Understanding the Anti-Freeze Rainbow?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by blundgren77

Greetings all!

I just picked up my first Porsche, a 2001 Boxster that was gently used, (30K original miles) and seems to be well maintained. In going over the car this past weekend for the first time and detailing it, I noticed the coolant bottle was a little low (below the min mark when cold).

After searching here, and reading the potential horror stories, I dropped the $32.00 a gallon the dealer wanted for Porsche coolant (pink stuff.) I mixed it 50/50 with distilled water to top off the tank, and when I went to pour it in, noticed (and confirmed with a sample) that the stuff in there already was actually the orange-ish, "DexCool" looking stuff.

Should I, or shouldn't I top it off with Porsche Pink? Eventually I want to flush it, as I don't have any records for that being done, (I can only imagine it was), but in the mean time, will topping the bottle off with a quart of pink mixed 50/50 cause me issues?

Thanks!

Bill

I agree with Maurice on this one, save the new Porsche anti freeze for after the flush if you think the system has something other than the OEM green or pink in it already; you could get gel problems otherwise. If you are convinced the system has something different in it, a full drain, refill with distilled water (about 80 cents a gallon at the supermarket), run for bit, another drain and then refill with a 50/50 mix of the Porsche coolant and distilled water will do the trick. This is a bit time consuming DIY, but as the fresh mix will be in there for years, well worth while. Also, if you are planning any other “coolant related” up grades (the LN Engineering 160 degree thermostat, swap a base oil cooler for the “S” model, adding the third radiator, etc.), this would be a great time to do them as the system will be open.

You will also need at least a second gallon of the Porsche coolant as the system typically holds between 4-5 gallons of mixed coolant. You are also paying way too much for the Porsche anti freeze, we just bought several gallons from Sunset Porsche and paid about $20 per gallon.