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Radiator clean out !

Lancerlot

Lancerlot

PCGB Member
Member
Couple of hours to spare today, so decided to remove the front PU to take a look at the rads. There are 5 in the front of the Turbo S - 2 in tandem either side of the central.
Even with mesh fitted over the front apertures, there was still plenty of fine debris lodged in the corners of the rads and this is where troubes start as this material tends to hold in the moisture, leading to corrosion of the alloy matrix and eventual leaks.

So loosening off the front rads, I blew all the crud away with a high pressure line then treated the rads with some anti-corrosion fluid before fitting everything back together again.

Job done and this should keep everything shipshape - for while least. [:)]

Regards,

Clive.
 
I fancy taking a look at doing this too. Is there a handy DIY guide that someone has done? Although I guess YouTube will have some vids on removing PU etc.
Couple of hours you say - cool.
R.
 
There's a post in the Technical Section of 997 Forum on how to do it, also an article showing how to remove the PU if you're unsure. Plenty of good stuff to be found there. [;)]
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=656125

KXJ 911Turbo - I'd add it to the list but Mrs. W takes precedent and her list is oh so loooooong! [:D]

Regards,

Clive.
 
I discovered the long nozzle on the Dyson just fits through the grille slits on the GTS and allows access to that tricky bit at the bottom run of the radiator seam for a regular clean.
Also my 7 year old sons arm just fits through if anything missed ( well we don' t send them up chimneys any more , but still don't 'tell my wife)
 
Lol! Wasn't meant as pedantry, genuinely interested as I thought the turbo 997 had the same set up as the automatic Cayman/Boxster 987, and I've kept the third radiator kit that I bought for my Cayman to fit to my future 997...
 
I was kidding! But, to be precise, there are 3 rads which cool the engine and 2 a/c condensers which cool the refrigerant (which are radiators by any other name!) which sit in front of the 2 outer rads - as you rightly and non-pedantically stated. But, as Clive said, it doesn't matter what you call them they still get clogged with all manner of detritus[:(]
 
I've seen several 987 owners fitting mesh to protect the rads, have any 997 owners done the same?
 
Quite a few.....![:)]

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=334203

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=613041

DSC_0199.jpg
 
Read through the first thread that you linked to which quickly reached "OPC voiding warranty", was expecting the next poster to say it would invalidate your insurance :)

Is that your stunning turbo pictured with the grills above?
 
Yes it is and no problem with the warranty, btw.[;)] Better pics here[:)]
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=827433

Sorry, Clive, hijacking your thread with simply gratuitous photos again![:D]
 
as this is pedants corner -i notice that photo has your car pre the red painted front splitter Alan[:D]
 
First mod I did after collecting my GT3 was to have custom made wire meshing fitted to all the apertures on the front bumper... highly recommended mod...
 
It's telling that mesh is now fitted to the GT3 as standard, presumably to protect the radiators from track debris; the OPC will discourage you to fit grilles because it impacts their lucrative business of replacements and will tell you the car's cooling is affected. This of course is absolute nonsense in our climate, maybe in the Middle East but IMHO, the reduced airflow from all that accumulated muck far outweighs any reduction due to the grilles.

There are a number of explanations how to remove the front but they will reflect the users' way of doing it rather than any official Porsche procedure. FWIW, I would add these comments based on my experience.

1. It's helpful to remove both headlights. You have to do one to disconnect the washer hose and the connector on each side which sits behind the headlamp carrier tray is easier to disconnect from the headlamp aperture than the wheel arch.

2. The tricky slide clamps which hold the front to the body along the short seam between headlamp and bonnet are easier to remove from within the headlamp aperture. Use a mandrel (aka a small piece of wood, say 1* 1 * 20 cm) and a soft faced mallet to tap them out from the inside. The alternative usually suggested is some sort of hook to pull them out but there is a risk with the inconsistent and not inconsiderable force required that something could slip and damage the paintwork.

3. You do not need to remove the wheels but you do need to jack up the car on each side to get the wheels to drop so that you can get at the 4 screws holding the front wheel arch liner using a small wrench and a torx bit. The only reason you need to do that is to get at the screw on each side behind the repeater lights.

4. If you fit grilles, the key point which Clive and others have made is that the grille material has to be kept completely clear of the well around each aperture which mates with the rubber ducting on the car; otherwise, the front will not go back on cleanly.

After an impact with a pheasant which damaged the side strakes, mine has to come back off too, so that's a job for the next few weeks.
 
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