new to the 986 club need some anwers please

[husker boxster]

Hello and welcome.

If the coolant was changed last yr, there's no need to change it soon. If it's pink, the previous owner used Porsche coolant, which has a "lifetime" shelf life. Unfortunately, the water pump only lasts 4-6 yrs and you'll have to change coolant when the water pump gives up the ghost. Be sure it's good for those cold NY winter nights and you should be fine for several yrs.

If you don't know what brand it is and it's low, add distilled water to bring it up to the proper level. Then check how strong it is with an antifreeze tester.

What oil to use will spark a holy war, as everyone has a favorite. Use Mobil 1 for this change and do your own research for the next one. There are plenty of threads on the topic

[78F350]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Hello and welcome.
... If it's pink, the previous owner used Porsche coolant, which has a "lifetime" shelf life.
...
If you don't know what brand it is and it's low, add distilled water to bring it up to the proper level. Then check how strong it is with an antifreeze tester.

What oil to use will spark a holy war, as everyone has a favorite. Use Mobil 1...

Also note that if you mix the Porsche coolant with many other coolants (yellow or green) it turns into pink jelly. Always do a thorough flush if you are not certain.

Oil? I just use what ever is on sale that week. Here's a post on Rennlist that has a list of 100+ oils you can use:
New (2015) list of Porsche approved (a40) oils - and a strange change ... - Rennlist Discussion Forums

I'm seriously considering this for my next change. If it's good enough for my 1986 Ford diesel, it should be fine for my '99 Porsche. Right?




Here's a good read:
Yet another oil thread *caution* science content

[jdlmodelt]

Uhmmmm...i call bull**************** on the pink jelly remark. I put green stuff that was stated to be compatible with all coolants and it really was compatible with all coolants. no pink jelly....I use whatever synthetic is on sale when I go in for oil. I don't use 0W40 or 0W50. i use 5W or 10W and synthetic. I have been told that synthetic is more tolerant of high temperatures and breaks down at higher temperatures so its worth the expense when pushing the engine hard for sure.

Originally Posted by 78F350

Also note that if you mix the Porsche coolant with many other coolants (yellow or green) it turns into pink jelly. Always do a thorough flush if you are not certain.

Oil? I just use what ever is on sale that week. Here's a post on Rennlist that has a list of 100+ oils you can use:
New (2015) list of Porsche approved (a40) oils - and a strange change ... - Rennlist Discussion Forums

I'm seriously considering this for my next change. If it's good enough for my 1986 Ford diesel, it should be fine for my '99 Porsche. Right?




Here's a good read:
Yet another oil thread *caution* science content

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by jdlmodelt

Uhmmmm...i call bull**************** on the pink jelly remark. I put green stuff that was stated to be compatible with all coolants and it really was compatible with all coolants. no pink jelly

So you got lucky. But it can and does happen, so maybe do your homework before you call bull. Might save you from looking kinda stupid.

[Nine8Six]

Same as oil choice.

Coolants have different levels of PH (acid), Silicates, Sulphates, Borates and other additives. Each manufacturer specifies a formulation suitable for the metals in the engine, rubber hoses, seals etc.

Nothing to do with whether it mix, perform better, "price", or anything like that (geez guys). Since I don;t own a test lab, and know clap about coolants and the materials used in our engine, I am going to stick to what Porsche Eng recommends

[78F350]

Originally Posted by jdlmodelt

Uhmmmm...i call bull**************** on the pink jelly remark. I put green stuff that was stated to be compatible with all coolants and it really was compatible with all coolants. no pink jelly.....

Not every coolant that is mixed with Porsche coolant will cause a problem, but some will. It is real, so why take the chance? Do a flush if you are not sure.
Here's a water pump that I pulled from a failed 2.7l engine:

The pink gel was also in the coolant passages of the engine and no doubt, the rest of the cooling system.

Here's a little reading on the subject if you are interested, click the quoted text for the link:
Pedro:

"On a final note, regarding the “mixing of non Porsche coolant with Porsche coolant will turn to gel” issue, here’s the scoop.

Porsche was one of the first manufacturers to use an all aluminum engine and they were pioneers in the development of the Organic Additive Technology (OAT) for antifreeze. In those days the concentration of silicates, borates and phosphates (among others) was so high in the commercially available IAT coolants, that when mixed with OAT this would cause the additives to precipitate out of solution and would clog many of the fine cooling vanes in the radiators and engine. This precipitate had the consistency of slush.

Bottom line: Don’t mix different types of antifreeze."

JFP in PA:

"If you could see the nightmares we have had to deal with that were caused by mixing the OEM coolant with aftermarket stuff (gelled lumps in the cooling system, plugged radiators, etc.), as well as the service bills they caused, you would view the use of the OEM coolant as cheap insurance…………"

Lots more info out there if you bother to search before calling BS.
:dance: