Coolant Leak

[kasspa]

Hi Rod,

Not sure if this has any bearing on your issue but my 996 4S recently developed a leak on the drivers side metal coolant pipe that runs pretty much back to front.

It was 'pooling' behind o/s front wheel, running off undertray.

I would imagine any camber would cause it to run toward the other side.

The pinhole leak was just behind where the hose is clamped to the pipe, at a push the hose could be stretched to cover it & clamped with an additional jubilee clip but I was worried about the stresses it would create elsewhere, so replaced it.

hth

 

[911hillclimber]

Been here with my 987.2 Boxster, allsame parts etc.

coolant will seem along the undertrayand drop somewhere else!

It will get worse, and I've changed several of thefront pipes and the two in the middle.

full repair is about £900 at a good independent, £1400 at a dealer.

Canbe done diy if you are determined.

 

[RodHall]

My 2008 Cayman has developed a coolant leak. I have read the threads on this issue which were very useful.
I reversed the car out of the garage & noticed a small pool of coolant in the vicinity of the pass front wheel.
I checked under the car & into front wheel arch pass side - no sign of leakage.
When I returned the car into the garage I checked pass side no sign of leakage. Then checked drivers side - a leak was evident - small amount of coolant under bottom pipe when looking into wheel arch - collected on the gutter shaped metal.
In an effort to determine how much had leaked, I measured top up - it was approx 250 ml.
With the car at rest in the garage, the drivers side bottom pipe is weeping slightly.
I’m hoping people who have experienced this issue can give advice please ;-
seems strange the pool of coolant on the garage floor was on the pass side - but no sign of leakage on this side ? Maybe there’s a leak which is not visible on pass side.Or maybe the coolant tracked from drivers side to create a pool on pass side ?
Is leakage more common on bottom pipe - when looking into wheel arch. ?
Bearing in mind the car is nearly 14 years would best plan be to renew all pipes, or just tackle the one leak which is visible ? Thanks.

 

[Motorhead]

Rod,

I’d agree with what’s been said. Having read a number of posts on the subject I get the impression that leaks seem to be more predominant on the passenger side, but most likely that’s just a red herring because the arrangement is the same on both sides so a leak can spring-up on either side.

I think I’d be inclined to bite the bullet and renew all the pipes otherwise you’re probably looking at more replacements sooner rather than later, especially if it’s a high mileage car.

Jeff

 

[g59tester]

on my 2007 S I had an issue with a water jacket leak which is hard to find. it didn't get to the stage of pooling on the garage floor but there was evidence of a crack around one of the bolt fixings. the part number is 98710650804 cost of part £120 nearly 5 hours labour to replace it. its a complicated moulding

Eddie

2007 Cayman S

1987 944 Turbo

 

[911hillclimber]

I've replaced the 4 short hoses at the very front, and the two shorter ones just under the front bulkhead.

it. Is very easy to distort the plastic tube pipes that run along the front subframe getting the rusted parts apart.

I made a good seal to account for this distortion by using O rings with a greater cross section area.

Tougher toget the new pipes into the old plastic ones, but a smear of rubber grease ( as used when assembling brake seals) fixed that.

no joint has leaked since, 2 years and 10k miles on.

Plumper O rings came off eBay for just over £5.

I used VW pink coolant, neat, to top up thesystem after.

You loose a lot of fluid even with the nose jacked up at a good angle.

Monitor the coolest level after every journey and when cool.

The engine soon finds it happy level, which happens to be mid way max and min.

 

[RodHall]

Thanks for replies.

I removed both front wheels & looked for signs of leaks on both sides.It appears that only the bottom pipe on drivers side is leaking. So I think the leak must’ve tracked to drip on pass side. I decided to have a go at fixing the leak. So far seems ok I’ll have to keep checking pipe + level. Also I made a dipstick to accurately measure the level between min & max.

 

[JohnCRS]

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=960462

Have a look at this thrread. It may help.

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks for replies.

I removed both front wheels & looked for signs of leaks on both sides.It appears that only the bottom pipe on drivers side is leaking. So I think the leak must’ve tracked to drip on pass side. I decided to have a go at fixing the leak. So far seems ok I’ll have to keep checking pipe + level. Also I made a dipstick to accurately measure the level between min & max.

Just out of interest Rod, how did you actually fix the leak … temporary or a more permanent part replacement?

+1 on giving up trying to check the level by eye and resorting to a dipstick! Pink fluid against the yellow MAX/MIN level markers makes it impossible to tell the actual level. []

Jeff

 

[RodHall]

Thanks for replies.

I removed both front wheels & looked for signs of leaks on both sides.It appears that only the bottom pipe on drivers side is leaking. So I think the leak must’ve tracked to drip on pass side. I decided to have a go at fixing the leak. So far seems ok I’ll have to keep checking pipe + level. Also I made a dipstick to accurately measure the level between min & max.

Just out of interest Rod, how did you actually fix the leak … temporary or a more permanent part replacement?

+1 on giving up trying to check the level by eye and resorting to a dipstick! Pink fluid against the yellow MAX/MIN level markers makes it impossible to tell the actual level. []

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I didn’t fancy dropping the subframe for easier access to pipes.

So my attempted repair definitely falls into the temporary category. I used roofing sealant ( special stuff which contains fibres & can be used on wet surfaces ).

Yes the dipstick is a winner, I could never see a coolant level down the hole under the blue cap.

Rod

 

[911hillclimber]

Dipstick:

I use a lolly-pop stick (Magnum!), the thin but wide wood type, keep it in the locker with the coolant blue top (987.2)

 

[JohnCRS]

Dipstick:

I use a lolly-pop stick (Magnum!), the thin but wide wood type, keep it in the locker with the coolant blue top (987.2)

Ah yes! The celebrated icecream fix. I wonder when there will be a Porsche branded Magnum (Martini colours) available at your local OPC?

 

[911hillclimber]

I'm only allowed Mini Magnums, but the stick is about ideal for this proppa purpose!

 

[Motorhead]

Top tip Graham!

Jeff

 

[Futch100]

Hi,

I had the same problem on my 2009 Cayman S - a porsche specialist (purchased from porsche) and replaced (much cheaper) all of the pipes that manages the coolant around the car, its impossible to replace one aspect that is leaking as it may leads to more leaks around the join.

Thanks

 

[RodHall]

Update on my coolant leak/leaks.

The roofing compound did stop the drivers side lower pipe leaking.

But another leak developed - could not see source.

So I’ve replaced all 6 pipes. £630.

 

[johnbray]

Full marks for trying