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YOUR RESEARCHCoolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Leading reported evidence
Replace coolant tank and cap, i also
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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0
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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
When I replaced my coolant tank and cap, I also replaced most of the hoses in the engine bay based on the fact that they all looked original.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Frequently discussed work
Clean engine and engine bay, taking it
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion · Original poster
After cleaning the engine and engine bay, taking it for a nice, hot drive, and letting everything cool and dry, I found coolant residue on the coolant return pipe, ordered up the replacement part, and...was too busy to do anything about it for several weeks.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
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Leading evidence: 'Replace coolant tank and cap, i also' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean engine and engine bay, taking it' (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.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
When I replaced my coolant tank and cap, I also replaced most of the hoses in the engine bay based on the fact that they all looked original.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Replace motor mounts
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I'm currently not at the car's location but I found this pic from when I replaced my motor mounts.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Clean engine and engine bay, taking it
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion · Original poster
After cleaning the engine and engine bay, taking it for a nice, hot drive, and letting everything cool and dry, I found coolant residue on the coolant return pipe, ordered up the replacement part, and...was too busy to do anything about it for several weeks.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Replace belts and hoses every 2 years
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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1
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Suggestion
I remember a time when all manufactures recommended to replace all belts and hoses every 2 years.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Frequently discussed actions (10)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Clean engine and engine bay, taking it
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
After cleaning the engine and engine bay, taking it for a nice, hot drive, and letting everything cool and dry, I found coolant residue on the coolant return pipe, ordered up the replacement part, and...was too busy to do anything about it for several weeks.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Replace hoses too � nothing more frustrating
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Figured if I was gonna drain, flush and refill the system, might as well replace all hoses too � nothing more frustrating then having to do something twice because I didn�t address all potential week points.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Replace plastic barbed splice
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
It would be a good idea ,if you don't want to replace the whole hose, to replace the plastic barbed splice with a brass splice..Using three hose clamp pliers, you can change the fitting without draning and refilling the system in about 15 min.
Coolant leak fixed: plastic fitting in coolant return pipe was cracked
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
A number of weeks ago, my 996 started dripping coolant. After cleaning the engine and engine bay, taking it for a nice, hot drive, and letting everything cool and dry, I found coolant residue on the coolant return pipe, ordered up the replacement part, and...was too busy to do anything about it for several weeks.
Last Saturday finally provided a block of time, so I swapped out the coolant return pipe, reinstalled my 200-cell cats, and took a look at the secondary air
injection pump
(it's thrown codes twice in the last year).
I'd seen remarks about the coolant return part having been updated since the original design - but I wasn't expecting to find a barbed plastic fitting stuck into the return pipe. I'm assuming heat, time, and pressure did a number on that fitting - while it wasn't completely broken (until I came along), it was brittle and cracked. Glad I didn't wait any longer.
That pipe is wonky, so I have provided a photo. The new design* eliminates the separate barbed fitting and a hose clamp - which makes the assembly less rinky-dink.
* I don't know whether the barbed fitting was part of the original design or if some hack along the way introduced that as part of another repair...
At any rate, I was already familiar with the OTHER plastic coolant fitting everyone breaks on the 996; this one was new to me.
Wasn't a hack, that was the original design, I have seen many of them crack. I had one on my own car crack. Not as common as the one near the alternator that gets cracked, the one near the alternator get knocked around a lot more during "other" work..
I would love to know if I have the original design or the update. Is the barbed part of the hose visible from below or from above with the airbox removed? I don't see it listed on any of my PO's receipts so maybe I should just add it to my cooling system shopping list. It's only $35.00 from Sonnen.
You can see it by just lifting the deck lid and removing the intake snorkle. The plastic barbed splice it about 5 inches from the coolant tank. If it has 2 clamps it is the original design.
It would be a good idea ,if you don't want to replace the whole hose, to replace the plastic barbed splice with a brass splice..Using three hose clamp pliers, you can change the fitting without draning and refilling the system in about 15 min.
I remember a time when all manufactures recommended to replace all belts and hoses every 2 years. The Technology on rubber ( and every thing else) has came a long way. Hoses nowadays last a long time..Imagine the expense if Porsche recommended or it was necessary to replace ALL hoses on a 996????
I guess I got fooled since neither of my two samples have the barbed fittings. I updated all of the hoses on my 2000 in 2017 and the 2002 got a full engine replacement in 2007. The updated one on my cars has the small male fitting molded into the hose (it is not a double ended barbed fitting). I can see that junction without removing the snorkel, although taking it out would give a clear shot at it.
Good to know indeed! Still surprising...It looks like something straight out of the Home Depot Plumbing/Irrigation dept. Any photo's of the original part? (a good one from a Porsche parts catalog?). Not that I don't believe it, I'd just be interested to see it. My car's a '99 and it's got the newer hose with the integrated T-coupling on it.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I'm currently not at the car's location but I found this pic from when I replaced my motor mounts. Clearly I have the old style. Replacement ordered!
Yeppers, mine leaked too. When I replaced my coolant tank and cap, I also replaced most of the hoses in the engine bay based on the fact that they all looked original. Figured if I was gonna drain, flush and refill the system, might as well replace all hoses too � nothing more frustrating then having to do something twice because I didn�t address all potential week points. Hoses are fairly cheap and easy to replace (particular if you pick up a hose clamp tool), all this can be found in my
maintenance thread
.
After sleeping on it, I think I might as well replace ALL of the 20 Y/O hoses. If that's the route I go, I will probably do the brass barb as a temporary fix. I would want to wait till the weather cools down before I tackle a full hose replacement project.
I'm in Monterey for Car Week, I'll decide when I get home because this is no place for weighty decisions.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
