Coolant Cap Poll

[Perfectlap]

Are you still on the original or did you get the new coolant cap?

If you have the old one, please post mileage and if you'd had funny coolant levels ever.

[thstone]

Replaced original at 120,000 miles because coolant level would very slowly go down and I had already replaced the water pump and thermostat. This fixed the coolant lowering problem.

[fatmike]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Are you still on the original or did you get the new coolant cap?

If you have the old one, please post mileage and if you'd had funny coolant levels ever.

Perfect - small cost to head off some known issues...mail order via suncoast...

So why not?



/

[pjv]

When I bought my 04 over 2 years ago, in the first few days I had a problem with loss of coolant (probably about a pint at a time). So I took it back to the dealer (who happens to be an independent Porsche service specialist) and they replaced the old coolant cap with a new '04 code' cap. Have had no problems at all since. The car had done 70,000 km at the time I bought it.

I had no knowledge of the cap issue at the time, but obviously the dealer did.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by fatmike

Perfect - small cost to head off some known issues...mail order via suncoast...

So why not?



/

Just had it done. I was curious to see how much coolant the old cap was costing others. Last time I had the coolant flushed, big drop below the minimum hash mark right away. After Water pump was recently replaced, big drop again after the first long drive. They went over the system for leaks, found none. Replaced the cap.

[litespeedp]

At 63,000, replaced it from a Porsche dealer and no more probs.

[BoxsterSteve]

About to turn 85,000 km.
Still on the original coolant cap, water pump and green coolant, although that's all going to change when the car goes out for winter hibernation...

[thom4782]

Replace the original cap just yesterday with the latest version.

[trimer]

can someone help me here? How would a coolant cap keep you from losing coolant? I see on here that coolant was low, etc but no leaks...where is it going and how would a cap fix it? Is it just disintegrating into thin air because the cap is bad?

Sorry for the dumb question but I am really curious. I ahve a 10 yr old car with 18000 miles on it and the original cap. but want to know what a new cap would do...

[litespeedp]

My 13 year old cap was somehow unable to keep a good seal on its place on the top of the plastic coolant tank in the rear trunk.I noticed a little moisture around the base; then I noticed "sweating" on inside the trunk area directly above the cap area.

My coolant level had been very slowly dropping.I read about all of this on this forum and found that an improved cap is available from Porsche.Look at the part number on your cap and search this forum for the number on the updated cap.I'm thinking the last numbers are 00 and my new cap has last numbers of 04.Research it and ask your dealer if they have the updated cap and the part number.I ordered the new cap form a Porches dealer.Maybe 20 bucks or so.

No more leaking or moisture on the inside bottom of the trunk lid.When you replace the cap,make sure your are not cross threading it or over tightening it.Good and snug is enough.When you get your cap you will see that it has a longer tube shaped base.

[southernstar]

litespeed is correct - the cooling system is supposed to be a 'closed' system and if the cap does not seal properly, it allows small amounts of steam to be released which will gradually reduce the coolant level. I replaced/upgraded my cap before my 3000 mile trip this summer as a precaution, even though there were no signs of coolant loss.

Brad

[ekam]

Replaced my 01 cap to a 03. I know the current one is 04 but no one can tell if there's any difference between 03 and 04. Reading on the other forum it's likely that Porsche changed supplier so they updated the part number. I haven't bothered to change it yet.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by trimer

can someone help me here? How would a coolant cap keep you from losing coolant? I see on here that coolant was low, etc but no leaks...where is it going and how would a cap fix it? Is it just disintegrating into thin air because the cap is bad?

Sorry for the dumb question but I am really curious. I ahve a 10 yr old car with 18000 miles on it and the original cap. but want to know what a new cap would do...

The cap vents above a certain pressure (from the factory, about 18.2 PSIG) and can dump coolant out the overflow, but this pressure drops off with time and miles, which is why the cap needs to be tested regularly or replaced. Porsche has "improved" the original design at least 3 times to date, and as the caps are cheap, anyone that does not have a -03 or -04 cap is asking for trouble.

[recycledsixtie]

I have just replaced the coolant cap at 41k miles. Never had a problem with coolant level in the last 11k miles I have owned it.

[runjmc2]

Can you easily tell which cap you have, e.g. via part number?

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Porsche has "improved" the original design at least 3 times to date, and as the caps are cheap, anyone that does not have a -03 or -04 cap is asking for trouble.

And that's if they are even checking the trunk to see if the coolant level is kosher...

I got in the habit of of seeing what's doing back there after my last coolant flush. I missed many opportunities to make the cap switch, like when the tank split and dumped all the coolant, as well as this last water pump. New cap should be part of any PPI inspection check list.

it's really amazing how such a minor thing can let a potentially big problem get away from you. The dash is not going to help you out until its way late.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by runjmc2

Can you easily tell which cap you have, e.g. via part number?

It's written on top of the cap.

Oh and you need to open the rear trunk, not the front trunk to get to it.

[mnc-i]

Perfectlap,

I just had the original coolant tank cap changed on my 1999 Boxster at 193,000 miles. I lost almost all my coolant when I picked up the car after a water pump thermostat replacement. After a pressure check the mechanic replaced the cap and all is well.

My original cap was black. The new cap is blue.

MNC-I

[SeanZ4]

Replaced mine a few years ago at around 39k on a '00S. I think I have the .03 version. Mine was misting around the edge too!

[l3m]

Here's a pic of the latest coolant cap. I replaced mine last month after I noticed a slight drop in coolant level.