Low coolant / bad cap? / flashing light above 250

[pteam]

Low coolant / bad cap? / flashing light above 250

Yep all that. The boxster has been getting some usage lately from my gf and me. The box has been jealous my other cars have been getting more use and sat me down for a talk...

Anyways today half way thru during the day the warning light above the 250 temp reading started flashing, the temp gauge was still working and ran at normal 180. I turned the car off once and it didn't come back on. Next time driving it home it came on as soon as I started the car and was on for about 5-8 minutes then turned off for the last 2 mins til I got home.

My first thoughts were low coolant / coolant cap bad. Can you tell me from this picture if I have the good cap or the bad cap, you can read the numbers on the cap in the pic, I know you can tell by the numbers if its the good cap or the old bad one? If its bad where can I order one online quickly and good price? Also you can notice there is some condensation of coolant and some drops around the cap which makes me think this shouldnt be there and I may have a bad cap. Does the boxster always do this? Also can I just add regular green coolant in, it doesnt take any special coolant does it?

Thanks in advance!

[ancster]

you have the new cap. The old style ended with'00. Based on the coolant, you may need to replace the bleeder valve o-rings located under the cover plate. If you take off the coolant and oil caps, you can remove the cover plate to see if there is any coolant around the bleeder valve.
There are 2 o-rings that can wear that seal the bleeder valve cap.

Worst case, you may have a cracked coolant tank. Lift the carpet and remove to foam to see if there is any coolant present. If the level is low in the tank, this may be your problem.

[Sputter]

Best guess is the cap is gone bad.
I can see coolant in the picture and it should be bone dry. Also you might see coolant on the ground just ahead of the rear wheel. I bet you have moisture on the trunk lid above the tank as well. Check the peek window on the tank to check the level.
NEVER use regular coolant. Use the Porsche brand mixed with distilled water 50/50.

[pteam]

Whats the difference between regular coolant and the porsche stuff? The carpet around the tank was dry, so there isn't like a massive leak.

There was moisture on the trunk lid above the cap. Can the new style cap that I have still go bad? Wasn't this the point of the "new style" cap was to prevent the problems the "old style" had?

[Sputter]

Originally Posted by pteam

Whats the difference between regular coolant and the porsche stuff?

If you mix the two you will likely end up with jello in your system. There are other brands you can use but usually only after a total flush. I don't recall offhand the chemical difference. Check Renntech.org.

There was moisture on the trunk lid above the cap. Can the new style cap that I have still go bad? Wasn't this the point of the "new style" cap was to prevent the problems the "old style" had?

It can. I know I had to swap .01 cap for another .01 once.

[Sputter]

You don't mention what the lvl was in the tank. I virtually check my coolant and oil lvls daily. I'm anal that way.

[blinkwatt]

The newest caps now end in .02

[husker boxster]

The antifreeze isn't a matter of having to use Porsche brand (although some will insist you do), it's a matter of using a phosphate-free antifreeze. Your garden variety brands contain phosphates and if you add it to a system that requires phosphate-free antifreeze you will generate a nice gell in your system that will halt any flow. Many European cars, not just Porsches, require phosphate-free anitfreeze.

Also be aware there are early and late types of phosphate-free antifreeze for European cars. Zerez makes a brand in a gold bottle (I think it's called M30) that is designed for Porsches up to 1995. Obviously that won't work with your Box.

Haveline Extended Life (Dex-Cool) antifreeze will do the job.