Coolant game streaming out

[Slate 01]

2001 Boxster no signs of leaks or any other problems with water pump. Pulled into the driveway and suddenly a stream of coolant came out just to the inside of the right rear tire. Had to leave on a business trip and didn't have time to check it out. That said, since I'm sitting in a hotel room on the road, thought I'd write and ask y'all for advice.

I'd say that just under a gallon of coolant came out in a constant stream, like it was running out of a hose, not like it was leaking out from a burst hose or leaking out of a failed or failing waterpump. Then is quite suddenly quit running out all together. Other than a hose coming undone, any ideas what I should be looking for or at?

Thanks for your help. I plan on getting into this thing on Friday and hopefully enjoying the car this weekend.

[NewArt]

Check inside your rear trunk. Lift the mat by the coolant tank. Is it wet down there?
Same scenario, I just changed my coolant tank a few days ago!

[epapp]

Most likely the tank has cracked. But, it could be the cap has failed and coolant boiled over and exited through the overflow hose, which also would leak in the same general area as a cracked tank (somewhere infront of the right rear). If you check the bottom of the trunk, it will be more clear which has happened


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[san rensho]

Theres a leak somewhere. Pressure test the entire system and the cap and you will find it.

[Heiko]

the overflow hose comes out by the right rear tire... It's most likely the cap or the pressure relief cap that is leaking and blowing by. If you remove your oil and rad cap (slowly after the car is cooled down) take out the insert cover (you have to remove both caps to get that out) - all fluids that leak into that basin drain out at the right rear wheel... might be a place to start.
H

Originally Posted by Slate 01

2001 Boxster no signs of leaks or any other problems with water pump. Pulled into the driveway and suddenly a stream of coolant came out just to the inside of the right rear tire. Had to leave on a business trip and didn't have time to check it out. That said, since I'm sitting in a hotel room on the road, thought I'd write and ask y'all for advice.

I'd say that just under a gallon of coolant came out in a constant stream, like it was running out of a hose, not like it was leaking out from a burst hose or leaking out of a failed or failing waterpump. Then is quite suddenly quit running out all together. Other than a hose coming undone, any ideas what I should be looking for or at?

Thanks for your help. I plan on getting into this thing on Friday and hopefully enjoying the car this weekend.

[RBrummer]

I had the same problem- shut off my car in the hospital parking lot and it spewed a gallon of fluid (as measured later, although I felt it was 3 or 4 at the time).
I called my mechanic and had AAA put it on a flatbed and hauled it to him.
He sort of laughed because it was the result of an improperly closed radiator cap, as in my fault

He added some fluid and bled the system.

Being anal, I bought a new cap and screwed it off and on 3 or 4 times to be sure I did not get it on crooked.

[Slate 01]

Dang you guys are good. I checked the area in the trunk, carpet dry but coolant looks to have exited the cap, fluid was sitting on top of the black plastic piece in the oil and radiator cap area only. So it seems to be a cap failure and nothing more. Any suggestions on who to get that cap from, with fast and reliable delivery?

Thanks guys, you are so good. Mucho appreciated.

Is this cap describe as "Expansion Tank Cap"?

[Heiko]

Pelican is quick :-)
and they will ship you the latest cap!

Originally Posted by Slate 01

Dang you guys are good. I checked the area in the trunk, carpet dry but coolant looks to have exited the cap, fluid was sitting on top of the black plastic piece in the oil and radiator cap area only. So it seems to be a cap failure and nothing more. Any suggestions on who to get that cap from, with fast and reliable delivery?

Thanks guys, you are so good. Mucho appreciated.

Is this cap describe as "Expansion Tank Cap"?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Slate 01

Is this cap describe as "Expansion Tank Cap"?

Yes.

2001 Porsche Boxster Base Convertible - Radiators - Page 3

[Slate 01]

Ordered it and it is the latest Genuine Porsche Blue Cap.

Thanks again everyone

[jdlmodelt]

Originally Posted by Slate 01

2001 Boxster no signs of leaks or any other problems with water pump. Pulled into the driveway and suddenly a stream of coolant came out just to the inside of the right rear tire. Had to leave on a business trip and didn't have time to check it out. That said, since I'm sitting in a hotel room on the road, thought I'd write and ask y'all for advice.

I'd say that just under a gallon of coolant came out in a constant stream, like it was running out of a hose, not like it was leaking out from a burst hose or leaking out of a failed or failing waterpump. Then is quite suddenly quit running out all together. Other than a hose coming undone, any ideas what I should be looking for or at?

Thanks for your help. I plan on getting into this thing on Friday and hopefully enjoying the car this weekend.

Shortly after I purchased mine, I was checking fluid levels. I added a small amount of coolant. A couple of days later I parked at a friends house and the same thing happened to me. It came gushing out near the passenger rear wheel. I freaked. It turned out that I hand't reinstalled the coolant cap properly, It was cross threaded and wasn't sealing properly. It was even the newest cap version. I make sure I get it on right now. Plastic threads on plastic threads can be a bit tricky.

[jdlmodelt]

Also, make sure your oil fill cap has a good seal. Mine was just barely loose when installed and was sucking dust into the engine.

[Ian c]

Originally Posted by Slate 01

Is this cap describe as "Expansion Tank Cap"?

Yes .
This is it .

[986_c6]

Same thing happened to mine a few weeks ago. Ordered a new cap and has been fine since.

[Jamesp]

After a coolant change (and a radiator, and a heater core) I had leaking from the front (small amount maybe a few ounces) and it peed out the overflow at the right rear tire (marking territory?), again a few ounces. I did the "bleeding the coolant loop" dance and all that before it happened, and made sure the coolant level was at max. Before I could tear into it to see what was going on, it quit leaking. The coolant level did go low, still above min, so I topped it up and it has not leaked since. Air in the system? Ghost in the machine?

[Slate 01]

Got the new cap installed, took it for a 20 mile ride, pulled back into driveway and it did the same thing as before (fluid came out in a small stream just inside the right rear tire. The first time I lost 3/4 of a gallon of coolant, this time maybe only 1/4 gallon or less. Do I need to bleed some air out or something, any suggestions?

[Slate 01]

Any thoughts? Is it normal to have to top off the coolant reservoir a few times with just slight fluid loss each time until system corrects and things go back to normal?

One more thing, I noticed the last time I drove the car the temp went up to i'd guess 190 degrees and held steady. I seem to recall that it always stayed right at 180 to 182 consistently previously.

[Heiko]

Might be just an air pocket somewhere causing an air lock.... when the system is cold open the cap and flip up the little arm on the release valve and start the engine... you should see the coolant flowing when looking into the tank..... give it a few minutes to circulate and then close the release valve and close the coolant cap again... it shouldn't spew over unless the tank/system doesn't hold the standard pressure causing the coolant to boil when the pressure lowers rapidly or too much pressure is building in the system from another source.... you're not seeing any discoloration of the coolant are you?

[Ckrikos]

Could be an air pocket or a pinhole in your coolant tank (what color is it?). Does the car run hot? Where does the needle usually rest. If I remember correctly it should be to the left of the zero. Is there any leaking around the water pump? Do you have a lot of condensation in the oil/coolant compartment? Did you check your radiators? They have plastic end tanks that do fail. Sorry, but the 9x6 cooling system sucks across the entire porsche platform.

[Slate 01]

Here we go:

No coolant leaking out from water pump.

Color of fluid is normal and not discolored.

Only leaks out in little stream under car near right rear tire. The first time it leaked out a nice consistent stream of 3/4 gallon. Showed signs of fluid had come out under the coolant reservoir cap (no wet carpet in truck, only some coolant up in the coolant and oil cap area in trunk). Bought new genuine porsche cap, topped off coolant to max. line. Took a 20 minute drive, temp stayed just a hair above 180 degrees the whole drive. Parked in garage, then a little stream in the same location by rear wheel came out, this time only maybe 1/6 of a gallon.

thought it may be some type of air gap from the first coolant cap failure since so little coolant came out after cap was replaced.

You mentioned flipping a coolant switch with the cap off, is that located under the car and/or can you describe where I find it? I would like to do that before I take it out again and see if that is the solution. Even if I don't find the switch, should I remove the coolant cap and start the engine and see if it burps out some air, then take it for a drive?

BTW, I have not driven the car since the second leak, I'll take it out again tonight and see what happens and report.

Thanks Porschites, much appreciated.