CEL on the highway making Wal-mart pitstop - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Boxtaboy · 07-12-2010, 10:17 AM

Either jobs at a NJ dealer will cost you about $1k. Indie...about $600.

Fluellen · 07-12-2010, 12:49 PM

If you had lost half a gallon of coolant externally, you would both see and smell it.

This leaves either an internal leak, or the system had an air pocket in it that got burped out during your drive.

Given your recent coolant flush, the most likely cause is an air pocket. Nothing to worry about.

You should, however, check your oil, just in case. An internal leak of half a gallon of coolant would show up as milk shake.

Perfectlap · 07-12-2010, 02:26 PM

I pulled back the carpet and I couldn't find any coolant anywhere. If there's an internal leak wouldn't that show up on my gauges after a long middle of summer drive (200 miles)?

Come to think of it ever since the RMS was replaced with the obligatory oil change, I've been getting funny read outs on the digital oil gauge. The temp gauges are fine though recently when in the garage after parking I felt as though there were a lot more heat coming from engine/back of the car. I'm not sure if this just the above average summer temps lately.

Fluellen · 07-12-2010, 03:17 PM

Gauges won't show internal mixing of coolant and oil. Again, low probability, but I would check the oil just in case.

Regarding your CEL, I assume your code is P1276. Did you already replace the O2 sensors, and now the code is coming back?

Boxtaboy · 07-12-2010, 04:03 PM

Fluellen is telling you to check your oil by pulling out the dipstick and looking at it to see if your coolant internally has mixed with your oil. In that situation, your oil would look like a dark brown mustard or chocolate milkshake. If that happens, it's a bad sign.

Hopefully, it's just a case of a trapped air bubble. If so, your shop did a poor job of flushing and burping your system.

Perfectlap · 07-12-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluellen

Gauges won't show internal mixing of coolant and oil. Again, low probability, but I would check the oil just in case.

Regarding your CEL, I assume your code is P1276. Did you already replace the O2 sensors, and now the code is coming back?

yep. I wonder if this from some contamination from outside of the car (smoke pesticicide) that made its way into the garage. I should have pulled the car out. This was the day before I got the 1276 code.

nothing funny on the oil dip stick. Coolant level has not dropped 12 hours after adding half a gallon of water. air bubble hm...I'll reserve the seat time test for the drive over to the indy.

I also noticed that the cut out for the dip stick unit to pass through was loose. I had to push it back into place with my hand. any sealing issues there?

stateofidleness · 07-12-2010, 07:56 PM

a cracked tank will be pretty noticeable as your trunk will be a swimming pool under the carpet. stealership charged me ~$1200 for this replacement (covered by porsche since I just bought the car). it will require a new flush and fill.

it'll burp itself after you have driven it to temp and let it sit afterwards. i don't think it's an oil issue though.