In preparation of replacing the coolant pipes

[JRBLACKBOX]

I am changing out my pipes due to a slow loss of coolant over time. I have an 04 CS, I have 2 questions. First, will I be able to remove all the coolant via the drain plug on the radiator? Second, how much coolant is needed and is it a mixture or straight coolant? Thanks

[mihaipopa]

You will only remove some of the coolant in the system via the drain plug. 1 gallon undilluted coolant (go w porsche, pink one) mixed w 1 gallon distilled water is sufficient for the pipes job. Get a coolant tester and check the concentration, after you finish the job and run the new coolant through the system. After it cools off, of course.

[jamiepstewart]

Having done this job in an 06' Turbo S... I actually used 4 gallons!  I mixed it 50/50.  So two gallons of coolant from Porsche and two gallons of distilled water.  Although, i used a shop vac to suck as much coolant from the system as possible.  The reason behind my logic was to minimize coolant from spilling into the valley below the pipes and adversely affecting the starter motor.  I cut my plastic pipes in half with a dremel multi-max and kept the shop-vac near the cut.  Once i had them all cut, i slid the shop-vac hose over each pipe and sucked, sucked sucked.  Plus I also sucked all the coolant from the water pump/thermostat housing.  It was near bone dry when I was done.  

 

One benefit of sucking all the coolant out... is that youll have all new coolant in the system, which makes for a happy Cayenne.  

 

I strongly recommend replacing the water pump and thermostat while you're in there.  Cheap insurance.  The plastic impellers on the water pump will fail at some point.  When they fail, plastic pieces could cause blockage in the coolant channels...and that is, well, very bad.  And the thermostat is cheap enough to swap out.  

 

Good luck.  And Godspeed.