It's spring! Clean those rads! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

NewArt · 04-05-2021, 06:53 PM

Here's how I did it:
https://youtu.be/xjQPZga-vgA

Homeoboxter · 04-05-2021, 07:40 PM

Thanks for sharing, that`s a lot of work!

LincolnPeters · 04-05-2021, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the tip! This here photo is from two weeks ago...what Newart’s saying is especially good advice for all of us new folk that came up on a Boxster lately.

Also, my lady LOVED your sped up Montreal GP in the snow with your Subie. Lots of love!

EuropaDrive · 04-06-2021, 02:54 AM

Thanks for the video...Did mine yesterday and I was surprised at how much junk was in there !

Rob175 · 04-06-2021, 06:26 AM

Those pictures look like there was MORE in there than your typical road debris. Looks like critters like mice, rats or even birds made a home for a good long time.

I cleaned mine without removing all of those parts on my 98'. Did I clean it out 100%, probably not, but maybe 80%... but my temps are all "normal" year round.

I accessed through the little front vents using a combination of first a flexible tube super powerful vacuum and a bent wire tool. After I got most all of the visible leafs, cigarette butts and paper scraps I then switched to a water spray, again with a flexible tube to direct the water.

The debris I removed was on the driveway after the job was done...all temps normal and it took a couple of hours. I suggest you try a similar task first. I don't have a lift, and I really didn't want to disassemble the front end, because I don;t think I have much if any debris BETWEEN the two radiators....I could be wrong but the heat and AC work great and as I've said my temps are all normal.

willw · 04-06-2021, 06:33 AM

Good advice. For the 986 crowd, Burner's Cars youtube channel has a good video, also. Must be easier on a 986.

NewArt · 04-08-2021, 05:35 PM

I had always passed a vacuum through the front bumper and there wasn't usually very much. But what you see is only the AC rad. There's actually much more in there! I too never had any heating/cooling irregularities. And yes, everything seems to have been easier on my 986's!

NewArt · 04-08-2021, 05:37 PM

Oh, and Ben Burner's channel is excellent and fun to watch. He seems to have stopped uploading about 3 years ago. Too bad, but there's some great 986 content there!

PaulE · 04-09-2021, 04:48 PM

Did mine a month ago!

986andmx5 · 04-10-2021, 04:14 PM

This was the first thing I did with my new to me 1999 last week! I got one full dust pan on each side.

john12312 · 04-16-2021, 01:46 PM

Vu at the PCA has a good video fr the 986 bumper removal and radiator clean up. https://youtu.be/TG2PaZJMph4

Definitely worth the effort to move the front condensers and clean behind them. I used a vacuum through the from t grills previously but no way was it going to get the junk in between. Lots of organic material. Be careful pulling off the from t bumper as you may break a bumper support if they are old. Cost me $55 for a new support from the dealer. I took advantage of the effort and repainted my bumper and grills.