Coolant Question
Discussion
I've had to top up my coolant level twice in the last two months , both times it took less than a tea cup to bring up to max , and it could be that I just didn't fill it sufficiently the first time..There's no header/ rad leaks that I can see , and theres smoke on start up , nor is there any extra gunk in the oil filler .. (just the usual thimble full every few months..)
.. That's not stopping getting worried bout it though.. Can I expect to periodically top up my coolant? .. I haven't had to do so up 'til last month.
.. That's not stopping getting worried bout it though.. Can I expect to periodically top up my coolant? .. I haven't had to do so up 'til last month.
It's probably the header tank.... Look for signs of water running down over the near side exhaust or over the inner rear arch just below the header tank. It's a common problem on 996's as the headers tend to get brittle with age and weep under pressure.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
BliarOut said:
Fidgits said:
ooh, i havent checked my coolant levels... erm...
No need as a rule.... The flashing light on the dash is very sensitive
Oh.
I drive a 996 so I'm constantly scared of everything breaking all the time so I just covered them up with electrictians tape
Thats okay isnt it?
BliarOut said:
It's probably the header tank.... Look for signs of water running down over the near side exhaust or over the inner rear arch just below the header tank. It's a common problem on 996's as the headers tend to get brittle with age and weep under pressure.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
I've checked under the header as much as possible , plenty of dust , none of it wet , and no sign of leaks over the exhaust either .. But it does rain here...A LOT.
You've never had to top up?
ballcock said:
BliarOut said:
It's probably the header tank.... Look for signs of water running down over the near side exhaust or over the inner rear arch just below the header tank. It's a common problem on 996's as the headers tend to get brittle with age and weep under pressure.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
I've checked under the header as much as possible , plenty of dust , none of it wet , and no sign of leaks over the exhaust either .. But it does rain here...A LOT.
You've never had to top up?
I had to replace the header tank, that's why I know about the problem
The caps can leak occasionally too so I believe. I *think* there's a revised part for that. Haven't had to top Sally up since I've had the tank replaced but I did have to top my Boxster up two or three times during the two and a half years I owned it.
ballcock said:
BliarOut said:
It's probably the header tank.... Look for signs of water running down over the near side exhaust or over the inner rear arch just below the header tank. It's a common problem on 996's as the headers tend to get brittle with age and weep under pressure.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
I've checked under the header as much as possible , plenty of dust , none of it wet , and no sign of leaks over the exhaust either .. But it does rain here...A LOT.
You've never had to top up?
I've put about half a litre of coolant in mine in the year I've had my new header tank (20,000 miles or so)
BliarOut said:
Does the coolant light flash when you cane it but not during normal use?
Has done so once .. Just prior to an MOT (Clearing the crap out of the pipes in preparation you see!!) .. What a time to be gettin the light on!! .. It took just about 2.36 egg cup fulls to bring it back up , and that was the fisrt time I'd opened the cap since getting the car , and one year into ownership .. I was wondering if the level settled a little after I filled it and drove it again .. i.e. a small air bubble that was released.
Vesuvius 996 said:
ballcock said:
BliarOut said:
It's probably the header tank.... Look for signs of water running down over the near side exhaust or over the inner rear arch just below the header tank. It's a common problem on 996's as the headers tend to get brittle with age and weep under pressure.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
It's certainly the first thing I would check.
I've checked under the header as much as possible , plenty of dust , none of it wet , and no sign of leaks over the exhaust either .. But it does rain here...A LOT.
You've never had to top up?
I've put about half a litre of coolant in mine in the year I've had my new header tank (20,000 miles or so)
Thanks Suvi , you've made me feel a whole lot better...
... not that i'd ever presume you'd do such a thing on purpose
Edited by ballcock on Monday 8th January 12:12
There's a minescule amount between full and empty
I only had to fill the Boxster on a couple of occasions so I didn't worry about it but with the 996 it got to the point that every time I stretched her legs in the higher gears it would come on and need topping up. It got so bad I thought the "Speed Kills" brigade had infiltrated my instrument cluster
If you've got a warranty get her booked into an OPC and have the system pressure tested to be certain. If the tanks starting to split it'll show up with a pressure test.
I only had to fill the Boxster on a couple of occasions so I didn't worry about it but with the 996 it got to the point that every time I stretched her legs in the higher gears it would come on and need topping up. It got so bad I thought the "Speed Kills" brigade had infiltrated my instrument cluster
If you've got a warranty get her booked into an OPC and have the system pressure tested to be certain. If the tanks starting to split it'll show up with a pressure test.
BliarOut said:
There's a minescule amount between full and empty
I only had to fill the Boxster on a couple of occasions so I didn't worry about it but with the 996 it got to the point that every time I stretched her legs in the higher gears it would come on and need topping up. It got so bad I thought the "Speed Kills" brigade had infiltrated my instrument cluster
If you've got a warranty get her booked into an OPC and have the system pressure tested to be certain. If the tanks starting to split it'll show up with a pressure test.
I only had to fill the Boxster on a couple of occasions so I didn't worry about it but with the 996 it got to the point that every time I stretched her legs in the higher gears it would come on and need topping up. It got so bad I thought the "Speed Kills" brigade had infiltrated my instrument cluster
If you've got a warranty get her booked into an OPC and have the system pressure tested to be certain. If the tanks starting to split it'll show up with a pressure test.
Thanks BO , that's good advice , she's going in for her annual next month so that'll be added to the list. (Ordered the bits for the PSE this morning .. can't wait)
BliarOut said:
The caps can leak occasionally too so I believe. I *think* there's a revised part for that.
I think I've read that they're prone to not releasing excess pressure, does anyone know where I can buy a this revised part?
BliarOut said:
Does the coolant light flash when you cane it but not during normal use?
Does for me - I think this is the increase in pressure that can't be released (by duff cap) which forces the coolant level in the header tank artificially low (air at top of tank expands)*. Wait for engine to cool, unscrew cap, listen for excess pressure 'blow off' (coolant level should now rise), and retighten cap. I have to do this about once every couple of months and it's not always after a 'spirited' drive.
*Sits back and waits for someone technical to tell me I'm talking rubbish
Chris_w said:
Does for me - I think this is the increase in pressure that can't be released (by duff cap) which forces the coolant level in the header tank artificially low (air at top of tank expands)*. Wait for engine to cool, unscrew cap, listen for excess pressure 'blow off' (coolant level should now rise), and retighten cap. I have to do this about once every couple of months and it's not always after a 'spirited' drive.
*Sits back and waits for someone technical to tell me I'm talking rubbish
Well given that liquid is not (easily) compressible I guess the water pipes will be having an attack of the bulges if that's the case: I'd expect liquid expansion with heat to be the overriding factor here and when you release the cap (when cool) you are probably letting air back into the system (when the system should be sucking coolant back in from the header tank). *Sits back and waits for someone technical to tell me I'm talking rubbish
Globulator said:
Chris_w said:
Does for me - I think this is the increase in pressure that can't be released (by duff cap) which forces the coolant level in the header tank artificially low (air at top of tank expands)*. Wait for engine to cool, unscrew cap, listen for excess pressure 'blow off' (coolant level should now rise), and retighten cap. I have to do this about once every couple of months and it's not always after a 'spirited' drive.
*Sits back and waits for someone technical to tell me I'm talking rubbish
Well given that liquid is not (easily) compressible I guess the water pipes will be having an attack of the bulges if that's the case: I'd expect liquid expansion with heat to be the overriding factor here and when you release the cap (when cool) you are probably letting air back into the system (when the system should be sucking coolant back in from the header tank). *Sits back and waits for someone technical to tell me I'm talking rubbish
Either that Globby , or the header 'inflates ' with expanding air pressure , hence headers having the habit of blowing... Mostly I would guesss due to defective valves on header caps.
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