996 using loads of water

[Thunderfoot]

In the last two days my 3.4 996 has used 3 litres of water! The temp warning light is flashing every two minutes! Luckily the car is still under waranty so will call my OPC asap.
Thought I'd seek some advice opinions on here first, any ideas??

[340ragtop]

if there's no obvious leak or steam you need to check your oil to see if it looks like mayonnaise...and stop driving it!

[Thunderfoot]

340ragtop said:

if there's no obvious leak or steam you need to check your oil to see if it looks like mayonnaise...and stop driving it!

Thanks for the advice.
Just checked the oil, still looks clear on the dipstick and no trace on the oil filler cap. No obvious leaks and no steam!

[MarkoTVR]

Not really familiar with the Porker lump, but could it be a hose with a very small split somewhere that only opens when the system is under pressure, e.g. at correct running temp?

[BliarOut]

Does anyone else's use water as a rule? Mine seems to displace about a cupful after a hard drive.

I don't think it's leaking, I think it may be coming out of the breather tube. First time I noticed it was yesterday and it was dripping down the exhaust from somewhere above. Left hand side, near the header tank. Too hot to have a good delve, but water stains make me think this breather might be plausible?

The little pressure relief valve was up when I had a look, so there's possibly a little pressure in there, but I don't want to think about that right now

It only seems to happen after hard use.

[Thunderfoot]

Like a doughnut I was looking at the back for a leak and missed the bloody great pool of water at the front of the car . It's now at my OPC waiting to be looked at.

[Vesuvius996]

Bad luck. Let us know what happens with the warranty.

My experience is that it's bulletproof. If not then email me off board and I will assist with pleasure

Sure my help won't be needed though..............

>> Edited by Vesuvius996 on Sunday 16th October 18:59

[BliarOut]

Ahem

BliarOut said:

Does anyone else's use water as a rule? Mine seems to displace about a cupful after a hard drive. It only seems to happen after hard use.

[DanH]

BliarOut said:

Ahem BliarOut said: Does anyone else's use water as a rule? Mine seems to displace about a cupful after a hard drive. It only seems to happen after hard use.

Does it continue to get lower after it has done this once and you don't top up? You may just be constantly over filling so it gets blown out.

[BliarOut]

Doesn't seem to, it seems to spit it out to about two mm below the minumum and then it's happy I topped it up once with distilled water and it was fine, but then it did the same trick and I caught it doing it.

I think I'll leave it fractionally low so I can monitor it, as I don't want to do the old distilled water too much until I get some proper coolant.

I don't *think* compression is getting in there as that would push it out constantly.

Any thoughts? I can have a compression test done when it's in for service to be on the safe side.

Are there any blow off valves that could be weak? I'm looking for something on the near side above the exhaust.

[DanH]

If its 2mm below the level I wouldn't worry, its probably just expanding when hot. If it continues to use coolant then you might want to investigate.

[spenny_b]

Thunderfoot said:

Like a doughnut I was looking at the back for a leak and missed the bloody great pool of water at the front of the car . It's now at my OPC waiting to be looked at.

Guarantee it's one of the rads thats rotted with some sitting leaf debris over the years. Try and convince them that if one has gone, then the second won't be far behind (unless they replace both by default, of course)....also get them to check the header tank in the engine bay, the early ones are prone to cracking. Later design change has rectified fault

[BliarOut]

Interesting.... A header tank that may leak under pressure?

[340ragtop]

yup - probably a rotted rad or a split / loose hose to the rad.

The aircon condensors and rads get that whole leaf / bird / crap / compost shitty experience in a big way on the 996.

Has the design of the front scoop / rads altered on the 997 considerably?

cheers

[cyrus1971]

Don't want to panic you but this sounds exactly like what my friend had on his year 2000 996C2 and he thought it was a faulty gauge. His car over heated and he broke down on Piccadilly circus. OPC fixed it and of course route cause was the problem that affect some Porsche 3.2 and 3.4 engine units. Think it’s called a RMS but not positive in his case.

[BliarOut]

I don't think the RMS is anywhere near the water jacket. I would take that one with a pinch of salt

[parmars]

Had my 996 C2 98 in at OPC for a major service and they found a leak in the header tank. Cost £600+VAT. Plus they replaced a hose. Something that needs looking and fixed ASAP. Good luck.

[vpr]

Mine's losing water too.

After sitting traffic I can see steam rising from the front near side rad.

I left a message over a week ago with my local OPC on there crap voice mail.........still waiting for a call back.

[gfreeman]

Two vunerable points on the 996 water system....

Radiators are protected neatly behind the ac coils which get battered to bits by crud/leaves/stones.

If you are doing nothing one saturday morning whip the front off (dead easy) and slacken off the ac coils. It will look like John Innes No. 2 in there... How they in fact last so long is surprising....

Second is the little header tank that is prone to split on early models. The material is stiff enough to resist the split opening up under most normal use and will leak a marginal amount under pressure. Give it a bit of welly and get it nice and hot it will open up and spit a bit out - usually within 5 mins of stopping.

Stick your head under the lid and take a big sniff - it may whiff a bit of antifreeze. If it doesn't it smells great anyway, doesn't she?? heh heh.....

>> Edited by gfreeman on Monday 17th October 13:08

[BliarOut]

gfreeman said:

Second is the little header tank that is prone to split on early models. The material is stiff enough to resist the split opening up under most normal use and will leak a marginal amount under pressure. Give it a bit of welly and get it nice and hot it will open up and spit a bit out - usually within 5 mins of stopping. Stick your head under the lid and take a big sniff - it may whiff a bit of antifreeze. If it doesn't it smells great anyway, doesn't she?? heh heh..... >> Edited by gfreeman on Monday 17th October 13:08

That'll be what's happening on mine.... It looks tighter than a gnatts chuff to get to