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nikolay5567 · 05-28-2025, 04:00 PM

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a 2000 Boxster with 98k miles. When I first got it I drove it about 30 miles to get it home with no issues. The next day however when I was about to park I saw white smoke coming from behind me. It looked like it was coming from the engine bay but the top was down so it could have been from the trunk?

When I got out it was draining a lot of coolant from underneath and when I opened the trunk it also had a good inch or two of coolant pooling. I also looked back and there was a small trail of coolant that seemed to go back for about the whole time I was in the parking lot so it seems it was slowly draining before something else opened up.

I let it cool for an hour, added a gallon of coolant (which filled the tank to the fill line) and was able to drive it about a mile home without problems and with the temperature staying normal. The coolant I added seemed less than I thought was on the ground but I didn't think much of it at the time. The next day the tank was empty again so it looked like it had drained into the rest of the system since there wasnt anything on the driveway. In the panic I had forgotten to raise the bleeder valve so is it possible that was the reason it hadn't initially drained into the rest of the system or is it possible there's a block somewhere?

I didn't see any noticeable cracks in the tank and the previous owner had replaced it a few months ago (although with a third party part).

My current theory is that there was a small crack which slowly drained the coolant until it was low and caused a hot spot (and steam) somewhere in the engine?

I'm thinking of flushing the coolant and replacing the pump, tank, and thermostat with OEM parts just to be on the safe side but is there anything else that could be wrong and that I should be looking out for? The cap was also the old version if that matters but I have ordered an '04' one.

Also as a side note I noticed after it had cooled down that the oil was very overfilled but looked fine in color. Also planning on changing that this weekend....

Thanks in advance!
Nick

05-28-2025, 04:00 PM	#1
nikolay5567 Registered User Join Date: May 2025 Posts: 4	2000 Boxster Coolant Leak and Smoke Hi everyone, I recently purchased a 2000 Boxster with 98k miles. When I first got it I drove it about 30 miles to get it home with no issues. The next day however when I was about to park I saw white smoke coming from behind me. It looked like it was coming from the engine bay but the top was down so it could have been from the trunk? When I got out it was draining a lot of coolant from underneath and when I opened the trunk it also had a good inch or two of coolant pooling. I also looked back and there was a small trail of coolant that seemed to go back for about the whole time I was in the parking lot so it seems it was slowly draining before something else opened up. I let it cool for an hour, added a gallon of coolant (which filled the tank to the fill line) and was able to drive it about a mile home without problems and with the temperature staying normal. The coolant I added seemed less than I thought was on the ground but I didn't think much of it at the time. The next day the tank was empty again so it looked like it had drained into the rest of the system since there wasnt anything on the driveway. In the panic I had forgotten to raise the bleeder valve so is it possible that was the reason it hadn't initially drained into the rest of the system or is it possible there's a block somewhere? I didn't see any noticeable cracks in the tank and the previous owner had replaced it a few months ago (although with a third party part). My current theory is that there was a small crack which slowly drained the coolant until it was low and caused a hot spot (and steam) somewhere in the engine? I'm thinking of flushing the coolant and replacing the pump, tank, and thermostat with OEM parts just to be on the safe side but is there anything else that could be wrong and that I should be looking out for? The cap was also the old version if that matters but I have ordered an '04' one. Also as a side note I noticed after it had cooled down that the oil was very overfilled but looked fine in color. Also planning on changing that this weekend.... Thanks in advance! Nick