Engine Thermostat, Low Temperature (begins opening at 160 deg F)

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by PaulE

You guys are way more informed than me and I appreciate all the good stuff I learn here. I love my Boxster but can no longer wonder why Porsche makes some or the choices they do like -

• use a sealed, greased, ball bearing on the IMS which is submerged in the sump. The use of a common casting for both cylinder heads required the IMS, but at what point did someone say, "Hey, how should we put a bearing on this end of the IMS?"
  
• use a grade of plastic on internal headlight lenses that will turn dark with burn marks even if you only ever use stock halogen light bulbs.
  
• use soft-touch black paint on interior trim panels that turns sticky with age.
  
• design and specify a water pump that should be replaced at intervals to prevent engine damage from broken impeller bits migrating to cylinder heads and causing hotspots.

Signed, glad I don't own a GT2, GT 3 or Turbo requiring me to have my cooling system fitting welded to my engine block!

If it makes you feel any better, other high end brands like Ferrari also have similar issues, but only after you spend a quarter of a million dollars to get one........

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

If it makes you feel any better, other high end brands like Ferrari also have similar issues, but only after you spend a quarter of a million dollars to get one........

I hear you. Having grown up around old English Jaguars, Austin-Healeys, MGs and Triumphs, I thought the days of leaking rear main seals were over! On some of those cars, part of the rear main seal was literally a piece of rope!

Anyway, with guys like you to fix them, LN Engineering and Flat Six Innovations to come up with better IMSBs, Nine8Six to get us better headlights and Ben006 to give us an economical short shifter, it's all good!

Sometimes I think I want to get a newer Cayman S, then I think about what I'll learn about that the aftermarket has come up with fixes for those cars!

[JFP in PA]

There is an old racing adage: "Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?" These cars are no different; the more you expect from them, the more you have to put into them. The big issue is too many people do not go into the owning experience with their eyes open, and expect a performance vehicle to have about as much maintenance and ownership costs as a Honda or Toyota. Unfortunately, life does not work that way..........

[Gelbster]

Paul, I share your anxious thoughts about newer Caymans and other 9A1 cars. And then my wiser half mentions Toyota/Lexus, Sad when diy enthusiast like Ben have to fix the basic engineering issues for pennies if done at the Factory. But hats off to those who have relentlessly worked to fix the flaws in the M96 - if only Stelan's AOS had worked better.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

There is an old racing adage: "Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?" These cars are no different; the more you expect from them, the more you have to put into them. The big issue is too many people do not go into the owning experience with their eyes open, and expect a performance vehicle to have about as much maintenance and ownership costs as a Honda or Toyota. Unfortunately, life does not work that way..........

Totally agree, and the only replacement for cubic inches is cubic money!

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Paul, I share your anxious thoughts about newer Caymans and other 9A1 cars. And then my wiser half mentions Toyota/Lexus, Sad when diy enthusiast like Ben have to fix the basic engineering issues for pennies if done at the Factory. But hats off to those who have relentlessly worked to fix the flaws in the M96 - if only Stelan's AOS had worked better.

Funny, I have my eye on a Lexus RC 350F AWD as a daily driver to replace my Acura TL

[Gelbster]

RC 350F =Me too.
What would change that is if I could find a really competent,honest and affordable Indie+ suitable car. My Boxster experience has been appallingly expensive and time consuming beyond imagination. And that coming from A Jaguar/Rover/Aston guy !

[Dr. Acula]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

The 9A1 engines do not use a simple thermostat like the M96/97, they have a more sophisticated "thermal management system" which is electronically controlled. Would they benefit from running a bit cooler, sure, but how to do it becomes the issue.

Good info to know, thanks! Along those same lines, then, do you have an opinion on the third radiator kit for the non-PDK 9A1 cars?

I have a 2011 Boxster S and I monitor the coolant temp with an OBD-2 Ultragauge. The coolant temps in this car vary as much as 20 degrees just driving around town, It freaks me out because my Toyotas don't vary near that much.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Dr. Acula

Good info to know, thanks! Along those same lines, then, do you have an opinion on the third radiator kit for the non-PDK 9A1 cars?

I have a 2011 Boxster S and I monitor the coolant temp with an OBD-2 Ultragauge. The coolant temps in this car vary as much as 20 degrees just driving around town, It freaks me out because my Toyotas don't vary near that much.

Why din't you install the center radiator (from a PDK) car?
It is a simple and affordable option

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Dr. Acula

Good info to know, thanks! Along those same lines, then, do you have an opinion on the third radiator kit for the non-PDK 9A1 cars?

I have a 2011 Boxster S and I monitor the coolant temp with an OBD-2 Ultragauge. The coolant temps in this car vary as much as 20 degrees just driving around town, It freaks me out because my Toyotas don't vary near that much.

Because the third radiator adds considerable volume to the cooling system, it tends to dampen thermal swings. Things still change, just not as quickly.

[Dr. Acula]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Why din't you install the center radiator (from a PDK) car?
It is a simple and affordable option

Yep, that's exactly what I asked about. I figured I'd ask the experts before dropping $400 (plus shipping) on the kit.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Dr. Acula

Yep, that's exactly what I asked about. I figured I'd ask the experts before dropping $400 (plus shipping) on the kit.

The $400 will seem very fair when you complete the installation and realize that it looks like it came that way from the factory, you'll enjoy installing it since every component fits perfect!

Edit:

PS, you will also need to cut open the molded slots in your inner fenders, to allow the hot air from the center radiator to exit ahead of the front wheels, a Dremel tool does wonders on the black plastic parts, or if you prefer, you can buy the inner fenders for a PDK car, that comes with the slots already open and just swap them up.