Coolant Smell

[Hugh Ross]

Any advice here appreciated.
OPC highlighted possible radiator replacement at last inspection because of a strong smell of coolant. I asked if it was leaking (my garage floor is tiled, I would have noticed this) they said not obviously but that radiator replacement 'recommended'.
I decided to do nothing until MOT and had an independant (a VW/Audi specialist) have a look.
He couldn't find anything wrong.
I have however noticed a miniscule trace of coolant around/below the filler cap that sits on the header tank and have noticed a slight fizzing noise around the cap when hot.
Car is (sadly) not used regularly and coolant has never needed topped up to my knowledge in 5 years.
Could this simply be a replacement cap? Or something more to do with the header tank (a split seam perhaps - I know the header tanks can be a problem).
Happy to replace a filler cap speculatively rather than a radiator but what do I know....
As ever, comments appreciated.
Hugh

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Almost certainly the coolant tank cap. Does the part number end in 00 or 01? If so, replace it with the latest one - Part Number 996.106.447.03 - £12.70 inc VAT from your local OPC. You might even get a bit of PCGB discount!

 

[Hugh Ross]

Thanks Richard, will give this a go.
Suffice to say a speculative radiator replacement was quoted at a tad more at £459.52!
Will shop around if that ever proves necessary.
Thanks again - a reply almost before I had finished typing.
Hugh

 

[minny]

Funny my car has had a warm coolant smell from the front left when warmed up over the year. Again, my coolant level hasn't dropped and there are no drips from the region of the radiator. I even took off the bumper with the engine running to see if I could see any leak but no success. I do plan to change the radiator though as they can potentially leak. The previous owner wasn't as meticulous at cleaning out the bumper regularly.

 

[richard hall]

a similar thing has just happened to me
I had smealt that familliar coolant smell just a faint whiff after a hot run from the front from the middle rad
the coolant level was fine and hadnt dropped so just watching closely
I took it for an mot whilst they do the mot they pretty much keep the engine running all the time
just at the point the fans where due to kick in steam starting issuing from the middle rad
there was still no drop in coolant level but turbo engines are mighty expensive
I took it to Tony Wright small pin holes in the middle rad
problem fixed no smell
I find this curious becuase the Porsche water system is pre pressurised and i gues one would normally expect it to rapidly start gushing out
I can only assume in normal driving there is enough cooling air going across the system to stop this being noticed except when at standstill
if coolant cap doesnt sort may be front pu off and inspect?

 

[johnk]

richard the cap's are now ending in .04

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Thanks John. The PET lists 03 for the 996, but I see that what you mean - the 9x7s use the 04 cap.

If Hugh's cap is fizzing, that's the obvious place to start.

 

[Hugh Ross]

Cap replaced for £12.70 less Club discount. Problem solved, a saving of £448.09 by my reckoning!
Will keep an eye on it to see if anything else develops around the header tank, smell does seem to have gone and car being used every day at the moment.
Hugh