16 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHWater pump
Leading reported evidence
Check everywhere
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Have checked everywhere for the source of a antifreeze odor that only seems to occur after running for 20 min of so.
Leading evidence: 'Check everywhere' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'coolant tank' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check area around the water pump' (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.
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Discussions that suspect a cause
1
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Suspected cause
As other rennlist posters will probably advise you, the source of the coolant odor you mentioned is most likely the coolant tank.
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
1
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Suggestion
Have you checked the area around the water pump for any coolant traces or "water spots"?
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
Get the car in the air and carefully inspect the water pump for signs of a coolant leak.
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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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
If you think your water pump is leaking replace your coolant tank.
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If it is leaking, and it probably is (I say this after reading you have replaced the coolant tank and the cap), replace it with whatever the dealer's parts manager shoves over the parts counter at you.
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.
16 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.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T084359Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I believe that the water pump in my 04 66k mile 996 May be leaking. Have checked everywhere for the source of a antifreeze odor that only seems to occur after running for 20 min of so. Couple questions
1. Metal or plastic impellers
2. Brand.
I am a firm believer when you replace a part replace it with the best there is. Recommendations?
In 02/13, I replaced my '99 996's water pump as a "peace of mind" action. I still have the original pump with its plastic impeller, and the replacement pump was another OEM unit w/plastic impeller.
The old pump still looks like new and shows no signs of impeller wear or seal leakage.
As other rennlist posters will probably advise you, the source of the coolant odor you mentioned is most likely the coolant tank.
relinuca
plastic impellers
OEM water pump
you do not want the metal impellers, because when the pump fails you do not want metal impellers scoring the inside of your engine.
So after reading the above replies to your question the consensus is:
1. If you think your water pump is leaking replace your coolant tank.
2. OE or OE type with plastic impeller is best.
Get the car in the air and carefully inspect the water pump for signs of a coolant leak.
If it is leaking, and it probably is (I say this after reading you have replaced the coolant tank and the cap), replace it with whatever the dealer's parts manager shoves over the parts counter at you.
My 2002 Boxster's factory water pump lasted 172K miles and its replacement is ok at 288K miles.
My 2003 Turbo's water lasted nearly 125K miles.
Neither water pump showed any signs of impeller problems. The Boxster's water pump was noisy. For the Turbo, it was a strong odor of anti-freeze that clued me in the water pump might be leaking and I got the car over to the dealer and on the lift pronto and sure enough there was a blob of dried anti-freeze residue behind the pulley.
Might mention both replacement water pumps had the same impeller material as the original water pumps.
Rgardless if the leak is from the water pump, a prematurely bad coolant tank or cap, or some other place, you need to get the source of the leak id'd and addressed and ASAP.
My AOS went right about the same mileage you have on my 04. It was a little tougher to diagnose since it only started to spray out of it when it was hot, the coolant was all over around the back side of the motor by the drivers side rear wheel. As far as water pump, I did that a few miles after, but I did a metal impeller pump, so I dont ever have to worry about plastic coming apart in there again as it did with the first one. I have been working on cars (and airplanes) for a pretty long time, and I have never ever seen another pump with a plastic impeller on any other car before (I am sure there have to more out there). If its the water pump though there will be no question of where its coming from, the coolant will be coming out the bottom of the pump on the front of the motor.
When I DIY'd my pump early summer this year at 70000 miles, I tried for an After Market pump approx $250 but out of stock everywhere. I went for the Porsche Original at $400 along with low temp Thermostat. No loss of coolant since after 3000 miles. The old one would leave an egg cup of water on the garage floor directly under the pump after a cold start and also as it cooled down after a run. The water was coming from behind the water pump pulley. I didn't notice if the new or old pump had metal fins or not. It was Porsche Original. Anything good enough for PORSCHE, is good enough for ME. (How is that for advertising ?) LOL
