Is coolant supposed to be thick and gold? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

blue2000s · 07-12-2011, 06:44 AM

The dex-cool coolant that Porsche uses is thicker than the typical green stuff that most people are used to. But it's not gooey or anything like that. If you've got really thick coolant, like syrup or worse, someone probably tried to mix in an incompatible coolant and they've reacted with each other. If it's Porsche coolant, it shouldn't be gold, but color really doesn't tell you much. There's no standard on colors.

JoeFromPA · 07-12-2011, 07:38 AM

My Porsche coolant is pink - but I've always had it for awhile!

If your coolant is thick/goopy/syrupy/gelatinous, then most likely it's had a reaction that caused it to gel.

Not good if that's the case. Flush it immediately, flush the entire system thoroughly with distilled water, and then replace with proper coolant.

slogans7 · 07-12-2011, 10:26 AM

Thanks, I'll have it flushed tomorrow. I have stupidly used coolant other than Porsche coolant, so I hope that's all it is. My biggest fear is that there's oil leaking into it.

tonycarreon · 07-12-2011, 12:33 PM

yeah thats not normal at all.

i would guess oil & coolant got mixed, but i am no mechanic.

san rensho · 07-12-2011, 02:13 PM

Looks like coolant/oil mix to me. Pull the dipstick and if you have the same gooey mess on the dipstick, then remove the oil filter houising to double check. If ithe same, or similar goo is in the oil, do not drive the car.

Not to be an alarmist, but it does not look good. Best case scenario, the oil cooler failed, worst case, head gasket or cracked head/block.

san rensho · 07-19-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by san rensho

Looks like coolant/oil mix to me. Pull the dipstick and if you have the same gooey mess on the dipstick, then remove the oil filter houising to double check. If ithe same, or similar goo is in the oil, do not drive the car.

Not to be an alarmist, but it does not look good. Best case scenario, the oil cooler failed, worst case, head gasket or cracked head/block.

Nailed it.

slogans7 · 07-20-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by san rensho

Nailed it.

Man, you ARE good! Now who do you like in the 3rd race at Del Mar?

blue2000s · 07-12-2011, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slogans7

Thanks, I'll have it flushed tomorrow. I have stupidly used coolant other than Porsche coolant, so I hope that's all it is. My biggest fear is that there's oil leaking into it.

Why is it overflowing? Was it overfilled? That's way different than what I had in mind from your description, that realy looks like a coolant/oil mix to me. I wouldn't start that car again until you get it looked at.

JFP in PA · 07-12-2011, 02:38 PM

If all your coolant looks like that, you are going to need more than a simple "drain and refill". That looks more like an intermix issue (coolant/oil), which would mean that somewhere in the system, oil is getting into the coolant. That would need to be located and corrected, then the system would need to be cleaned out throughly with a cooling system cleaner like Prestone, until only clear water came out of the system. Then, and only then, could you refill the system......

slogans7 · 07-12-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue2000s

Why is it overflowing? Was it overfilled? That's way different than what I had in mind from your description, that realy looks like a coolant/oil mix to me. I wouldn't start that car again until you get it looked at.

I got a new cap and didn't put it on properly this morning. After work, I put it on properly and had no overflow on drive home. Temp stayed 180-190* in 82* weather.

I pulled the oil dipstick and found the oil was low 2 qts. There wasn't any evidence of goo on the dipstick.

I'm taking it to my mechanic and I'll let you know what he comes up with.

jacabean · 07-12-2011, 05:13 PM

that looks like intermix . bad news

JoeFromPA · 07-13-2011, 08:19 AM

In my somewhat limited experience with oil + coolant, they don't blend together smoothly because coolant = water based and oil = oil based. There's no emulsion.

Though it'll look like chocolate milk, it won't be a smooth even consistency and you'll see oil seperation. I can't see any in that photo.

Though you certainly could have an issue with oil getting in your coolant, it seems odd that you JUST CHANGED YOUR COOLANT with non-porsche-approved version and now this happens. If you didn't notice abnormal coloring in the coolant when it came out, then it would be odd to suddenly be down 2 quarts of oil due to it being leached into the cooling system (which, by the way, would be over-flowing if it absorbed 2 quarts of oil).

I could be missing alot of info, but I'm guessing the following:

1. The photo is distorting the look of the coolant a bit.

2. You mixed two coolants together and they created that color and density and are in the early stages of gelling.

Let the mechanic look of course - but this is my guess.

slogans7 · 07-19-2011, 09:38 AM

Took it to my mechanic and here's what happened.

1. The oil cooler (which apparently sits on top of the engine) had an internal leak. Since the pressure is higher than that of the coolant, the oil leaked into the cooling system, producing the sludge. They had to flush out the cooling system four times to get the stuff out.

2. The threads on the coolant expansion tank, being plastic, had just worn out. So even with the new cap I had bought, the coolant leaked out the top.

Looks like the bill will be about $2000. Bad, but not as bad as a blown head gasket or other serious problem.

Thanks to everyone that responded to my question.