Coolant Leak / Overflow ??? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

rick3000 · 03-24-2008, 09:05 PM

I have not messed with the bleeder valve, but it was recently at the dealer, because it was heating up more the normal, and they may have messed with the coolant tank (I know that they pressure tested it).

I am going to check everything again tomorrow, and maybe take it into the dealer.
Could it be as simple as overfilling the coolant tank when I topped it off, and it just drained the excess coolant?
If the coolant level is normal, would that signal nothing was wrong?

Thanks!

blinkwatt · 03-24-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick3000

Could it be as simple as overfilling the coolant tank when I topped it off, and it just drained the excess coolant?
If the coolant level is normal, would that signal nothing was wrong?

Thanks!

Yes it could have been from you topping it off.

Same thing happened when I bleed my coolant tank,I put a little bit too much and it shoot out the coolant overflow hose which is aiming near the inside of the passenger rear wheel.

Boxtaboy · 03-25-2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick3000

I have not messed with the bleeder valve, but it was recently at the dealer, because it was heating up more the normal, and they may have messed with the coolant tank (I know that they pressure tested it).

I am going to check everything again tomorrow, and maybe take it into the dealer.
Could it be as simple as overfilling the coolant tank when I topped it off, and it just drained the excess coolant?
If the coolant level is normal, would that signal nothing was wrong?

Thanks!

I doubt it is from topping off the coolant. If you lost a significant amount of coolant after the shutdown, you probably are low in coolant, and you won't be able to read level in the indicator. Your cap, if ending in 01, should be fine. The ones ending in 00 really were the problem ones.

Open the trunklid, and look at the coolant tank area. Take off both the coolant cap and the oil cap, and then lift off the black plastic cover so that you can see underneath it. Do you now see coolant in that area all over the place? Do you see coolant at the bleeder valve area there? If not, and the coolant still comes out from under your passenger rear tire, then it is mostly likely a loose hose down there or a hairline cracked coolant tank.

rick3000 · 03-25-2008, 08:27 AM

I went out this morning and took the coolant cap off. The coolant tank was completely empty, and there was definately some coolant around the cap, but only a little bit. I am going to take the car in today.
My only question is if the coolant is completely empty, is it save to have the car running on only distilled water for about 30 minutes.
Thanks!

Boxtaboy · 03-25-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick3000

I went out this morning and took the coolant cap off. The coolant tank was completely empty, and there was definately some coolant around the cap, but only a little bit. I am going to take the car in today.
My only question is if the coolant is completely empty, is it save to have the car running on only distilled water for about 30 minutes.
Thanks!

Just because your tank looks empty doesn't meant there's no coolant in there. There's a lot of coolant in your car, and the tank only shows a portion of it, so don't worry. If you're really low, a light will come up on your dashboard. Yes, you can drive the car safely with just distilled water in it.

rick3000 · 03-25-2008, 09:53 AM

Thanks for all the help everyone!
I just got it towed by AAA for free (Just to play it safe) to the dealer, and when I get the car back I will let you guys know what happened.

Lil bastard · 03-25-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

... Yes, you can drive the car safely with just distilled water in it...

Well, Yes and No.

If you're stranded or driving a short distance to a repair service, then Yes, you'll be OK.

But, if you're planning anything other than that I'd say No.

In addition from keeping the coolant from freezing, anti-freeze also provides needed lubrication for the Waterpump bearing as well as corrosion pretection. It wouldn't take much driving at all for damage to the pump or corrosion to occur.

Boxtaboy · 03-25-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

Well, Yes and No.

If you're stranded or driving a short distance to a repair service, then Yes, you'll be OK.

But, if you're planning anything other than that I'd say No.

In addition from keeping the coolant from freezing, anti-freeze also provides needed lubrication for the Waterpump bearing as well as corrosion pretection. It wouldn't take much driving at all for damage to the pump or corrosion to occur.

Agreed, but he hadn't lost all the coolant in his system, so topping up with distilled water and driving the 30 minutes to the dealer (which was what he was asking if it was safe to do), would be fine. There was a friend of ours who during a 9 hr. drive down to a Boxster event in North Carolina from New Jersey, his old coolant cap let out a huge amount of coolant after stopping. Refilled with (non-distilled) bottled water and went on to go thru the whole 4-day event, and then drove all the way back home, with no issues. Car and water pump are still fine today....

rick3000 · 03-25-2008, 11:40 AM

Well, I am actually glad I called the tow truck, because in the minute or two I had the engine on, to back the car out and onto the truck the light was flashing the entire time, and I started to smell the beginning of a faint burning.

The upside of all this, is that I paid $115 for a diagnostic that didn't show anything a month ago when the car began to heat up higher than normal, and know they are going to reimburse me and I only have to pay the $80 deductible, so my car breaking is getting me back $30-35.

Lil bastard · 03-25-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Agreed, but he hadn't lost all the coolant in his system, so topping up with distilled water and driving the 30 minutes to the dealer (which was what he was asking if it was safe to do), would be fine. There was a friend of ours who during a 9 hr. drive down to a Boxster event in North Carolina from New Jersey, his old coolant cap let out a huge amount of coolant after stopping. Refilled with (non-distilled) bottled water and went on to go thru the whole 4-day event, and then drove all the way back home, with no issues. Car and water pump are still fine today....

Not to put too fine a point on it, but you stated that with " 'just' (sic. only)distilled water you can drive the car safely". That was the basis of my disagreement.

Your friend has added bottled water to the system, but it wasn't completely dry from your description, nor would I expect it to be from just a failed cap. So, while diluted, I suspect there was still sufficient coolant in the car to lube the pump, etc.