Clean out those radiators.
Discussion
...While the wheels are away having a refurb, I thought I would clean out the radiators on my
2004 Boxster Anniversary. I had originally removed thre big hand fulls of leaves from either
side, I was hoping that would be enough, but when I inspected with a torch, there was still
alot of muck in the area of the radiators. So, off the bumper came.....
and this was found....
My car has done just 30,000 miles, I was a little shocked how much muck there was around
the radiators. I am sure this is not going to help cooling as well as give probles with
corrosion issues at a later date.
So, I cleaned them with some de-greasing agent and turned on the jet wash to low pressure
and ended up with this....
All that is left was to refit the radiator pods and the front bumper. Total time for the
whole job was just under 1.5 hours as well as satisfaction of a good job done.
2004 Boxster Anniversary. I had originally removed thre big hand fulls of leaves from either
side, I was hoping that would be enough, but when I inspected with a torch, there was still
alot of muck in the area of the radiators. So, off the bumper came.....
and this was found....
My car has done just 30,000 miles, I was a little shocked how much muck there was around
the radiators. I am sure this is not going to help cooling as well as give probles with
corrosion issues at a later date.
So, I cleaned them with some de-greasing agent and turned on the jet wash to low pressure
and ended up with this....
All that is left was to refit the radiator pods and the front bumper. Total time for the
whole job was just under 1.5 hours as well as satisfaction of a good job done.
mr pg said:
Did my 996T recently, and put mesh grilles on. Only way to stop regular bumper removal to get all the stuff a hoover can't reach. Just check latest GT3's, and other manufacturers. They have mesh.
The mesh will give you a false sense of security as it can't be fine enough to prevent all stuff from entering that area and collecting. The stuff that does enter will be finer and compact and work its corrosion damage while you peer in every once in a while and pat yourself on the back because you do not see big collections of leaves and other stuff.But don't worry: You'll still get a chance to clean these out when you're in there replacing the radiator or condenser.
Oh, and watch the temp gage. If you're driving along the mesh can trap a plastic bag or newspaper and this will block air flow through that radiator duct. There is enough spare cooling that in most cases everything will be alright but if it is a warm day and the A/C is on you may wonder why it is not working as good as it usually does.
Sure the trash will fall off when you park the car and shut off the engine but some drivers can drive 100 even 200 or more miles once on the road.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
Mesh is great, cut a small hole in the bottom corner of air guide by rad and you don't have the problem Rockster describes above. Also the mesh stops large solid debri entering the vent and damaging the rad directly. There was a big discussion about air flow reduction on 6speed quite sometime ago also with no solid evidence either way.
Edited by s_mcneil on Sunday 21st October 21:40
Edited by s_mcneil on Sunday 21st October 21:44
Rockster said:
The mesh will give you a false sense of security......................................................................
Oh, and watch the temp gage. If you're driving along the mesh can trap a plastic bag or newspaper and this will block air flow through that radiator duct. There is enough spare cooling that in most cases everything will be alright but if it is a warm day and the A/C is on you may wonder why it is not working as good as it usually does.
Sure the trash will fall off when you park the car and shut off the engine but some drivers can drive 100 even 200 or more miles once on the road.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
So whats to stop bags and newspapers going in the radiator duct and blocking the radiator directly if no mesh is fitted? Oh, and watch the temp gage. If you're driving along the mesh can trap a plastic bag or newspaper and this will block air flow through that radiator duct. There is enough spare cooling that in most cases everything will be alright but if it is a warm day and the A/C is on you may wonder why it is not working as good as it usually does.
Sure the trash will fall off when you park the car and shut off the engine but some drivers can drive 100 even 200 or more miles once on the road.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
I have found the mesh not only stops leaves creating a compost heap, but more importantly, stops stones from puncturing the rads and/or air con condensers. I see no down side.
+1 As already stated making a drain hole at the bottom of the radiator shroud also allows the detritus to drop out of the bottom.
Fitted mesh to my 2001 986, no problems with overheating but kept leaves and debris out particularly if on a country road behind a lorry this time of year, as leaves etc. get forced into front section. Also week after I fitted mine, neighbour with 986 had stone through his radiator which had to be replaced at some expense. My 981 has even larger vents at front and deliberating next move. Perhaps stay in garage until spring!
Now you know why Porsche is so rich, it's parts are now of a low quality. Other cars have front mounted rads and they don't fall apart. Time for one of the specialist rad manufacturers in the uk, funnily enough of which there are more than anywhere probably in the world, to make a set of ally aftermarket rads and condensers for sale.
Gents.
This is all very interesting stuff. However, these are my personal thoughts
on the matter.
I think personally the grills spoil the look of the front of the car. As
i only cover about three of four thousand miles per year, I will have to think about bumper removal every two years or so.
After reading threads on here, now the radiators are clear, the next item of
'preventitive maintainance' is to change the coolant reservoir cap. Mine is
part number 996.106.447.01 and I understand the part has been improved and now carries part number 996.106.447.04
I hope this will make the cooling system as reliable as possibe (bar the unforseen impact damage to radiators)
But like i say, these are only my thoughts and I am sure someone with more
knowledge will be along shortly to correct me!
This is all very interesting stuff. However, these are my personal thoughts
on the matter.
I think personally the grills spoil the look of the front of the car. As
i only cover about three of four thousand miles per year, I will have to think about bumper removal every two years or so.
After reading threads on here, now the radiators are clear, the next item of
'preventitive maintainance' is to change the coolant reservoir cap. Mine is
part number 996.106.447.01 and I understand the part has been improved and now carries part number 996.106.447.04
I hope this will make the cooling system as reliable as possibe (bar the unforseen impact damage to radiators)
But like i say, these are only my thoughts and I am sure someone with more
knowledge will be along shortly to correct me!
FarQue said:
Found a dead bird in the front of the 997 the other day, compressed onto the middle rad.
Must be something in the air, I had a bird strike in the turbo on Sunday, somehow though it managed to stick part of its body through the n/s grill without damaging it at all but put a small hole and a crack in the plastic cowling in front of the radiator. Luckily it doesn't appear to have damaged the rad! Oh well another job to add to the Winter maintenance list. EvoSlayer said:
FarQue said:
Found a dead bird in the front of the 997 the other day, compressed onto the middle rad.
Must be something in the air, I had a bird strike in the turbo on Sunday, somehow though it managed to stick part of its body through the n/s grill without damaging it at all but put a small hole and a crack in the plastic cowling in front of the radiator. Luckily it doesn't appear to have damaged the rad! Oh well another job to add to the Winter maintenance list. Crimp a Length! said:
EvoSlayer said:
FarQue said:
Found a dead bird in the front of the 997 the other day, compressed onto the middle rad.
Must be something in the air, I had a bird strike in the turbo on Sunday, somehow though it managed to stick part of its body through the n/s grill without damaging it at all but put a small hole and a crack in the plastic cowling in front of the radiator. Luckily it doesn't appear to have damaged the rad! Oh well another job to add to the Winter maintenance list. 
EvoSlayer said:
Crimp a Length! said:
EvoSlayer said:
FarQue said:
Found a dead bird in the front of the 997 the other day, compressed onto the middle rad.
Must be something in the air, I had a bird strike in the turbo on Sunday, somehow though it managed to stick part of its body through the n/s grill without damaging it at all but put a small hole and a crack in the plastic cowling in front of the radiator. Luckily it doesn't appear to have damaged the rad! Oh well another job to add to the Winter maintenance list. 
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