I recently purchased a 2001 turbo (50K miles) with a six speed in Calgary. Prior to purchase I had the local dealer do a PPI which did not have any issues they could identify. "This is a good car, we have no concerns"

I flew back over Christmas and drove the car twice. After taking the car out the first time I notice a small amount of what appeared like coolant under the car. After reading the forum I thought this might be due to an old reservoir and planned on having it replaced when I got the car. I drove it around the block a couple days later and did not notice any fluid afterwards.

The car is currently in Calgary occupying garage space with family and I am waiting for a shipping company to deliver it to me. It was supposed to be picked up this weekend so I had them go out and start it last week to make sure the battery was good. They let it idle for 20 minutes. Later on in the week they noticed oily fluid under the car.

They are unfamiliar with the car and engine, as am I, and it is challenging to figure out where it is coming from via the phone. The coolant level is ok. They started it up a second time again today to check the oil on the dash as they could not find the dipstick. I was on the phone at the time and there was an abnormal noise (?tranny) that was present within 10 seconds of startup. They turned the car off immediately and noted a small puddle of oil under the middle of the engine. Apparently there was a little tag hanging down in the area if that means anything. Over the phone the noise to me sounded like the tranny when it is in neutral but very loud and abnormal, it did not sound like an engine noise.

This is very frustrating for me as I had a clear PPI done and the car has not been driven except for the 30 minutes I took it out in December. Also being new to the car I don't know much about them or even this car in general as I haven't had much of a chance to look at it or drive it. From what I was told by the seller it was stock. Finally trying to figure out what is wrong via the phone is frustrating. The shipping company will be picking it up any day now (after 6 weeks of waiting) and I am not sure what to do?

Any suggestions of what to check? Can someone tell me where the dipstick is so I can explain that over the phone? Any thoughts as to what it might be?

 

It sounds like you have a lightweight flywheel, which explains the "rattling" noise you hear from the tranny...this is normal, for a LWFW. This also means it's not "stock", whih means they lied. Did you have the selling dealer do the PPI? Big mistake if so, as you can see.

 

It was a private sale and I had the local Porsche dealer do the PPI.

I have suspected it is not stock as the exhaust tips seem different and when I did drive it I explained in another post I was seeing 0.9 bar at time. Hard to tell if it was constant 0.9 as I wasn't driving it full out.

 

Next time you drive it, leave it in 3rd or 4th gear and flat foot it and try to hold it for a few seconds. If it HOLDS .9bar, it's either flashed or an X50.

 

 

Car holds lots of engine oil and coolant. If the fluids are extremely low, there will be warning lights. Given car will be picked up soon, unless you can delay pick up or if car shouldn't be driven, I would have it delivered and then inspected.

The dealer that did inspection likely didn't inspect it throughly.

Popular leaks are
1. rear main seal oil leak, do a search and u will find tons of topics. This is leas common on tt
2. Coolant expansion tank

both will run you abt a grand to fix

 

That's a pretty good leak. Maybe the oil tank? Put a peice of clean cardboard down and actually sit and watch it for a little while. From the looks of it, it won't take long to see where it is coming from? Exhaust tips look stock too. Oh yeah, not dipstick, Electronic gauge. Use the small stalk on left side under blinker. Car must be up to running temps to check.

 

Looks like coolant from the pics. Have your fren touch the fluid. If it's slippery but not oily, then it's coolant. Looks like you lost a bit already. Car will leak fast if started. I would postpone the delivery so the truck driver doesn't bust your engine when loading / unloading the car. Have the car flatbedded to the dealer and fix it first. Engine will be $$$ to replace. Shipper may not even ship your car if it's leaking.

 

Is that where coolant normally leaks from? Reading other posts it sounds like it is usually from the rear drivers side.

The fluid is slightly oily and slightly yellow in color.

 

Def coolant from the pics. Maybe its coming from the radiator feed and return going towards the front of the car?
The heater hoses are more to the left, near the rear drivers side wheelwell.

 

Does anyone think this might not be coolant and rather Pentosin based on the location?

 

If it's Pentosin that a good amount. OP should have someone check hydraulic fluid in front and rear.

 

In order to check the level I understand you need to start the car for 20 seconds then turn it off and check it. Is it safe to do this?

 

The fluid is yellowish like oil. Shouldn't Pentosin be green?

 

Pentosin is greeish.

Yellow and oily... brake fluid? A busted brake line?

On the floor it looks like coolant though.

Check:
- Front brake reservoir level (DOT4)
- Front power assisted clutch level (Pentosin - under plastic cover on drivers side under hood) Green cap. Don't spill.
- Check power steering fluid level in engine bay. Small black cap marked CHF11
- Check coolant level in engine bay (left side, black or blue cap)

- Wouldn't run the engine warm with that leak, without finding out what type of leak it is.

By the look of photos, regular oil wouldn't spread thin like that.