How do you check coolant level?

Ok, I'll probably get the most obvious answer ten seconds after I post this, but I searched 'coolant', 'level', 'check', and a few others and didn't find an answer. The manual says open the hatch and open the little flap and look at the coolant level and all I see are the filler necks and caps for the oil and coolant. My Boxster (987) was straight forward, it didn't have the little cover and such and I could plainly see the side of the reservoir with its markings. Am I supposed to pull the 'spill flap' around the filler necks up?? Do I bring it for an MRI, radiograph, neutron bombardment, eat Bazooka Joe and send for those x-ray glasses - or do I just wait for the first friendly CC'er to say, 'hey, stupid.......'. I am humble and am grateful for the answer that I shall receive!

Before checking the coolant level, ensure that your car is parked on a level surface and that the engine is cold. if you've been driving the car it can take several hours for the engine to cool down. Then follow this procedure: 1. Open the flap in the rear hatch (the flap where the coolant and oil filler necks are located) 2. Unscrew the coolant filler cap (the blue one) 3. Using a torch, peer into the coolant filler resevoir - you will see a yellow gauge with markings for Min and Max. The coolant, a pink liquid, should fall between these markings. 4. If it does not show at all or is below the Min level, purchase a litre or two of Porsche Coolant (it'll cost a lot!) and top up slowly until the coolant level is between the Min and Max marks. 5. Replace coolant filler cap tightly.

i just added coolant--my reading was at the minimum--it took about 24 oz 's which brought it up just under the maximun level

Thank you! No wonder I couldn't see anything from the outside.... And by 'torch', I assume you mean a North American flashlight! I was just about to get the oxy-acetylene out!

GTS, no worries, I couldn't figure it out either So I ended up having a Porsche mechanic come out and show me. Then I felt like an idiot. You do need on of those small 2 AA penlight flashlights (Or I suppose a bigger one will do) and peer into the thing marked coolent. There are two discs in there. With the flashlight, you can see how car its filled up. If you see no coolant, then its time to buy some If its between the min and max discs, your fine.

Porshe sell "cute'ish" torches that can be plugged into the cigarette socket. The small version apparrently plugs into the socket under the armrest. Not sute if its a good idea to leave it there charging as it may run the car battery down. Anyone here use the Porshe flashlight? Is it any good?

Although it's a bit heavy, I've got the Porsche LED rechargeable flashlight attached to my key. Quite powerful for its size & it won't run down the battery if left plugged into the center console lighter socket.

Good you said I could use a flashlight! The Revolutionary War Memorabilia store is on the other side of town.

"Using a torch, peer into the coolant filler resevoir" I tried that torch bit and ended up with a bunch of ashes staining my carpet and I burned up the lining on the inside of the hatch.

I looked at my coolant level and it was much lower than the min level mark. I then looked in the engine compartment coolant tank and it was a little low but I have had no issues with temperature. I plan to fill to the appropriate level. Any idea how the coolant flows from the outer tank to the engine compartment tank? Also is it at all a good idea to fill the engine compartment tank first then the outer tank? Thanks for the help.

Thanks for this thread. Noticed my coolant was low as well and was not quite sure how to check the coolant. I mean, I know the there was a Min and Max, but I didn't see my coolant anywhere between that. Going to order some coolat at Suncoast now.

Best to fill it through the neck in the hatch - put a towel or something else down on the carpet under the hatch to catch any spills. brad

I have topped mine off with distilled water. In 3 years, I have added about 8-12 ounces. That's what the dealership usually adds too.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I also order the Porsche Antifreeze from Suncoast $22.95 for a gallon. It really did not take much maybe 10 oz (5oz coolant, 5 oz distilled water) to bring it to the max location. I only added fluid to the filler neck location. One item that surprised me was that it was still pressurized after sitting in the garage for just over 5 hrs. I only cracked the cap first so no water got in the interior. I will check the coolant level again tomorrow after another drive to ensure it is still correct. I have my DE event this weekend. Any experience with coolant level or checks during track use?

You shouldn't see any change in coolant level at all. I had to top my '07 CS coolant off shortly after taking delivery and it's not moved since, with 12500 miles, numerous track days and autocrosses.

After reading this thread, I checked and added 24oz of distilled water to my 2K mile '08 Cayman S to bring the level right up to the full disk (car sitting level, stone cold as not driven since previous day). Dave

That's about what my '08 took. I'm guessing that's about the volume of air Porsche doesn't manage to purge in the vacuum fill. If you keep using a bit check the blue pressure cap under the engine cover. Mine was slightly loose. Had a little whiteish dried coolant around it.

So I had the "Check Coolant" light come on for the first time in 6.5 years of owning my Cayman . It was 3c outside (almost freezing for you Americans) and I thought, well I'll just keep an eye on the temperature gauge to make sure I don't get too hot, and in the time I was thinking this it just went out on it's own and all returned to normal. Weird. Hasn't come on since. Question, coolant is just cooling things down, it's not lubricating anything like oil. So as long as the engine doesn't go past the too hot mark, would you even theoretically need coolant? Like, let's say it was -80c out, would you need coolant?

Ha, interesting question. I suppose there can be situations where you may not need coolant, but it would have to be a very specific situation. Maybe really, really cold air blasting the engine bay constantly, for example... Remember, air-cooled engines (technically oil-cooled) didn't have coolant but they did have a fan, totally different layout, much larger oil cooler, etc. Also, your temp gauge (water/coolant gauge) is not very accurate and will read dead-center normal up to 220 F or so, i.e. all may not necessarily be well even if the gauge is reading "normal". Back to your situation: I'd definitely check the coolant level after the car has been sitting overnight. IIRC, the coolant light comes on if the engine overheats, but there can be many possibilities. Low coolant, bad water pump, thermostat, temp sensor, etc. Good luck.

Love this forum. I got a 2006 a few weeks ago, and have been doing a little fussing and some bad stories reading, but nothing is perfect or all bad. So far the car runs very well.

Just took a look into the filling hole. Mine doesn't have this plastic insert with min and max markings. Just a black tube with a "guides" for this insert. Any idea where to get this insert?

The PET does not show that as a separate part. My car is hot so I can't check, but someone could measure the depth of the two flags and you could just go by that.