How to Identify Failing Plastic Coolant Pipes in Your Porsche

One of the reasons a Porsche stands out in performance with each succeeding model is innovation. This innovation has led to light weight parts to keep the car as light as possible compared to its horsepower. While this can be an advantage, lighter does not always mean longer lasting.

Plastic is more susceptible to wear and damage than metals. Changes due to pressure, temperature, and the corrosive nature of coolant can lead to the failing of coolant pipes in your Porsche. Now, let’s continue and go over the symptoms to look out for if your Porsche’s plastic coolant pipes are failing.

Symptoms of Failing Plastic Coolant Lines

• Steam: Coolant in your Porsche is a mixture of distilled water and a colored coolant. When this liquid overheats and is allowed to leak through any cracks in the plastic coolant lines, it will cause steam. Normally this will be seen when idling your car, as driving will dissipate the steam.
• Low Coolant: If you notice your coolant reservoir is getting low, you are losing the coolant somewhere in the system. If your Porsche plastic coolant lines are leaking, the reservoir will be low.
• Sweet Burning Smell: Coolant has a distinct sweet, almost burning type of smell. Even if you do not see colored coolant on the ground around your Porsche, the escaping coolant will probably leave this odor in the air.
• Overheating Engine: The temperature that your Porsche is designed to run at, is vital to the health of your car’s engine and transmission. If your temperature indicator goes into the red or you receive an overheating warning from your Porsche, stop and shut down your engine as fast and safe as possible. Continuing to drive an overheated engine will result in damage that is usually beyond repair.
• Coolant Pressure Test: Pressure tests are a good way of testing your car’s coolant system for any leaks within the plastic coolant lines and other areas within the system.

More on Pressure Tests and Service

While many of the symptoms mentioned can be observed by you, the Porsche owner, a pressure test will need special equipment, you will not probably have. This is one reason we recommend having your Porsche serviced on a regular basis. Servicing allows professional technicians, trained to work on your Porsche, to find potential issues, such as failing plastic coolant pipes, before they become a breakdown and cost you much more money and time.

Dangers of Driving with Failing Plastic Coolant Pipes

Overall the biggest danger to operating your Porsche, if any of the mentioned symptoms are found, is damage to your cars engine and transmission. Even a used rebuilt engine and transmission will cost several thousands of dollars. This will usually come out of your own pocket, depending on what type of warranty you have and insurance will certainly not cover it.

Beyond the cost, however, running a car hot can have safety issues for the driver and passengers. One of the most common vehicle injuries is when a car owner attempts to troubleshoot an overheated vehicle and creates a situation where they become burned by steam or boiling hot coolant. This type of injury is something you should avoid at all costs. Contact those with professional knowledge of your Porsche before attempting to repair yourself.

How to Repair Your Porsche

Once you have determined your Porsche has a failing plastic coolant pipe issue, or simply want to have your car serviced, reach out to us, at Orion Automotive Services. Servicing the Ann Arbor, Michigan area for over twenty years. We have done the job in the right way our entire time in business with some of the most advanced diagnostic systems and the best trained technicians you can find. Our dealer alternative shop will not only give you personalized service on your Porsche or other high end quality vehicle, but will save you money over the dealerships.

Contact us to set up a time to service and repair your Porsche. We will have your Porsche back on the road where it belongs and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing the car you or your loved ones are driving is reliable.