Coolant service

[gas-man]

I have a 2001 C4 and ever since I had it I guess it has not been serviced for coolant change. Is this necessary? I have read in some post that it is life time unless you got leak. is this true? If wanting to do a complete coolant change how is it done? just simple drain or do I need the vacuum system to flush the cooling system? thanks for response. :clapping:

[PJorgen]

Well, I change my cool nats all the time :lol: However coolant is different.

Seriously, they do call it lifetime coolant, but there are differing opinions on this. Suggest you search and decide for your self.

As for how it's done - power flush is the best, but you can DIY by just draining.

[johnj.moran]

Well, I change my cool nats all the time :lol: However coolant is different.

Seriously, they do call it lifetime coolant, but there are differing opinions on this. Suggest you search and decide for your self.

As for how it's done - power flush is the best, but you can DIY by just draining.

When reading about a 996 engine failure on this site recently, one member suggested that an incorrect coolant change, done by an independent shop that lacked the pressurized system used by Porsche, could have contributed to the engine failure.

I can't find the thread and copy it here, but if you search in engine failures, the post was in the last month or so. Just passing the info on, I'm no mechanic, just an avid reader.

[RFM]

It is unnecessary to change the coolant, all you have to do is top up the expan.tank with a mix from water and the original coolant. The coolant changed from green to red approx. one year.

[gas-man]

I guess I will have to just top it. now what is the mix of the coolant and water?

[RFM]

50% water 50% ORIGINAL coolant

[eshuber]

I am of the "nothing lasts forever" camp and that includes coolant. Changing the coolant is fairly straightforward - the only tricky part is bleeding all the air out of the system. Go to the PCA website and search under "coolant" in the tech forum section for the boxster. There is a very detailed description by Scott Slausen on how to do coolant change including the bleeding process without the vacuum pump from the dealer.

[1999Porsche911]

Yes, it is absolutely necessary to periodically change the coolant. There is breakdown, acid buildup as well as debris floating around in it. 3 - 4 years.

Edited March 23, 2007 by 1999Porsche911

[GOB]

When my expansion tank decided to finally fail :censored: I took it upon myself to refill the system. The trick that the local mechanic told me was to park the car on an incline (nose down) and leave it with the coolant cap removed overnight. That should get all of the air bubbles out. Get the car on level ground to properly measure the level on the expansion tank and top off.

Just to be 100% sure, I took it for a drive the following morning (don't forget to put the cap back on!) until things got to normal operating temperature. Let it cool off for about 3 hours. Uncap the coolant tank (careful!). Left the car on the incline with cap removed again overnight. No problems ever since. :rolleyes: