Concerned - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Eros · 01-13-2015, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the input. I didn't check it sooner because I had an issue with my key getting stuck in the ignition, I purchased the ignition switch recommended on the forum for the repair but I had read the ignition switch problem messes with electrical inputs so I thought it was a malfunction. Stupid on my end to not have double checked the water regardless. I'm on top of it now!

husker boxster · 01-14-2015, 05:25 AM

How bout some pics of your Boxster?

ルーカス · 01-14-2015, 08:51 AM

Flashing coolant light indicates low coolant as someone said already. If the needle wasn't in the red no damage done. Did you have your coolant flushed recently? It could just be that it needs to be topped off. There could also be a small leak. Warm up your car to operating temprature and park it on some card board, next time you take it out check to see if there are any leaks.

78F350 · 01-14-2015, 09:09 AM

You should probably do a coolant flush in the near future, since you added some Walmart 50/50 and you are not sure what was already in it. Mixing non-Porsche coolant with Porsche coolant can sometimes cause it to gel. Imagine your radiators and coolant passages being filled with Strawberry Jello. That's about what you get, but it doesn't taste as good. There are lots of old discussions, here's part of one:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycarreon

lots of answers to this. pedro sums it up thusly:

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedrosgarage.com
I chose not to go with the Porsche coolant.
If you do the same, be sure to get phosphate, silicate and nitrite free product such as Prestone.

Originally Posted by mike focke's boxster page
Porsche claims their coolant is Lifetime, but don't believe it. It is simply a silicate and phosphate free Glycol based coolant. This should be changed every 5 years/150k mi. (whichever comes 1st) in order to provide maximum corrosion protection. It is the organic carboxylates which breakdown after this interval.

Quote:

Instead of buying the super-expensive Porsche Coolant from the dealer, Zerex Extreme Life 5/150, Texaco Extended Life, Shell Rotella® ELC Extended Life Coolant, UNI-GARD 5/150, Mercury Extended Life Coolant Anti-Freeze, all meet or exceed Porsche Coolant requirements and are much cheaper. Use of any other type coolant is not compatible with the system and can form a gel-like substance if mixed with the proper coolant which can then obstruct flow, create hotspots, blow up your engine, etc.

in general the two sides are: as long as it's phosphate and silicate-free coolant it will be fine. the other side tends to argue "for the few extra $$, why risk it?"

either way you go, i would not mix. if you do go with non-porsche, flush first. if you're just low, add some distilled water.

Bottom line: Don't mix unless you KNOW that the coolants are compatible. If you don't use Porsche coolant, make sure you use a phosphate, silicate, nitrate free product. Only add DISTILLED water to dilute your coolant.