Coolant top off - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Topdown986 · 01-26-2014, 02:47 PM

Hey I had my coolant light come on the other day and pulled into a gas station to check it and it was low. I crank the car back up to see if it was still on but it went off and stayed off while I drove it back to my house. I have bought some antifreeze from Porsche and was curious about topping it off is there any special instructions or just fill it to the full line with the car off? I have a 2000 Boxster S by the way. Thanks in advance

Steve Tinker · 01-26-2014, 04:30 PM

The reason the low coolant light went off is because the fluid expands when you run the engine and covers the low level switch. As to your questions:

1) Mix the Porsche coolant 50/50 with distilled water.
2) Wait for the engine to cool completely - preferably overnight.
3) Top off with the coolant mix to the "max" level.
4) Check system for leaks - if you are constantly losing coolant, you have a problem.....

fatmike · 01-26-2014, 05:02 PM

And make sure you have the latest cap.

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Ckrikos · 01-26-2014, 05:15 PM

How many miles are on your car? You either need a new cap, tank, or water pump. Have any of these ever been changed out?

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Topdown986 · 01-26-2014, 05:19 PM

Thanks I didn't know if I had to bleed anything the DIY 101 projects book I have confused me acting like you had to flip up the bleeder value when topping it off and my car don't have the valve

Topdown986 · 01-26-2014, 05:20 PM

70,000 miles and I'm not sure on the cap but I was planning on a water pump this year due the mileage.

Ckrikos · 01-26-2014, 05:50 PM

I almost forgot if you flushed your coolant prior to it boiling over it was likely a trapped air bubble. It sound like it just happened out of the blue leading me to believe it one of the first three. You would only need to bleed it if the coolant tank was empty when you filled it up.

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Ckrikos · 01-26-2014, 05:52 PM

70k im betting your tank is yellow and has formed a pinhole. It could also be the pump, but i think the tank is more likely to go at this age.

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fatmike · 01-27-2014, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topdown986

I'm not sure on the cap

That is just asking for trouble.

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