I am getting my '07 997 next week and I am wondering if I should start searching for a grill or something like it to install in the front air intakes to protect both radiators from rock damage. I saw someone post a DIY method of doing this. Unfortunately I am not that handy. firstly do you guys worry about denting the radiator fins? Secondly maybe I should just forget it and drive the car. I will post pics as soon as I get it. Only 5400 miles on the car. I can't wait. Thanks.

 

Forget it and drive the car IMO. The radiators don't get damaged by the pebbles that get in there.

Some people like to put grills on to keep things out. Personally I just stick my vacuum cleaner in there when I wash the car and vacuum the interior. It sucks out the pebbles and leaves and whatever.

Even if you do install grills, that doesn't keep out small rocks and other road junk, and it makes it much harder to clean.

 

The most damage that we have really seen is from organic matter accumulating in front of the condensers. Perhaps that was what Porsche AG experienced as well during testing. Grills would possibly impede one's ability to access those areas with compressed air or a wash hose to rinse them out periodically.

If you do put grills on, you need to think about how you will periodically clear out the smaller stuff that will get in there. (I would opt for the pair of small trap doors on the bottom but Porsche didn't design that!)

There have been very few isolated cases of damaged a/c lines taking out the a/c system coolant--but they are truly rare.

 

Wrong ! I had my car 3 weeks and the a stone hit the radiator, made a hole and it was a costly replacement. a better design is needed.

 

I also saw the potential problem so I built some for my '09 C2S. Material is steel grill mesh found at Home Depot in the gutter isle. The guards directly in front of the radiators are mounted inside the grill with tie wraps. The center one is built and installed with four homemade "L" tabs and screws so I can quickly remove the center grill so as to be able to clean the radiators. Took me one morning to cut the template, the actual material, paint them black and install them. Cost was less then $6.00 for materials and about 3 hours of my time. I will take pictures Monday and post them if anyone is interested.

 

I did the same on a different car and it worked great!

 

Again, there are exceptions to the rule. It's not generally a problem. For those who have suffered from an errant strike--bad luck. Don't buy any raffle tickets for awhile.

 

Great I will take a look at what you did and see if I can replicate it easily. Otherwise I am just going to let it go. I have to try not to be too OCD with this car. It can be difficult for me, however. Thanks

 

Edgy, there is no such thing as luck IMHO. When you put yourself in position you have oppurtunities which you normally would not have. I am sure i am not the only person who paid to have a radiator fixed because it is NOT a warrantee issue.

 

I would like to see a reasonable solution to this. The best of all worlds solution is the right sized screen(s) along with a simple method to either remove them or to dump the contents of whatever gets through them.

 

"there is no such thing as luck IMHO" - of course there is - chance/luck rules the universe. Everything is either likely to occur or unlikely to occur. The probability of a radiator being damaged is very low. Everything in life has a certain level of risk. Each one must decide what is the price to pay to reduce that risk. I prefer to accept the smal chance of damage and forgo the hassle of installing grates, which have periodically to be removed to clean the radiators anyway.

 

Do people with GT3's remove the grills to clean the radiators?

You can probably spray high pressure water through the grills I imagine.

 

I'm one of those that has had significant damage from lack of protection; AC condenser with a hole through it the size of a quarter was $2,500 to replace.

It's a bad design, not bad luck.

 

as promised, a quick picture of my grills.

See previous post for details

 

Man that is nice. What a professional looking job. I may have to attempt is although I am not a great DIY'er.