adamr

i know i need to check my coolant level when cold ... So three days ago i top up my coolant to the max mark, the car had been sitting idle 24hrs prior to me topping up.

Now i notice the level will go maybe half a cm over the max mark after spirited driving and then settle back to the max mark the next day. Last night though i noticed the level on the max mark after spirited driving. I got thinking that maybe the system has settled on this level so i went out to check if this was the case 4hrs later and noticed the cars coolant maybe half a cm below the max mark ... So i got thinking im losing coolant maybe. No coolant on the floor or anything and the car is running perfect

this morning i checked again and its up to the max mark ... Well almost like a 1mm below, so its risen again !?

Do other people experience these fluctuating coolant levels as well ? Ive checked the coolant level on the same spot everytime ... I.e my garage

Being a perfectionist this is not good for my heart

PistolPete

Don't drive yourself nuts if there isn't a large change. Fluid expands a little bit when heated, that could explain the past MAX mark after some hard driving.

Land Jet

Agree. Nothing to worry about unless there is a large drop which stays that way.

adamr

thanks guys .. im just a PITA!

the level has settled at about the max mark .. whether the car is hot or cold ...

adamr

actually there is a large drop ... its been on the min mark now after having driven the car 100km. seems when the system is under load it loses coolant ... cant smell or see any sign of coolant leagage ... im stumped ...

PistolPete

Humm, maybe a trip to the dealer where they can get a good look underneath the car for any signs of a leak. Dried coolant leaves a white residue.

Land Jet

I agree. sounds like you have a small leak somewhere.

996FLT6

Hopefully just a hose and not the block= new engine. Mike

adamr

its in at the mech ... Will give some feedback on what they find .... Interesting though and OT, is just how light on fuel a gt3 rs can be ... 8.1l/100km ... Drove the car 100km/h all the way to the mech ... Haha

adamr

they did an overnight pressure test and its holding pressure ..... Some advice guys please .... Because where is the coolant going then?

Because if it was the head id see signs of it it in my expansion tank and oil filler cap? Or not?

adamr

an update:

took the car to another Porsche specialist for a second opinion ... taking the car up on the hoist ... showed the coolant running down the passenger side of the car (in South Africa, we have right hand drive cars) ... removing the panels revealed this


looking from the front of the car

all that was needed was a push until the pipe "clicked" into place ... you can see from where the coolant was leaking on the pipe ... well at least i have no coolant smells or leaks ... touch wood

Tango635

Glad it worked out well. If you haven't done so, next time you take the car in for service, you might want to have that plastic piece removed and inspect the joints and o-rings.

I would want to make sure that it was just human error (somebody not pushing the hose in all the way), and not that there is a defective component which might have been preventing a good seal.

Alfonso.

adamr

hey Alfonso thanks for the advice, will be sure to take it up ... I instructed the mech to do a fresh coolant change on the car after finding the problem, two flushes with water and running the car each time and then added new coolant ... tested the car on a spirited drive of sorts and inspected the pipe again and all seemed that it was just that, 'someone not pushing the pipe all the way in'

although i must admit i do find that hard to believe ... but the next time im there ill be sure to tell them to take out that black plastic piece and inspect all joints properly, the mech did inspect the joint, but not to the degree you have mentioned ... drove the car yesterday again at high rev speeds etc ... and the coolant level was perfect this morning ... no smells of coolant etc ...