Greetings, I don't post here much but I require some wisdom with a problem that may be fairly obvious...
I've done a little search for similar threads and the forums usefully displayed some threads it considered similar, but I can't find anything that directly addresses my concerns.
I have a 2009 C2S which in the past got to a point of having a very low coolant level. It was way below minimum and as a result I bought some pre-mix coolant to get the car home in a good state.
I mentioned that I had topped up the coolant at the next major service and was told that by not having the tank dranied and re-filled I would void my warranty.
So £320 later they replaced the entire coolant in the system and I got the car back. That was in June.
Today I was notified that the coolant in my car was exceptionally low by a garage I happened to drop into whilst looking at a new car. I was shocked to see that the car was again way below minimum.
The temperature sensor even reported a failure 3 times in one day because it couldn't get an accurate measurement from the liquid in the tank. However at no point did it warm me it was low.
Now this is a tough situation, if I knowingly drive around on a coolant tank way below minimum, I invalidate the warranty.
If I top it up with "non porsche approved" substances, I invalidate the warranty.
I am NOT dropping it back into a dealership to get charged another £320 for work that was done 5 months ago.
I fail to believe that the pre-mixed more expensive products out there isn't exactly what the dealerships are putting in themselves.
I guess my questions are:
Is it normal for 911 997s to lose so much coolant out of what is essentially a closed system?
If it isn't normal, does this imply I have a leak?
If I have a leak and the system was entirely drained and refilled just 5 months ago, why in heavens name did no one look for or detect a leak?
Could the garage in this case, be considered negligent for missing something obvious in a major service at an official Porsche garage?
The latter wasn't a witch hunt question, I'm just entirely miffed that I've lost 3.5 litres of coolant in 5 months yet again.
- As a PS I have put coolant back into it, I refuse to drive it around knowingly harming the car. I bought pre-mixed Mobil 1 approved stuff, the car took 3.5 litres of fluid so it was very low.
Cheers for any answers.
Paul
I can not answer why your Porsche service people did not look for a leak, when you told them you were loosing a large amount of coolant.
The proper procedure would be to pressure test your coolant system. It could be as simple as a faulty cap and as horrible as a head gasket leaking. You need to take to a mechanic that knows what he is doing. Have a proper pressure test and find out where the leak is.
You have a leak!
It could be a bad radiator, a broken hose, a failing water pump, a cracked reservoir, and last a leaky head gasket.
Ask around, especially at your local PCA for a good independent Porsche mechanic, or if another close by authorized dealer is available. :gossip: It would be nice to get some repeat answers on the good mechanic. If your car is out of warranty do not bother with the authorized dealer.
By the way Porsche equivalent coolant was Pentosin long life, I assume that is still the case.
Good luck! Do not ignore it, an overheated engine will be a lot more expensive.
Thanks for the reply.
I appreciate the advice.
I had the car recovered today on a truck back to the dealership.
It should have arrived by now. I've been insistent that they tackle the coolant problem as an extension to the major service and the drain/flush/refill work they did back in June.
The lady on the phone didn't seem terribly happy/understanding that I was telling the truth. Mostly people are very professional but I got the understanding that she thought I was lying about it being a previous problem.
Hopefully it's just an airlock or something and they can fix it easily.
My experience of being a 911 owner over the last 18 months have been somewhat problematic...
Paul
