I'm posting this for my father. I haven't personally witnessed this problem through first hand driving of the car yet but it looks like the car is overheating. the rear deck is really, really hot after driving it. So hot the fan is kicking in to expel more hot air. Hot enough where i popped the hood and felt a TON of hot air coming at me. Upon further investigation, the coolant looks to be around the minimum mark on the resevoir.

When i last drove the car a few weeks ago, i remember the temperature gauge sitting right around the 180 mark. Apparely it's noticeably further to the right, according to my dad. Again, i haven't driven the car yet to verify.

1. Is there anything else i should look into besides the coolant as to why the car might be overheating?

2. What kind of coolant are you guys using? Should i go buy some 'take a trip to the dealership and let them figure it out' coolant? or is there something i can order online thats popular amongst the rest of us enthusiasts?

3. on a side note, how accurate is the electronic oil measurement the car does versus the way we've done it on all the other cars we drive? I haven't experimented with it yet or really read into it until today when i was stumbling through the manual.

All help appreciated! Thanks.

 

It might be running a little hot if the gauge is at the right of 180.
But we've been having some really hot temperature days, haven't we?
Was he driving in traffic with lots of stop and go?
Did he get a check coolant light?

Most of the info you posted seems to be normal,
The engine IS hot after it's been running for a while, and when you pop the engine lid open, hot air does rise up in your face!
And the fan does run when the engine is hot (not only when the engine is overheated), that's what it's designed to do.
Btw...the fan draws cooler air into the engine bay from outside, not blowing hot air out the vents.
When you say the coolant was around the minimum mark, were you checking it when it was hot?
The coolant level is lower when hot, and should be more accurate when it's cold.

As for the oil level gauge on the dash, it usually doesn't match the dipstick.
Mine usually shows one bar lower on the dash than it is on the dipstick.
I trust the dipstick.

 

Tell your pops to drive the car FASTER! (more airflow to engine / radiators)

 

On a hot engine, your coolant tank should be almost full (MAX level, not lower). I would start there and fill her up. Everything else sounds typical for the car.

 

Check to see if both fans are coming on. They should run at low speed while the engine is running and at full speed when the A/C is on or the coolant temp reaches over 200 deg f, not exactly sure at what temp though. Also check for debris in front of the radiators and clean as required. The front bumper takes abpout 10 minutes to remove another 5 for the wheel well liners. you will have to remove the wheels. You will be surprised at the stuff you find.

Good luck

 

With temps here in the SE at 95-107 and humidy at 65-90% ....my 996 temps are running 195 - 210 degrees.....can't wait for cooler weather.

 

thanks guys! I'm going to start with some coolant once i figure out what kind to use!

 

Check to see if you're leaking coolant - something similar happened and it was a busted coolant overflow tank.

 

definetly not leaking anything.

 

yeah everything sounds normal to me...

maybe its time for the FAN MOD? 1999Porsche911 was the one that showed me the way!

 

I'm in Honolulu where temps are alway in high 80's. Before mod in 02 996 C2 coupe temp was in middle of 0 or at right side of 0 in 180,- I drained few gallons of coolant and replaced with distilled water/water wetter- Did do much. Thanks to 1999Porsche911 instructions i did the fan switch mod- now hit switch to turn on both front fans and it runs right on 180 line or just a hair over even in traffic. Do it you'll see your temps decline and easy.

 

You may be due for a coolant flush, if not enough water in the coolant it will run hot and often do weird things in the cold as well, your supposed to do it every 2 yrs as maintance along with break fluids but not many ever do.

 

Fan mod? Anyone have a link?? Sounds interesting. Oh and Water Wetter is an awesome product!

 

Radiator Fan and Engine Compartment Fan Switch Mod


The 3.4 996 runs extremely hot when driving around town in temperatures higher than 75 degrees. This mod is a way to reduce coolant temps back to a safer level, helping to reduce oil temps and improving performance.

The mod consists of installing a switch that will allow you to turn on the high speed radiator fans at any time, while maintaining the automatic operation of the fans. We do the same for the engine compartment fan.

Radiator Fans

Connect a wire to the ground of the 2 high speed fan relays located on the relay carrier located in the driver’s side foot well. The relays are #20 and #22. Feed this wire to where your switch will be located. Connect the wire to one side of the switch. Connect another wire from the other contact on the switch and then connect the other end of this wire to a chassis ground point.

With key on, this switch will now immediately turn on both radiator fans providing maximum cooling. When you turn the key off, the fans will continue to run for about 5 seconds until the relay shuts down. Your fan operation remains normal when the switch is off.

Jim

 

Wow sounds like an easy mod! And you relly see a difference huh. Why dont the fans stay on normally in extreme situations? I would imagine on the track they would be on constanly no?