Hi Everyone,

New 971 Panamera owner here. Are the 3.0 engines known to warm up very quickly? Mine warms up to 194 degrees within two minutes even just idiling when its around 70-80 degrees outside. All other cars I have had take at least 5 minutes to reach operating temperature in the same conditions. I am wondering if this is a sign of a combustion leak. Thanks for letting me know.

 

The 194° figure quoted is, I'm guessing, coolant temperature?

IIRC, an engine is considered warmed up when the oil temperature reaches 185°F.

It typically takes significantly longer for the oil to reach that figure than for the coolant.


What is meant by "combustion leak"? Are you suspecting a failed head gasket? If so, how are you tying that to coolant temperature?

If a head gasket is leaking coolant, wher do you believe the coolant is going - and how is that affecting coolant warmup time? If a head
gasket is seeping coolant, it's one (or more) of: external to the engine, into the combustion chamber (lots of white (steam) exhaust or
into an oil galley (and your engine's oil would look like a chocolate milk shake).


Is the coolant level dropping? If not, then we're back to the premise of rapid warmup and "combustion leak". Where's the support for that belief?

 

Thanks for the reply. The main reason I am suspecting a small head gasket leak is because there is white smoke on startup for a few seconds. I live in Arizona and have never noticed this from any previous car unless its very cold outside. However, the oil and coolant are fine from what I can see.

 

The other item to keep in mind is that the water temperature gauge is software controlled hence why it stays exactly at 194 degrees F unless it exceeds approximately 220 degrees F. It also displays 194 prior to actually reaching 194. There are a set of values you can change if you have a PIWIS (Porsche computer or clone) where you can change the internal temperature displayed based upon the temperature measured. The factory default sets the display temperature at 194 for a range of actual temperatures both below and above that point. As mentioned above, the oil temperature is a better measure and it is accurate without any display smoothing. The block will reach normal temperature prior to the oil.

 

If the steam/vapor appears only on startup, it could be residual moisture in the exhaust system. A number of vehicles have their exhaust
systems rust through form the inside out.

If a head gasket is allowing coolant into a combustion chamber, you'll have CLOUDS of white exhaust (steam) all the time, and your coolant
level will drop and the engine won't be running on all cylinders.

How do I know? I blew a head gasket on a 240Z many, many years ago and observed CLOUDS of white exhaust. When I pulled the head off,
one cylinder had coolant still in it. I got a valve job done at a local machine shop, had the ehad checked for plane (it was fine!), reinstalled and
drove it for several more years before selling it.


Good luck!