996 TT - coolant missing?

[nmlss2006]

... I love 911s...

 

My 04 TT is now up to 69,5xx mi and has been behaving more or less as it should.

 

Yesterday, however, I got a coolant level warning from the car. Very odd.

It went away with the car warmed up (as I would expect) and once I had it cooled down again, this morning, I opened the cap to refill the circuit. Full disclosure, to the best of my knowledge this is the first time the cap has been taken off since it left Germany back on 09/2004. It is POSSIBLE, though unlikely, that the dealer futzed with it when they did the 15/30/45 kmi service. I stopped going to them after the last one.

 

It took about a quart of distilled water (!!) to get the level back to the max mark. Of course, I started looking for leaks under the car and I found none.

 

Ideas? Suggestions? 

[JFP in PA]

46 minutes ago, nmlss2006 said:

... I love 911s...

 

My 04 TT is now up to 69,5xx mi and has been behaving more or less as it should.

 

Yesterday, however, I got a coolant level warning from the car. Very odd.

It went away with the car warmed up (as I would expect) and once I had it cooled down again, this morning, I opened the cap to refill the circuit. Full disclosure, to the best of my knowledge this is the first time the cap has been taken off since it left Germany back on 09/2004. It is POSSIBLE, though unlikely, that the dealer futzed with it when they did the 15/30/45 kmi service. I stopped going to them after the last one.

 

It took about a quart of distilled water (!!) to get the level back to the max mark. Of course, I started looking for leaks under the car and I found none.

 

Ideas? Suggestions? 

 

Nice car; I would suggest monitoring the coolant level at least a few times a week to see if it moves again.  If it does drop, consider getting the coolant system pressure tested, which will allow you to look over every hose connection, etc.  These engines used cemented in coolant hose connections that are known leakers, and in fact most tracks won't let you out on the racing surface unless these fittings have either been pinned or welded to eliminate any chance of getting a system dump on the track surface.

[nmlss2006]

JFP,

thanks for your reply. I plan to keep it monitored and I was toying with the idea of replacing the coolant anyways, in my Copious Free Time. I have the usual UView vacuum setup which I have used on several other cars with some success. I wonder if it would make sense to wait and see where this issue goes before playing with that. [edit: entertainingly enough, I saw that you suggested it back in 2015. I have had it, I just deferred doing the fluids on the 911 because other cars needed my attention more - same goes for the radiators, which must look positively ludicrous by now...]

 

I have read the howtos here and elsewhere on draining/refilling and it is my understanding that refilling without a vacuum tool is wishful thinking... and even doing the job with the tool and a lift is an excellent way to broaden my vocabulary.

 

I have to say the car has been remarkably trouble free. Yes, the rear wing is doing its thing and the driverside window regulator decided to quit on me this spring (I am NOT looking forward to that one) but otherwise it's been filters and oil changes...

Edited August 2, 2019 by nmlss2006

[JFP in PA]

10 hours ago, nmlss2006 said:

JFP,

thanks for your reply. I plan to keep it monitored and I was toying with the idea of replacing the coolant anyways, in my Copious Free Time. I have the usual UView vacuum setup which I have used on several other cars with some success. I wonder if it would make sense to wait and see where this issue goes before playing with that. [edit: entertainingly enough, I saw that you suggested it back in 2015. I have had it, I just deferred doing the fluids on the 911 because other cars needed my attention more - same goes for the radiators, which must look positively ludicrous by now...]

 

I have read the howtos here and elsewhere on draining/refilling and it is my understanding that refilling without a vacuum tool is wishful thinking... and even doing the job with the tool and a lift is an excellent way to broaden my vocabulary.

 

I have to say the car has been remarkably trouble free. Yes, the rear wing is doing its thing and the driverside window regulator decided to quit on me this spring (I am NOT looking forward to that one) but otherwise it's been filters and oil changes...

 

It would make sense to be sure you don't have any leaks before replacing all the coolant.  Once everything is tight, the Uview is the way to go and is a great time saver when replacing the coolant mix.

[laalves]

I had this a few years ago, coolant slowly disappearing. Turned out to be a cracked expansion tank. Had to replace it.