Am I worrying needlessly about engine temp?

[sfkjeld]

A few points first. My perfect 2000 S with 33k blew up 10 years ago. Am still scarred. Baffling to my family, I bought a 2000 2.7 this year. Love this car. But worry as I sit in the horrid Bay Area traffic and watch the gauge rise into the 0 of the 180. Took it to Gavin’s Porsche in Oakland (most honest mechanic I’ve ever worked with). Checked out the cooling system and fans, all good. Just wondering tho, while I don’t track this car, could I beef up the cooling system by adding a lower temp thermostat and maybe a 3.2 S oil cooler?

[PaulE]

Isn't the 0 of the 180 the normal running temperature? That's where my 2003 S is all the time. If you want more cooling you could also add the third radiator in the center up front, but you would need to have a center opening in your bumper cover.

[MWS]

When stuck in traffic, ever try running your heater on high? Regardless of how heat is disapated, via radiator or heater core, the result is the same....heat transfer from one environment (engine) to another (atmosphere). Granted, this works best with top down...

[Meir]

Let me share my personal experience.
First Porsche- 01 boxster S. 3.2L engine, with center radiator from factory. Installed low temp stat.
Second Porsche- 99 Boxster base. 2.5L engine. No 3rd rad, no low temp stat.
Current Porsche- 02 Carrera. 3.6L engine. No 3rd rad, no low temp stat.
Go figure out why the 3.2 comes with extra cooling and the larger 3.6 don’t.
Anyway, in all three cars, the needle was always between the 8 and the zero on normal driving, or right of the zero on traffic.
You have nothing to worry about.
BTW, a low temp stat is good to have, although it is not going to affect the operating temperature of your engine. It’s just going to start the cooling cycle sooner, preventing hot spot at the no1 cylinder, and will get the engine to operating temperature faster.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by sfkjeld

A few points first. My perfect 2000 S with 33k blew up 10 years ago. Am still scarred. Baffling to my family, I bought a 2000 2.7 this year. Love this car. But worry as I sit in the horrid Bay Area traffic and watch the gauge rise into the 0 of the 180. Took it to Gavin’s Porsche in Oakland (most honest mechanic I’ve ever worked with). Checked out the cooling system and fans, all good. Just wondering tho, while I don’t track this car, could I beef up the cooling system by adding a lower temp thermostat and maybe a 3.2 S oil cooler?

Yes................

[thstone]

If you really want to provide additional cooling, install the S model center radiator.

Porsche Boxster Center Radiator Installation - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

[Quadcammer]

Ive done all the cooling mods, including oil cooler, low temp thermostat, and third radiator and the car still gets to 104c in heavy traffic. Runs about 97c on the highway regardless of temp. On the track, no issues, stays below 100c.

In my experience, the cars just run hot.

[jsceash]

180 is the correct operating temp for these cars. I have every engine cooling trick and more on my Boxster and it runs at 180. On those days on track where it is 90+ degrees and 120+ track temp it hangs 180 - 195.

160 degree stat.
Third Radiator
Extra ducting to wheel well from front radiators (racing hack + down force)
997 Oil cooler
manual switches for cooling fans.
Oil cooler with 2 6" fans.

It runs 180

[sfkjeld]

Lot’s of good ideas here. I like the manual fan switches idea. But it seems the S oil cooler is the best bang for buck for simply keeping the engine temp down. Is it a simple bolt on proposition? Easily accessible from the top? Had an estimate of 2.5hrs labor to do install.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by sfkjeld

Lot’s of good ideas here. I like the manual fan switches idea. But it seems the S oil cooler is the best bang for buck for simply keeping the engine temp down. Is it a simple bolt on proposition? Easily accessible from the top? Had an estimate of 2.5hrs labor to do install.

If someone is going to take 2.5 Hrs. to do this, they are factoring in a long nap into the process.

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

If someone is going to take 2.5 Hrs. to do this, the are factoring in a long nap into the process.

I like that biggest smile of the day.

[xzyfsk]

Your car is at normal operating temperature. Just drive it and enjoy it.

[thom4782]

Bay area...low temp thermostat...needle is on the dash above "18" for 90%+ of the year or when the car is moving 20 mph or higher. Needle rises to the dash above the 0 when stuck in the commute moving less than 15 mph on days when the temp is 80 degrees or higher.

[oldskool73]

"Get a phone app with bluetooth ODBII sender" ... this! Worrying about anything from the inaccurate gauges is a waste of time. At least get a cheapo ELM OBD2 device from amazon ($10) and the Torque app for your phone. You'll then have all the error codes and fuel trims and other fun stuff to worry about as well!

[RobertKing]

Considering the boiling point of Antifreeze is approximately 223 degrees F and the normal operating temperature of combustion engines is roughly the same, I'd say 180 to 190 degrees F is worrying over nothing. Even pure water requires 212 degrees F to boil.

[kk2002s]

Originally Posted by RobertKing

Considering the boiling point of Antifreeze is approximately 223 degrees F and the normal operating temperature of combustion engines is roughly the same, I'd say 180 to 190 degrees F is worrying over nothing. Even pure water requires 212 degrees F to boil.

If 180 actually was 180
When my needle climbs into the 0 then rhat typically means 200+ low speed fans come on around 212-215

[wesgtt]

Slightly different issue with my 2002 S. The mechanic during an inspection told me the engine fan ran when he put power to it, but that it didn't come on on its own. The gauge reads just a little right of 180. Anyone have any ideas why it doesn't engage on its own?

Thank you.
Bill...

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by wesgtt

Slightly different issue with my 2002 S. The mechanic during an inspection told me the engine fan ran when he put power to it, but that it didn't come on on its own. The gauge reads just a little right of 180. Anyone have any ideas why it doesn't engage on its own?

Thank you.
Bill...

resistor for fan under front bumper

whoops, you mean engine compartment fan. I agree sensor may be shot as mentioned below

[Boxstard]

Originally Posted by wesgtt

Slightly different issue with my 2002 S. The mechanic during an inspection told me the engine fan ran when he put power to it, but that it didn't come on on its own. The gauge reads just a little right of 180. Anyone have any ideas why it doesn't engage on its own?

Thank you.
Bill...

Engine fan in the engine compartment? Then the temp sensor on the intake manifold may be shot or not wired right? If you meant radiator fans, then likely those registers as mentioned earlier.

[wesgtt]

I drove it today before reading about the idea to turn on the air. When i drove it, the temperature never got past the 8. However, when it was idling on a warm day a couple weeks ago it did spike up a bit higher. I'll reach out to my mechanic and share your feedback below. He has been working on these Porsches for years and hasn't seen this issue where it didn't come on. Just trying to understand how these cars typically run as this is my first one. Haven't had any issues since it only has 16K miles. Just got it, everything else checked out perfectly after a 4 hour inspection. 16 years old and its like going into a time machine. Even still smells new. Really appreciate all the feedback. Thank you !!

quote: Engine fan in the engine compartment? Then the temp sensor on the intake manifold may be shot or not wired right?