Coolant explosion

[masterbm]

Uh oh.

'99 Boxster with 160K was leaking a bit of coolant for a bit, then after a trip to the grocery store, steam started shooting out from coolant reservoir in trunk, and coolant starting pouring out of underside, by passenger side R wheel.

It was like a teapot. . .

. . .but that's not tea.

I'm going to guess this is not a fix I can do myself.

Anybody want to guess what it is, so I can tell the guys at the shop?

What should I expect to pay?

Shop is 20 mins from here, with significant highway driving. Can I dump distilled H2O to limp my car down there, or do I need a tow?

Thanks as always, friends.

B

[bar10dah]

Yes, distilled water works. However, are you sure you can make it to the shop before too much coolant leaks out? You don't want to risk overheating your motor.

My guess, based on the info you provided, is the coolant reservoir is cracked. Do you have coolant under the carpet in the trunk?

http://www.pedrosgar..._Reservoir.html

Edited July 26, 2012 by bar10dah

[masterbm]

Yeah, I forgot to say that I got rid of the old coolant reservoir several years ago, after I had the standard "coolant leaks into my trunk" issue. No coolant in the trunk this time.

B

[bar10dah]

So could be the coolant expanded and is pouring out of the overflow. Or could be you have a cracked/loose hose around the area of that leak. Hard to say. Try to get under there and have a look around.

[mikefocke]

Can't there be a crack where the coolant reservoir meets the motor? Old motor mounts allowing too much movement?

For some reason, other forums this week are full of stories about how guys have cooked their engines by driving after they got warnings of coolant problems. Aluminum engines can get damaged really quickly by air bubbles in the cooling system allowing hot spots to lurk just where cooling is needed. Been there, cost me an Alfa engine. I only tried to drive the same distance. And the Boxster fix is $4 to $40k.

Have you inspected the area around the water pump?

So unless you have been able to locate the cause, fix the problem and then fill the cooling system and pressure test it and pull all the air out with a vacume pump, I'd swallow the expense and get my local flatbed to get you to the best mechanic you can find.

[masterbm]

Got it. Will tow. I'll keep everyone updated. . .

B

[M1Ark]

What was the issue? Transmission Coolant Valve?

[hucqym]

when this coolant overflow happened on my 01 boxster, it was just the reservoir cap not holding up under pressure after a long drive. Replaced with the updated part and it fixed it.

[uabchris]

Looks exactly what mine did last week...water pump failure. And noises from the pulley area? I could not locate my leak, but noticed the water pump pulley was against the housing. I pulled the belt and...pulley shaft is super loose...