Afraid of the answer.....

[robdelorenzo]

It's back to the mechanic this morning. I'll keep you posted.

It just keeps getting better.....I brought it in to him leaking coolant from the overflow. He suggested that it might be the cap. We changed the cap and I drove home. It's still not circulating properly and sending the heated coolant out the overflow. He now says that something in the circulation system was cooked by the overheating. The water pump, the thermostat, where the impeller blades connect to the pump shaft may have melted, radiator, broken impeller pieces blocking coolant channels, etc. etc.
I'm really at a loss here now.
The temperature gauge does not register overheating, but it's obviously leaking and something is wrong.
I'm trying to get back on my feet from surviving cancer, unemployed, and no more money to put into this car right now (or at all?)
At what point do I walk away or keep dumping money into it?
The engine seems to run fine and after letting it cool off for about an hour I can see that the coolant tank is only about 1/3 full (of course 3/3 full would be way too much. Point is a fair amount of coolant came back out the overflow and something is wrong.
Should I cancel the insurance, keep it garaged, and slowly save up and fix the cheapest thing first (thermostat?) or is there just going to be so much collateral damage from the meltdown that I walk away and sell it as a roller?
Another mechanic I just talked to told me to have the test done for hydrocarbons in the coolant. If there are, he said to walk away. He also said that the coolant is circulating, since the gauge is not showing abnormal readings or overheating and that it could still be more air in the system.
Please offer advice. I'm desperate.

[Dr. Acula]

One big air bubble in the cooling system could explain all the current symptoms. It is very common to have air trapped in the system on these cars.

First thing to do -
Take a deep breath.

Second thing to do -
Take another deep breath.

This will get sorted. I would follow the procedure for burping all the air out of the system before making any rash decisions.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by robdelorenzo

It's back to the mechanic this morning. I'll keep you posted.

It just keeps getting better.....I brought it in to him leaking coolant from the overflow. He suggested that it might be the cap. We changed the cap and I drove home. It's still not circulating properly and sending the heated coolant out the overflow. He now says that something in the circulation system was cooked by the overheating. The water pump, the thermostat, where the impeller blades connect to the pump shaft may have melted, radiator, broken impeller pieces blocking coolant channels, etc. etc.
I'm really at a loss here now.
The temperature gauge does not register overheating, but it's obviously leaking and something is wrong.
I'm trying to get back on my feet from surviving cancer, unemployed, and no more money to put into this car right now (or at all?)
At what point do I walk away or keep dumping money into it?
The engine seems to run fine and after letting it cool off for about an hour I can see that the coolant tank is only about 1/3 full (of course 3/3 full would be way too much. Point is a fair amount of coolant came back out the overflow and something is wrong.
Should I cancel the insurance, keep it garaged, and slowly save up and fix the cheapest thing first (thermostat?) or is there just going to be so much collateral damage from the meltdown that I walk away and sell it as a roller?
Another mechanic I just talked to told me to have the test done for hydrocarbons in the coolant. If there are, he said to walk away. He also said that the coolant is circulating, since the gauge is not showing abnormal readings or overheating and that it could still be more air in the system.
Please offer advice. I'm desperate.

Did he refill the system under vacuum? If not, I would not be surprise that there is air trapped in it. The line you blew off the cooler is the highest point in the system, and is there to vent air trapped in the oil cooler to the tank in the trunk; so I again would not be surprised there is air in the system if vacuum was not used to refill the system.

[robdelorenzo]

I honestly don't know.
But he's a very reputable Porsche guy here in Lawndale CA.
He was pretty insistent that there is no air in the system when I asked him earlier today.
I was unable to ask him before he closed for the 3 day weekend if he uses a vacuum or not.
But what doesn't make sense to me is that if there is a circulation problem as he indicates, why wouldn't the temp go up or it overheat?
A second opinion mechanic (a very reputable guy in OC) told me to drive it tomorrow stone cold and not refill the coolant and see what it does.
He also suggested a test for hydrocarbons in the coolant.
Please weigh in, there are some very kind and knowledgeable people here who do not have skin in this game.
Thank you.
Rob

[robdelorenzo]

Please help with advice.
Thanks!

[Nine8Six]

DUde. Drive the car!

That half cup of coolant that came out from the overflow means that the air pocket already passed. When air gets in contact with hot in a closed environment the pressure increase by 1000%. That's gone now - you should now see the coolant level 3.24mm lower than it was before and that's all there is to it.

RE vacuum; "all" mechanics (in-the-world) use vacuum to refill. Even the cheapest shop you can find in the middle of china use vacuum refill. How the hell would it work otherwise. Come on guys...

As per advice:

"drive it tomorrow stone cold and not refill the coolant and see what it does"

My advice: "drive it EVERYDAY and have fun"

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by robdelorenzo

Please help with advice.
Thanks!

Get someone that knows what they are doing to pull a vacuum on the cooling system to get the air out.

[robdelorenzo]

I am beginning to believe that the water pump impeller melted or broke based on the fact that there is a fine black powder in the bottom of the coolant tank now that it's cooled off overnight and is only about 1/3 full.
Do I try bleeding it first?
What do I do?
It's become a money pit and I think that I may have a clogged cooling system as the mechanic suspects from the meltdown.

Any advice?

Junkers will give me about $1500 for the car.
Is it worth putting the kind of $$ into it to see what's going on?
It's a 2002 with 145k that was run while completely overheated. It seems to me that even if I do get the coolant thing sorted out, are there cracked heads or cylinders in my future?

Is this the type of scenario where the temp gauge will not register a problem as going above 190 but if there is no circulation, the temp is actually a lot hotter and then that is causing the overflow to dump coolant once it gets hot?

I'm trying to stay logical and reasoned without losing my mind here.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by robdelorenzo

I
What do I do?
Any advice?

You mentioned a shop in Lawndale so I assume that you live somewhere in the South Bay. Thus, I'd highly suggest taking the car to Callas Rennsport in Torrance and they will get it working in no time. This may cost you a little bit but it will be well worth the money to get some peace of mind.