the same- you just pay more.

 

Those radiators are weeping Saadi. I'd replace them. I've got the bumper off on my car and just checked mine. None are leaking or weeping but they've been on the car for 14 years including 5 years of heavy track use and the fins are packed with crap even though I have bumper grills. I figure it's time to get new ones and I'll keep the old ones as spares in the trailer. I just ordered 3 new OEM radiators today. They're about $430 each...

 

I have to say that 996/997t's have all kinds of leaking orifices in the coolant realm, but I've not seen much (if anything) on overheating issues. Maybe they got this part of the cooling system right

 

typical factory rad failure...I have the first set of CSF rads made, 2 years and 25000km on them, still issue-free and cool better