Boxster Started Overheating at 40° - Help!

[insite]

you're getting good advice; check the fans, burp the coolant reservoir, pull the bumper & clean the radiators. the car's normal temp in hot weather is what you show in your pic. that may be a little high for 40° days, but nothing that will damage your car.

as for being concerned w/ running it up to 6k RPM's? dude, it's a PORSCHE. it's designed to be driven hard. they even stay nice and cool on the race track. don't worry about putting your foot in it now and then.

[rick3000]

I finally got some time, and checked the front radiators today. They are completely clean, there is nothing wrong with them. Which, from what I have read narrows it down to three things the engine fan fuse, right/left radiator fan fuse, or the coolant.

I checked the coolant and it is about 1" below the minimum mark, which is bad. According to the guy I talked to at the Porsche dealer, if the coolant level is low the engine could be heating up more than the gauge is showing. Is that true?
Also, should I just add coolant, or should I flush it?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by rick3000

I finally got some time, and checked the front radiators today. They are completely clean, there is nothing wrong with them. Which, from what I have read narrows it down to three things the engine fan fuse, right/left radiator fan fuse, or the coolant.

I checked the coolant and it is about 1" below the minimum mark, which is bad. According to the guy I talked to at the Porsche dealer, if the coolant level is low the engine could be heating up more than the gauge is showing. Is that true?
Also, should I just add coolant, or should I flush it?
Thanks!

How old is the coolant? If more than 4-5 years, I'd flush it. Till then, add some distilled water, and see how the temp reacts.

Rick, if you checked them by visual inspection via the ducts you did not view the lower corner. I'm not saying it's your problem, only that debris likely resides where you cannot see.

[insite]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I finally got some time, and checked the front radiators today. They are completely clean, there is nothing wrong with them. Which, from what I have read narrows it down to three things the engine fan fuse, right/left radiator fan fuse, or the coolant.

I checked the coolant and it is about 1" below the minimum mark, which is bad. According to the guy I talked to at the Porsche dealer, if the coolant level is low the engine could be heating up more than the gauge is showing. Is that true?
Also, should I just add coolant, or should I flush it?
Thanks!

don't worry about the low coolant; what the mechanic is talking about only occurs when the engine is full of vapor rather than liquid. this only occurs when you're almost out of coolant. if there is any coolant in your reservoir at ALL, this is not occuring.

[rick3000]

I haven't touched the coolant since I got the car, just under a year ago. So I am not sure how old it is.
I am thinking that the overheating has something to do with the coolant. Because it isn't a fuse, and probably isn't the radiators. I saw a little liquid in the rear trunk on one of my trunk mats, but the carpet was not damp, which is making me think it may be a coolant tank crack/leak or the cap.
I am going to take it into Porsche and have them figure out what is going on. If the tank is broken, then the entire thing is covered under my extended warranty. And if they say it just needs coolant, I have to buy it from them anyway.
I am just glad that I was able to rule out the obvious (fuse, clogged radiator) with your guys help! Thanks!

[rick3000]

Just a little update.
I took the car into Porsche yesterday, and they did a full inspections and didn't come up with anything. The coolant was a little low, and they didn't even top it off. The car is still heating up, so the needle sits right in the middle of the 0 in 180, but that only happens in traffic. I am still a little concerned because it was 24° yesterday, but when I am going fast it hangs around the 180 mark which is good.
Also, can I top off the coolant with regular coolant, or does it need be from Porsche?
Thanks for the help!


Also, get this. It took me five and half hours to get back home from the Porsche 26 miles away. Yes, five and a half hours! It snowed 1" so people were going 5mph and crashing into each other. The freeway was like a parking lot. The police here are idiots. I like what they do for us , but they are inefficient. It was the worst traffic I have ever seen(worst than LA at rush hour). I now know, why some DD are tips. The manual in bumper to bumper for five hours was torture.

[blinkwatt]

Dude top it off with distilled water. If you want to add coolant go pick up a gallon of the Porsche stuff.

I picked up a gallon last week,$35/gallon.

My last thoughts..Rick, at this point I'd stop worrying. The position you specify is normal operating temperature, save the dealer trips for the inevitable can't repair myself department. For proper emission performance the car has to be in a tight range, regardless of the outside temperature. I truly believe the car is operating correctly, if not, as soon as it warms up you will know, I highly doubt you will see a difference. Just thank the lord you don't have a 944, you want to see overheating? Ask any owner of one what Porsche's first attempt at a water pumper does in summer traffic, best of luck to you...

[rick3000]

I am not going worry any more. I am going to top off the coolant, and be done with it. But at least I got the inspection part of my 30k service done.
And my dad had a 944, I should ask him about that.