Radiator protection.

[Helen Goff]

worried about just how exposed to damage the radioators are i have just had PorscheShop fit some grills.

i think they make the car look more finished. [8D]

and they seem to be doing the job. its amazing what rubbish you pick up on the road [][]

 

[evansash]

How much did they cost?

 

[garyw]

They look great Helen, sadly I've not found anyone that do them for the Turbo [] although I'm sure the guys at PS would possibly make some if required.... I'm not sure on the road kill situation though!!!! [] garyw

 

[Geoff_Fields]

I've been considering doing the same but with one reservation. I won't be able to regularly vacuum all the small particle crap and dirt away from the bottom of the rads, which prevents them from corroding away.

 

[Helen Goff]

ORIGINAL: Geoff997 I've been considering doing the same but with one reservation. I won't be able to regularly vacuum all the small particle crap and dirt away from the bottom of the rads, which prevents them from corroding away.

[] hadn't thought about that. wonder if they can been blown clean with something like a leaf blower ? or can you get to the space from underneith ? if so then i can put the car on our car lift and give them a good clean out.

 

[Helen Goff]

ORIGINAL: evansash How much did they cost?

total with Porscheshop fitting them was approx £287

 

[spyderman]

A fellow R10 member (with a ramp) very kindly fitted grilles (hand-crafted from Halfords sheet material) to my 986, but its the space between the condensors and rads where the real damage can occour - and you can never clean that out without taking the whole front off. At least with the grilles in place, you're far less likely to suffer stone damage.

 

[BrianJ]

Check out http://www.motordrive.com/acatalog/999.html for externally fitted grilles. They are extending range to cover most 986/987/996/997. Seem to get good reviews. I'm waiting for some for my Cayman Gen 2. Group buy going on at http://www.planet-9.com/site-vendors-sponsors/37688-mds-grilles-gen1-rear-gen2-fronts-group-buy-ends-dec-12th.html.

 

[blueSL]

Nice work, Helen. Seems clear from my experience of water cooled 911s that the radiators are remarkably susceptible to damage and especially corrosion. I recently sold my 996TT and as part of the evaluation by the dealer for P/EX, they told me the car needed three new radiators. "They're just saying that", I thought, but when I took a look myself, sure enough they were knackered. Say, £1500. Don't know what it is, salt on the roads, stones from the car in front but Helen's mod seems worthwhile to protect them from physical damage. Not sure about salt corrosion though. I'm wondering whether a good rinse of the radiators with a hose should be a regular preventative measure.

 

[garyw]

As can be seen by the image, a lot of the damage of corrosion is behind the first radiator and nothing apart from stripping it down can really save it... Quite a few of us with radiator replacement.. Can only be seen as a benefit for the extra bit of protection. garyw

 

[yan]

Porsche need to re-think the design going forward... In the meantime putting grills on from new would seem to be the most proactive and minimally invasive prevention but this will not stop the ultimate build-up of detritus per image, only slow it down I would have thought. Porsche offer grills as a build option on the latest GT3 - no idea why this is restricted to this model only.

 

[okellyt]

Helen When I had my 997 Aerokit fitted I also had the grills put in by those nice people at PS. A couple of weeks after fitting we were driving to Llandow and the grill took a large stone hit right in the middle (chipped the paint and dented the grill) saved me a lost track day and a replacement radiator. At that point it had paid for itself. Yes some leaves get through but far less than without the grill and far less seem to wedge themselves onto the radiator exchange frame.

 

[john crannis]

I think something more drastic required, why not the pressure of an airline with gun attachment would surely disperse leaves and muck from and between the radiators, or failing that a power washer might well soften up and dislodge the accumulation referred to, worth trying anyway !

 

[berty987]

Power washer will probably damage the fragile fins and strip away the protective paint. Better to routinely remove the front bumper every couple of years and clean thoroughly then fit the protective leaf grilles. Alternatively buy an extended warranty and claim when they fail.

 

[Monty2]

Good move Helen and if you can locate some mesh for the turbo Gary I would be most interested. After spending a good 40 minutes today extracting autumn gold from Stuttgart/black forest area it was really apparent that the faster you drive the greater the amount of leaf and twigs the low front of a 911 hovers up, worryingly I extracted a fair sized twig that had gone straight through the cooling fins without taking out the coolant matrix. Unfortunately due to German Govmt investing on the road/motorway infrastructure and keeping workers busy rather than handing over billions to the banks (although they are probably doing this aswell) the motorway system is being prepared for the eventual boom after the present bust and high speed hovering was reduced to short blasts but hey ho at least my turbo feels bedded in now and learned a good lesson to select sport setting on PASM when doing 140+ in a cross wind on the autobahn. Black forest driving session on damp roads was fantastic and I have a good idea I know where Millbrook alpine circuit was modelled on. Although all those trees contributed to half a bucket of leaf mold for the garden borders. Hotel Adler at asperg was great if a little empty and Porsche museum was well worth the trip alone, didn't manage a factory tour at Stuttgart but did at Audi at Neckarsulm. Now I wonder if its cheaper to buy a Jag crome grill and chop it to suit rather than Helen's route. Paul

 

[berty987]

The aluminium mesh that most aftermarket companies use for their grilles is sold in halfords by the sheet or you can get variations in homebase too. If you are handy with spanners and scissors you can make up your own cardboard template and cut your own mesh to suit. The proprietry grilles obviously have a finished edge, some fit in front of the bumper PU , other styles behind. I made up my own set of grilles for my car and fitted them behind the existing intake slats so they were more subtle. I still beleive its good practice to remove the front PU bumper every year or so and clean thoroughly any residual debris that may still pass through.

 

[garyw]

This is one of the things I'll be looking at over this weekend trip... garyw

 

[Alex L]

Any plug and play solution for the Turbo and I would be very interested also.

 

[dereksharpuk]

Last time I asked PS I was told they don't do the grills for a Gen 2. Thanks to Helen today, I noticed my plastic grill was dislogged and the radiator was covered with leaves, even after just 850 miles.

 

[Monty2]

Ladies and Gents I followed up the link and back came this reply from Allan Whittaker so Turbo and potentially GenII owners may have a solution other than DIY in the new year. Paul Hi Paul, Yes we are looking to make 997.1 turbo grilles in the new year. The problem we have is with the protruding fins (similar to the 997.2 Carrera2, 2S, 4 & 4S and also the Boxster Generation2) so we have to come up with something !! stay in touch. I frequent www.planet-9.com and have various Group Buys there: last one still running here: http://www.planet-9.com/site-vendors-sponsors/37688-mds-grilles-gen1-rear-ge n2-fronts-group-buy-ends-dec-12th-5.html#post414802 allan -----Original Message-----