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YOUR RESEARCHDistilled VS. Tap for Porsche Coolant
Leading reported evidence
Check coolant capacity
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Read evidence and context
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Your in good company...I doubled checked the coolant capacity for the 996, and it is 5.9 Gallons rather than 3.7 as I thought, based on what Porsche told me.
Leading evidence: 'Check coolant capacity' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'best approach imho' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check before you' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I forgot to use distilled water once, so I used tap water and gave my Porsche autism from the flouride
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Suspected cause · Original poster
Multiple opinions across multiple sources is probably the best approach IMHO.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Your in good company...I doubled checked the coolant capacity for the 996, and it is 5.9 Gallons rather than 3.7 as I thought, based on what Porsche told me.
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Suggestion · Original poster
It seems like a no-brainer that you would want to put the cleanest, most pure substance you could into your vehicles cooling system, but some people claim distilled is "too clean" and causes problems.
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Suggestion
Anyone else remember summers filled with mandatory pee stops to cool down whatever was overheating that day enough to get back to the farm...or is that experience uniquely east Texas?
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Suggestion · Original poster
If you are running 65% or higher coolant concentration, it will be increasingly hard for heat management and transfer to work properly, and will likely damage your engine.
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I recently picked up coolant from the local Porsche dealership for my 996 and noticed that I only had to buy 2 gallons for a full flush because it is not pre-mixed. My question is, should i mix it with distilled water, bottled water, or tap water? I was surprised to learn that there is a fair amount of controversy on this subject. It seems like a no-brainer that you would want to put the cleanest, most pure substance you could into your vehicles cooling system, but some people claim distilled is "too clean" and causes problems. Sounds unlikely, but was hoping someone out there might know more about this.
Oh geez...
One thing I have learned on this forum is that someone, somewhere, will always have an opinion that sparks controversy.
Water that is "too clean"?
That's a new one I hadn't even heard of yet.
I think I have heard somewhere that distilled water is devoid of minerals and as a result 'leaches' them from inside your engine. It makes sense when you think about it, but I can't imagine it happens to a degree that would cause any serious problems. I'd vote distilled but I'm not an expert.
Yeah, sounds really stupid on the surface. Apparently the idea is that distilled water can break up deposits that may have formed and clog passageways. Also, that it may react negatively with certain types of metals and certain types of coolant, especially coolant with phosphates. Porsche coolant is phosphate free, so I assume it should be no problem, but I just want to make sure. I've tried contacting the dealership for their recommendation, but phone hold times are always crazy there, so I have not been able to speak with them yet.
It is the pink stuff, but I confirmed that it is not pre-mixed with the parts department at Porsche. The new pink stuff in the black bottles, (not the older white bottles) is non pre-mix. At $60 a bottle I am really glad it's not pre-mixed too!
You should use the Porsche approved coolant dilution fluid. You can get it at any Porsche dealer. It runs something like $5.00 a gallon.
All seriousness aside
Use distilled water. Go to your local grocery store or Wallyworld has it for around $ 0.89 a gallon
I would buy an extra 6 gallons and do a full flush before putting back in the Porsche unicorn semen known as coolant
Use an airlift system if you can to refill, it will save you a bunch of time
Also, IIRC, the cooling system uses ~ 6 gal, so for 50/50 mix you will need another gal of coolant
FWIW - I use distilled water. A lot depends on where you live and what is your water supply. A lot of places have a lot of minerals, sulfur, iron and so on. Sometimes the tap water is too hard, or soft. Same with bottled water, could be a lot of minerals in there. Distillation takes a lot of that out. It is simple to pick up some distilled water at the grocery store and just use it in a 50/50 mix. Well, there ya go...might make me crazy but that's what I do.
Also, IIRC, the cooling system uses ~ 6 gal, so for 50/50 mix you will need another gal of coolant[/QUOTE]
I am pretty sure it's 3.7 gallons for the full flush. The manual indicates that, as did the parts dept. at Porsche. Hopefully that's not wrong.
I am pretty sure it's 3.7 gallons for the full flush. The manual indicates that, as did the parts dept. at Porsche. Hopefully that's not wrong.[/QUOTE]
I believe it is close to 6 gallons. Do a search for Ashai's "3 step coolant flush". It is simple and a time saver.....and use distilled water.
distilled water from the grocery store is ok. Deionized water is what you need to be careful about and that's only if you are not adding to something else. With a 50-50 mix your are already adding so many electrolytes that the starting water purity really doesn't matter. My main concern would be the chlorine in tap water. Bacterial growth wouldn't be a factor in the case I would imagine.
Semi-related, I stumbled across this guy's channel and can't get enough of it. Love the way he approaches problems and explains them - plus his project videos encapsulate the frustration of working on a car so well I can't help but laugh out loud from time to time. Here he discusses various types of coolant, definitely interesting.
Do You Have to Use Genuine Porsche Coolant? - YouTube
Sorry to be Chemistry nerd (but I am) , De-Ionized &/or de-minaralized water is best. Distilled is good enough.The difference is trivial. The correct type of coolant choice is better. Porsche just re-brand it. The correct generic coolant is fine if it is the same chemistry that Porsche use/currently recommend. Pedro has an article that names the brands.
Spend the money you save on a UView and some very tall jack stands perhaps??
For actual specs, start here and check SF -note Silicates issue:
http://www.pentosin.net/f_antifreeze.asp
http://www.pentosin.net/specsheets/Pentofrost_SF.pdf
@AWDGuy: I'd double and triple check before you use it. Mine is in black bottles and is 100% not pre-mixed. Hate to see you pour that straight in and mess up your ride.
distilled water is no longer distilled when you mix it so can't hurt
Always go with distilled. All tap water is not equal. Some probably won't hurt, but if you have a well with lots of minerals or bad city water it could be bad.
I guess the good old days of dumping swamp water and/or the contents of the pee jug (if on a long haul), and a raw egg (to take care of those pesky leaks) are long gone...
Anyone else remember summers filled with mandatory pee stops to cool down whatever was overheating that day enough to get back to the farm...or is that experience uniquely east Texas?
Our coolant capacity is between 5 to 6 gal if you drain ALL the coolant. It's about 2.5 gals if you just open the coolant drain plug. The Porsche spec is 22.5L (5.9 gal).
The Porsche coolant is concentrated and NOT pre-mixed. There's a mixing chart at the back of the coolant jug (1 gal jug).
1gal of coolant (00004330149) is $32 per gal from Sunset Porsche parts + shipping.
BTW, you can trust the info on RL where ppl have real experience and not by looking up numbers from some database
I used pentosin sf .. Mixed 50/50
With distilled water. Some parts stores like
O'reilly , Winchester, pep boys carry pentosin. No problems in last two years. Just make sure you get the right type (not NF for example) for Porsche .
Pentosin web site has good selector guide.
So if you need ~11 liters of the Pentosin SF @ $12/liter, or $132. So wouldn't that be more than the Porsche stuff from Sunset Porsche, 3 gallons @ $32/ gallon, or $96?
Except the guy who recommended 0W40, and the guy who insisted Porsche coolant is premixed etc., etc. Multiple opinions across multiple sources is probably the best approach IMHO.
Your in good company...I doubled checked the coolant capacity for the 996, and it is 5.9 Gallons rather than 3.7 as I thought, based on what Porsche told me. Though the dealer guys did defend themselves by saying that the only way it's taking over 4 gallons is if it is a fully pressurized flush, which they apparently do not recommend unless all hoses and clamps are being replaced. Anyway, forums like this are fantastic, because if we had not discussed the premix thing, I'd not have realized the coolant capacity mistake. Thanks for the dialogue.
Perhaps you bought something other than Porsche factory coolant then. Porsche just does not make premixed coolant. Did you do a full flush, or just add to a low reservoir? You really should confirm. If you are running 65% or higher coolant concentration, it will be increasingly hard for heat management and transfer to work properly, and will likely damage your engine.
[QUOTE=Ahsai;13480001]My policy is very simple. FACTS is the best approach
Agreed, and since facts are often in somewhat short supply on this site, I'll stick with checking multiple sources. Great website though...love the conversation.
I got through about 75 seconds before I started looking for things to slit my wrists with. Seems like an informed guy, but I can't handle the slow cadence...like he's really hung over and trying not to vomit.
