HELP Frequent coolant loss right rear tire

[Manuell]

HI,
I recently got a 1999 986 base with 52K miles.
Since the beginning i noticed a loss of coolant. I always thought it was due to an old coolant tank. I just added more coolant and wait to replace the coolant tank. i replaced the coolant cap for a new one but everything seems the same.

Four days ago in noticed in the parking lot a pool of coolant, i lost almost 2 gallons and the carpet inside the trunk was also wet. Today it did it again but this time it didn't lost so much perhaps half a gallon. I started to thinking that the car might be doing this all the time. Sometimes it lost coolant rapidly and i just keep adding more coolant.

I read all the coolant posts but i am clueless, is the tank, a faulty release valve, water pump??

I have to do a 1200 miles trip and I not feeling very good about this.

[Timco]

Sounds like tank. That's a lot of fluid. It's under pressure so it likely split.

[JayG]

+1 on cracked tank

I would not do a 1200 mile trip until it was sorted out
You could easily get stranded or worse, grenade your engine

[seningen]

Originally Posted by JayG

+1 on cracked tank

I would not do a 1200 mile trip until it was sorted out
You could easily get stranded or worse, grenade your engine

+986

very common problem.

Mike

[jpc763]

Agree with the others. Mine's in the shop getting a new tank right now.

J

[RedTele58]

Disregard. I see you've replaced the cap.

[DrCactus]

Yes, my coolant reservoir tank also cracked from old age. If the tank colour is yellow looking that is a good sign that its worn out. The crack is usually on the outer side that you can not see and will leak when under pressure (car running). I had mine replaced last summer which I saved about $500 by buying it off Ebay and having a local shop install it. Saved over half what the dealer was trying to charge me.

Very common problem, pretty much all cars will need it changed around 75k KMs.

[lkchris]

Went through this problem this Spring.

In this order ...

Replaced cap
Replaced pressure relief valve
Replaced container
Replaced cap a second time.

It's the cap