I can only assume that the leak is super small. But it is strange to me too.

 

There is always the risk of harm if you drive a Turbo (any car) with a cooling system leak. The system when hot may not develop sufficient pressure and this can allow coolant at the hottest places to flash to steam and form steam bubbles that insulate the hottest parts from cool coolant flow and could even block coolant from flowing through a passageway at all.

Localized overheating -- with the coolant temp gage registering not even a quiver -- can result with possibly severe consequences for the engine.

My 03 Turbo is in for an odd overheating event -- the coolant temp gage needle ventured up onto a region of the gage face it has *never* even approached before no matter what the ambient temperature and not even when once the passenger fan was not working.

The diagnosis is a bad T-Stat. Additionally the driver's side radiator fan is not working at 100% (based on feel... the DME reports no fan stage errors). There does not seem to be any coolant leak although I smelled a strong odor of antifreeze at the driver's side of the car the other day when this overheating occurred.

A new T-stat and radiator fan is going in as I type.

I will however retest the car's cooling system as quickly as I can to ensure that when fully warmed up I do not smell any anti-freeze. If I do the driver's side radiator will be replaced. I will not wait for someone to make aftermarket all aluminum radiators. The risk to the engine driving the car around with a sub-par operating coolant system is a far worse thing than installing another factory radiator. Which I note in my car's case has lasted 111K miles.

 

Just drove the car. The smell is definitely stronger on the passenger side in the wheel well.

 

that would be front? if so..pass side rad. same i replaced.

 

Yea. Front. Should I replace both sides and center while I am at it?

 

i wouldn't! unless you had an indication they were bad also. it's usually just one and 3 rads at 400 each gets pricey i'm not even sure i'd look to use the alum ones. i'd stay with stock, but pelican has the alum ones i think.

 

I have had the faint coolant smell in the front for over 5 years/60,000 miles. I do not lose any coolant, as the coolant level stays consistent and the condition has not gotten any worse or changed over the 5 years. I also do not smell it all the time, only sometimes. I suspect there must be some sort of minute leak and have been waiting for it to get worse to identify the source...but it hasn't budged and I'm OK with that.

 

I just got done tearing the car apart (and putting it back together) after a hard drive. I could smell coolant, but still zero signs of a leak any where. I also can't tell if it is the passenger side or center that the smell is coming from. Ahhh sometimes this car makes me question my sanity.

 

ill trade you your coolant smell for my gas fume smell when my window is open! cant find any trace of fuel anywere

 

Steve, Is your charcoal cannister vent hose off the inlet pipe on the drivers side down by the turbo (or loose)? Or maybe at the other end, at the cannister itself? Either of those issues would cause the smell.

 

Just light a match and see what happens . Did you get your new clutch in? I am going to have to fly you out here when mine starts to go.

 

now that the trans is out ill check it john. Thank for a place to start looking
clutch is on its way. Waiting for gt2 slave parts and gbox detent. I'm hoping I only do this once!

 

+1. I am Ok with it too.

I suspect my Porsche Tech could be right (for once) and some cars just let some small amount of steam out at rad joints or something like that. Or perhaps some people just have better noses than others?!

Ps. Mine is also driver's side (lefthand drive).

 

I have been smelling coolant for the last 5 years and 20,000 miles without any leaking or failure. I have asked many people but no one seems to have the answer. The only answer I was given by porsche is that it is normal. It does not seem normal but the car doesn't leak and never gets hot. If its any consulation my brother had the same problem on his cayenne GTS and Turbo S. Very weird situation. Oh, the smell never is inside only outside the car.

 

now i'm beginning to wonder if NO coolant smell unless something is failing or compromised is ABnormal? since ya can't really have it both ways.