987 Coolant Flush???? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Flavor 987S · 08-19-2011, 04:12 AM

Have any 987 owners done a coolant flush yet? I am thinking about having this done prior to winter hibernation. Porsche says it is a lifetime coolant, but I find that a little hard to believe. My (2006 987S) fluid is now more than 5.5 years old.

What say you 987 owners?

How much Porsche coolant do we need to buy? I'm guessing 1 gallon of conc. Is plan water added to the Porsche coolant, when doing a flush? Or is distilled water used (like for a battery)?

Thanks.

husker boxster · 08-19-2011, 01:06 PM

The coolant may be "lifetime", but the water pump isn't. Porsche never has to live up to the lifetime challenge because the wp fails anywhere from 3-5 yrs. You're probably living on borrowed time if you haven't changed your water pump. My Boxster's went out at 3.5 yrs & 26K mi. Luckily it was in warranty. I was thinking of changing the Cayman's soon b/c it's a yr older, but I'm going to roll the dice since it's a CPO car.

Flavor 987S · 08-19-2011, 01:40 PM

Husker, really, the water pump is a weak spot? Are there any tell tale signs prior to the event?

husker boxster · 08-19-2011, 02:09 PM

If there were any sounds before it let go, I didn't hear them because I enjoy my Blose stereo. It just decided to die all of a sudden. There was a distinct coolant smell one afternoon driving home and upon investigating I noticed there was a small stream from the front of the engine. Prior to it streaming, there were no drips in the garage at all.

Paul · 08-19-2011, 02:51 PM

Please carefully drain your coolant into clean containers, I'll gladly pay the shipping costs to my shop.

blue2000s · 08-19-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Please carefully drain your coolant into clean containers, I'll gladly pay the shipping costs to my shop.

What's your shop so I know never to go there.

tonycarreon · 08-19-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Husker, really, the water pump is a weak spot? Are there any tell tale signs prior to the event?

well let's see. mine was in the middle of failing 986, not 987) and here's what i noticed:
VERY slight coolant smell after driving long and hard
a "whooshing" sound from the engine compartment (WP pulley wobbling)
a "rattle/grinding" noise that got faster when accelerating
but what made me really think it was the pump was some "crust" on one of the hoses. though no visible drips on the ground...

san rensho · 08-20-2011, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Husker, really, the water pump is a weak spot? Are there any tell tale signs prior to the event?

Play in the water pump pulley is a sign the pump is going out. Relaese the tension on the auxiliary belt and then chaeck the pulley for wobble. I replaced the belt and the pump failed promptly after that.

Its important to catch the pump before it fails because when it does, the plastic impeller tends to grenade, which can send little bits of plastic into the tiny coollant passages in the head which can cause blockages and lead to cracked heads or blown head gaskets.

Many people treat the pump as a wear item and replace it periodically, 30-50k miles to avoid problems.