996.1 Preventative maintenance Coolant Tank Replacement

I have a '99 996.1 . Pretty much a stock machine with the IMS already done. I am a believer in Prev Maintenance on things that are known killers (like the IMS and failure in the cooling system . What do you think is a fair price for getting this done? (No, I'm not doing it myself). Also, what else should I have done while they are in there? I'm thinking water pump and all of the hoses. Anything else? Thanks for your answers? Hack

AOS?

A fair price is not going to seem like a very fare price if the job is done correctly. There are many threads on the subject of coolant tank replacement. Expect to be charged around $600 just for the part if it's Genuine Porsche. If they tell you to go with OEM or third-party, just say no.

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When I did my tank I also replaced the water pump & bolts, thermostat, coolant hoses, drive belt, engine mounts, & O2 sensors. Flushed and filled with new coolant as well. These are all easy to access/replace when you are doing the tank. While you have the system drained, check the AOS coolant lines & plastic connectors as they get brittle and can suddenly dump all your coolant. You can replace the connectors with metal upgrades to prevent future failures. https://www.rauchandspiegel.com/prod...oil-separator/

Air/Oil Seperator

The coolant tank isn't catastrophic; I wouldn't replace it until it needs replacing; it's an issue I would wait to address until it leaks, or the clutch starts slipping, or your AOS gives up. How many miles are on your '99? How many do you plan to put on it? If you have the budget to just chuck money at the car, there are plenty of things that COULD be worth replacing if you're going to send it to a garage w/ a duffel bag full of cash. Here's a (probably very short) list of stuff I can remember replacing on my '99 C4 - with the caveat that it's got over 100K miles and I've been beating on it like an ugly orphan for 75K+ of those miles. Water pump AOS Alternator Starter motor Coil packs Idler pulleys The stupid plastic coolant barb fitting Clutch Dual-mass flywheel Coolant hose assembly (the funky one with the appendix pipe) Fuel pump Window regulators Secondary air injection pump Ignition switch (twice, and about ready for #3) MAF sensor (several) Clockspring mechanism (in the steering wheel) Clutch pedal switch Brake pedal switch On the to-do list currently: My turn-signal stalk will soon need replacing and the Litronic wiring insulation in the fender wells is crumbling and needs attention. The PSM and ABS lights come on when I have my headlights on, due either to the Litronic wiring issue or a resistor pack problem with my LED tail lights. The right (pass) side cooling fan has a failing bearing, so it makes unhappy moaning noises from time to time. The rotors are getting a little lippy, so they're probably due for replacement...so that will be pads and fluid as well. In my (unsolicited) opinion, you are better off having saving your money to fix the stuff that actually breaks - it's nearly impossible to PM a really complicated machine with a great-many aging parts (some of which are plastic and have become brittle). Each part has its own MTBF - for example, some 996 starters seem to last forever but I'm on my third. If you're trying for a concours-winning 996, it might make sense to replace everything to make it showroom-new. If yours is a driver and not a garage queen, spending your money on things that actually break instead of trying to anticipate what might break may make more sense.

How many miles? Do you have a list of items already serviced? I mean at this point I could say, "Do your suspension" but I wouldn't know the current condition or the last time it was serviced. That'll help us determine what's left to do.

I agree, the coolant tank can leak, but probably won�t cause a catastrophic issue. Water pump can though. I�m a fan on not replacing items until they break, as long as it doesn�t cause a major issue. But if you�re going to do the tank anyway, do the UAOS as well and new water pump and t/stat. My coolant hose all look great. It�s not true that rubber wears out over time. It has to do with how the rubber was treated. Age is a factor, but condition and exposure is more of an issue, IMO.

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This is true, the rubber used in modern hoses is MUCH superior to the rubber used in the 70's-80's.. I remember when all car manufacturers recommended to change all coolant hoses every 2 years...Of course back then all it took was 2 radiator hoses a short by-pass hose and 8ft of 5/8 heater hose to replace every single rubber coolant hose on the car.... The 996 has about 22 custom molded individual hoses and some are quite difficult to replace.. Sally is 23 years old and 190K miles and even went through an intermix at 100K when I bought her 17 years ago, and all hoses are still original in good shape save the one off the oil pump console is starting to show it's age.... Of course everyone has their own "plan" as to how to maintain their car and what they think is important...

I do believe in preventive maintenance. And it is defined as "replacing and servicing those items before they break during regular enjoyment of the car." If you want to prevent failure in the cooling system for a 23 years old 996, replace: water pump (Buy a Pierburg pump) thermostat (with housing) coolant tank (pay for the Porsche one) coolant tank cap that stupid plastic barb fitting at the front of the engine right above the idler pulley (get a metal one) the small right angle hose off the oil pump console underneath the engine, right hand side, toward the rear of the car. the funny multi headed hose from the thermostat going up to the top of the engine the two right angle hoses under the car, toward the middle of the car, right of the gearbox any of the squeeze and remove quick connect hose clamps that you touch. Replace them with worm type hose clamps. One in ten will lose their tension and leak under pressure. Don't let that be the one on your car. The rest of the hoses, you can wait until there is a reason to drop the engine. With 99 996, there is going to be a reason soon. That list above is probably $2000 from a good mechanic. Unless he adds the three roller pulleys and a new belt, then it's $2500. While my wife's Lexus never needed any hose replacement during its 200K mile journey with us, my daughter's Audi (130K miles) radiator hoses died spectacularly at the Costco parking lot resulting in a tow and $600 repair. I don't believe in German hoses anymore. They get replaced at regular intervals.

I currently have 83K miles on the car