Rad smell

[klm]

Guys, when I'm at a stand still or sit for a while I can smell like the radiator fluid as if the rad hose or something has come off and you can smell that water smell. Any ideas?, the water was a little low but the temp gauge sits ok, I have noticed when I stop though the windscreen mists up on both corners near the dash,(when parked and left for a while) I'm lost really as Porsche is new to me!!

[rich 36]

Not a wet carpet somewhere is it by any chance

[klm]

No, I've had this, it's the smell you get from the hot rad when its burst, you can smell the antifreeze.

[BliarOut]

Could it be a leaky heater matrix?

[rich 36]

Which is where I was going with the wet flooring, still he points out the coolant type smell.

We had that similar misting up scenario on here, just the other week, can't now recall the model,
although suspect watercooled, narrowed it down to the door drains being a bit blocked I think

[BliarOut]

And throw in the coolant smell, the most likely scenario is a problem with the heating system on the passenger side of the bulkhead. Ah, wet carpets, I see where you were going now. You were tracking it

[rich 36]

Well i've has this before,
but given the peculiarity, of Porsche's and what happens when the rain gets in,
seemed a good as any place to start.

[klm]

Just can't work it out, sitting talking to a mate with engine running for about 5 mins and you get a real strong smell of Coolant but nothing wet on the ground, although it has used about 1/2 litre in two weeks.

[BliarOut]

Coolant mist? Could be a fine hole in the matrix?

[the don]

Is there any indication of a 'clean area'
on or around the engine, to indicate an escape of coolant, which is then evaporating quickly, leaving little trace of a leak.

In the past, a tiny hole on the core of another cars radiator, has sprayed a tiny jet of coolant into the fan, which dissipated the leak at once, causing similar symptoms,
that aside a leak test done at OPC or a specialist coolant place would be the way to go,
i'd think.
still, let us know.

[klm]

Thanks for the replies, but I topped the car up yesterday morning and today it was on low again, called Porsche who sent Rac out and we noticed that the water seems to be coming from the filler cap area as water is around the top of the water chamber and not sprayed up, it looks like it is getting through the caps rubber seal and then being forced back down and through a drain hole.
They are transporting the car to the dealer in the morning to sort it out, so I will let you know the out come.

[dogsharks]

Very relevant thread for wasserpumpers.

www.network54.com/Forum/426130/message/1128513671

Dogsharks

[klm]

Think I know what is wrong, the cap has a rubber seal. this looks like it has been pushed too far up the cap, hence not sealing, just waiting for Porsche to confirm this.