[Oldcarguy]

Not trying to be a jerk or anything but for years I’ve seen posts here, on other forums and on FB (2 posts today alone) that the right side vent on the 986 is an ‘exhaust’ vent. This seems to be a pervasive belief.

Sorry but the ‘right side vent exhaust’ is a Boxster myth except for one specific circumstance. The right side vent does passively release engine compartment heat when the car is at rest but only when the engine compartment cooling fan is *not* running. As designed by Porsche, at speed or when the cooling fan is running, air is taken in through the right hand vent and exhausted around the transaxle housing via pressure differential. Don’t believe it? Take a 2”x12” strip of newspaper, start the engine compartment cooling fan (preferably with your Durametric). Dangle the strip of newspaper broadside from the top of the vent - it will be sucked into the vent