Overheating and Mechanic-Less

[AKnowles]

Originally Posted by rock88hard

Crap, I was worried about the coolant, but the reservoir was soo low and I didn't have many options being 50 miles from home.

I would not be majorly concerned about mixing coolant. You can be if you want, but after doing the same (mixing coolants) and doing a LOT of research you'll basically find that todays modern coolants can generally mix with anything. Not that I'd suggest leaving it that way - just because I'm a bit paranoid about it still - and recommend a flush and fill. You can do it yourself. Basically you need about 10-15 gallons of distilled water as you'll need to dump the coolant (two hoses), fill it, burp it, fill it to the top again and repeat the series of steps about three times. Then you can dump it again and add the Porsche coolant.

If you haven't done so already, join the PCA, then check with your local Porsche dealer for parts. You'll get a 15% (or more) discount on parts. The coolant I bought was unmixed at $42 a gallon. Cheaper than any mail order. Including Suncoast. Takes three gallons for a complete fill. Personally, if you are going to go this route I'd suggest you consider looking at your hoses, pump, and a low temperature thermostat too. If the car has enough miles (my OEM pump died at about 72K). At that time I replaced the pump, hoses, thermostat and used the uView Airlift 550000 vacume fill system. The uView is much easier to sue than burping the motor to fill it. Highly recommend it.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by AKnowles

I would not be majorly concerned about mixing coolant. You can be if you want, but after doing the same (mixing coolants) and doing a LOT of research you'll basically find that todays modern coolants can generally mix with anything. Not that I'd suggest leaving it that way - just because I'm a bit paranoid about it still - and recommend a flush and fill. You can do it yourself. Basically you need about 10-15 gallons of distilled water as you'll need to dump the coolant (two hoses), fill it, burp it, fill it to the top again and repeat the series of steps about three times. Then you can dump it again and add the Porsche coolant.

If you haven't done so already, join the PCA, then check with your local Porsche dealer for parts. You'll get a 15% (or more) discount on parts. The coolant I bought was unmixed at $42 a gallon. Cheaper than any mail order. Including Suncoast. Takes three gallons for a complete fill. Personally, if you are going to go this route I'd suggest you consider looking at your hoses, pump, and a low temperature thermostat too. If the car has enough miles (my OEM pump died at about 72K). At that time I replaced the pump, hoses, thermostat and used the uView Airlift 550000 vacume fill system. The uView is much easier to sue than burping the motor to fill it. Highly recommend it.

I would be very concerned about mixing coolants. While not as much an issue as it was a couple years back, if you have ever seen one of these cars with the cooling system loaded with gel from incompatible coolants, or watched at the amount of time it takes to clean one of these messes up, you would be more than cautious.

As for coolant or parts pricing, try Sunset Porsche in Beaverton, OR ((800) 346-0182); they have consistently had the best pricing around.

[AKnowles]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

I would be very concerned about mixing coolants. While not as much an issue as it was a couple years back, if you have ever seen one of these cars with the cooling system loaded with gel from incompatible coolants, or watched at the amount of time it takes to clean one of these messes up, you would be more than cautious.

Jeff, are you saying this is still an issue? From what I could find online in regard to this issue Preston stated their coolant could be mixed with any brand. Peak, and a few others followed similar bends and the issue was really with high concentrations of silicates precipitating out, but modern coolants are mostly low in silicates at this point.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by AKnowles

Jeff, are you saying this is still an issue? From what I could find online in regard to this issue Preston stated their coolant could be mixed with any brand. Peak, and a few others followed similar bends and the issue was really with high concentrations of silicates precipitating out, but modern coolants are mostly low in silicates at this point.

There are many compatible coolants out there, but the problem still pops up from time to time, and not just in Porsche's. A lot of people use off brand coolants to save money and a lot of shops use them to increase their margins. At my shop, we operate with very simple rules when it comes to coolants: If we don't know the car or its history, we only add distilled water unless we are doing a total system dump. And we only use Porsche's OEM coolant, which is actually a very good product all by itself. Someone wants to go the cheap route, we suggest they go somewhere else.