RMS Panic

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Discussion

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Just went to get in to my car and it was sitting in a pool of liquid. I instantly thought RMS , but was a bit confused when I checked my oil level and it was perfect. Also oil is black now on dipstick and liquid on floor was clear and a bit greasy. Anyway I decide to drive to local Porsche garage (which was shut) , on the way my temperature light starts flashing so I stop and check the hand book as I have no idea what this meant. Seems I had low coolant level, so I let car cool down and turned heating right up to take some heat off engine. Light never came on again but my level is too low and I can't get the damn cap off to fill it up. So pool is probably coolant although its greasy to me, clear and greasy. How do I tell , taste it? Anyway I will call the Porsche dealer tomorrow to take a look, hopefully it is just a split hose or could it be something bigger?

thanks

Lurking Lawyer

4,534 posts

226 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Oil isn't necessarily black, Jamie. It's only like that when its old. It's more like goldy-brown when it's new.

Still, from what you say, it does sound like it's coolant rather than oil.

welshnobby

1,201 posts

244 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
...an rms failing isn't likely to give a sudden pool of liquid, it is more of a gradually worsening drip. Sounds like a split coolant line.

baptistsan

1,839 posts

211 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Hope you're warrantied mate!

Sorry to hear it, best not let them know over on S2ki though

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
baptistsan said:
Hope you're warrantied mate!

Sorry to hear it, best not let them know over on S2ki though


Yes def warrantied. I reckon it's a hose but I will take to the OPC in Bournemouth for them to check.

fieldl

1,320 posts

232 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Is the leak at the front or rear of the car ?
How much liquid is left in the tank in the rear, how low is it ? Can you see coolant anywhere in the engine bay ?
Or can you smell coolant when you get out of the car.
There is a known issue with the cap and maybe yours hasn't been changed to a new design. Alternatively the tank is knackered again a known issue albeit sometimes not covered by warranty. Could just be a hose come loose.

If the leak is from the front of the car it could well be the radiator(s), mine needed both radiators replacing.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
fieldl said:
Is the leak at the front or rear of the car ?
How much liquid is left in the tank in the rear, how low is it ? Can you see coolant anywhere in the engine bay ?
Or can you smell coolant when you get out of the car.
There is a known issue with the cap and maybe yours hasn't been changed to a new design. Alternatively the tank is knackered again a known issue albeit sometimes not covered by warranty. Could just be a hose come loose.

If the leak is from the front of the car it could well be the radiator(s), mine needed both radiators replacing.


Its at the back , I can't get the cap off so I can't see if cap is faulty. Its low though so maybe its a hose or split tank like you say

fieldl

1,320 posts

232 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Worst case split tank then. How much coolant is in it ?
If it is really low, is it worth getting Porsche Assist to recover to the dealers especially if you can't get the cap off to top up temporarily.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
fieldl said:
Worst case split tank then. How much coolant is in it ?
If it is really low, is it worth getting Porsche Assist to recover to the dealers especially if you can't get the cap off to top up temporarily.



Its about an inch lower than lowest position

fieldl

1,320 posts

232 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Give the warning has flashed already. I'd call Porsche Assist and see what they recommend, but I'm paranoid.

911_OMG

104 posts

208 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
If it's clear(ish) and slightly greasy to the touch then it's coolant.

997gt3

3,135 posts

215 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Have a taste - it should taste like red bull silly

ballcock

3,855 posts

220 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Woogie, I'd second the opinion that you should get it flat-bedded rather than drive it .. It definitely sounds like a split header tank or a cracked coolant pipe . If you can't get the cap off to replace coolant then don't drive it . The last thing you want is to overheat the engine..
Also the fact that the cap is stuck might be the reason the coolant system over-pressured.

Split coolant headers are a known weak spot. You might want to consider going to an indie with this one as I don't think Porsche will cover the header under warranty.

fieldl

1,320 posts

232 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
He only bought the car what 4-5 months ago. They might sort it out.....
You know out of the goodness of their hearts

ragtop

919 posts

246 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Greasy and yellowy / clear is coolant, air con oil or worse still could be brake fluid. As it's at the back, its unlikely to be aircon oil, but not impossible.

Don't taste it as both brake fluid and coolant are toxic.

Use a torch and try and find the source - also check your brake fluid to be safe.

Most probably a header tank leak IMHO.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
ragtop said:
Greasy and yellowy / clear is coolant, air con oil or worse still could be brake fluid. As it's at the back, its unlikely to be aircon oil, but not impossible.

Don't taste it as both brake fluid and coolant are toxic.

Use a torch and try and find the source - also check your brake fluid to be safe.

Most probably a header tank leak IMHO.



Yes I reckon coolant as my coolant level has dropped and my warning light came on too

benaldo

393 posts

228 months

Sunday 28th January 2007
quotequote all
Same thing happened on mine (cracked coolant tank) and it was ok to drive as long as you keep an eye on the coolant level. It depends on where it is cracked. Unfortunately it is not covered by the warranty and is probably worth getting fixed by an indy. I believe the fixed labor time is something daft like 3 hrs at an OPC although mine was done by an indy in about an hour. I think the actual header tank was about £100 ?

Good luck with trying at the garage if you bought it recently.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Monday 29th January 2007
quotequote all
just got the cap off, it needed 3 litres of water to top it up . I am off to a Porsche indy 2 miles up the road (John Mitchell) tomorrow so i should make it there ok.

BliarOut

72,857 posts

240 months

Tuesday 30th January 2007
quotequote all
996 about six years old? I'll bet a pound to a penny the header tank has split. It's a very common problem on the 996 and when they replace the tank they usually fit an improved cap at the same time. All in about £200 at an indie.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

253 months

Tuesday 30th January 2007
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
996 about six years old? I'll bet a pound to a penny the header tank has split. It's a very common problem on the 996 and when they replace the tank they usually fit an improved cap at the same time. All in about £200 at an indie.



bet your wrong lol