I have a 2008 GT2 with less than 4000 miles. I try to drive it once a month; otherwise, it sits in a detached garage without climate control. This morning, I went to take her for a spin, and upon starting it, it ran very rough and died. I restarted, and she started normally. As I'm backing out of the garage, I notice fluid streaking in two lines about 3 feet apart between where the tires would be. I immediately shut the engine off. I look at the fluid, and it is kind of brownish and has a sweet smell to it. I look underneath and I really don't see anything. I open the engine cover, and I don't see anything. I notice where two light streaks go to the front of the car, and I notice a very faint leak (cannot explain the volume on the cement) just behind the driver's front tire. At this point, I cannot explain the volume of fluid I'm seeing. So I start the engine and allow it to get to running temp (watching the temp gauge like a hawk). As it starts to get to running temp, the electric fan kicks in and she starts dumping fluid. The majority is coming from the driver's side of the engine (cannot see the spot looking underneath). In addition, I hear an unusual sound like air being pulled into the cooling system or air churning. Needless to say, I quickly pulled it back into the garage and stopped the engine before it could overheat. I live in San Antonio, TX, and the temps have gotten brutally hot. I'm wondering if the heating/cooling hasn't caused a head gasket problem or if there is a loose fitting in the coolant system. What is surprising is that it looked like the fluid was coming from two spots equidistant from the center of the engine. Also, most engine coolant I have seen isn't brown. Could this be rust? Any thoughts and advice would be great. I'm also not comfortable taking my car to the local dealer. They really screwed one of my buddies by denying him warranty work on a new Cayman. According to their computer, he had overrev'd his engine 2000 time in 700 miles, and they wanted him to pay out of pocket. He doesn't drive his car hard, so I have some integrity issues with that dealer. Any experience with Porsche of Austin? Thanks.

 

Maybe cracked coolant reservoir - notorious weak spot. San Antonio took care of an out-of-warranty issue on my daughter's Cayenne - seemed to be reasonable and did good work. Not sure I'd come all the way to Austin. Are you still under warranty - CPO? If not try a local shop.

 

There have been 3 leaks in my Turbo, each so traumatic I could barely remember the fluid color. But IIRC, the leak from the turbine itself that required turbine replacement was pinkish (leak was in rear right under the turbo), the leak from the reservoir for clutch accumulator was brownish (front driver's side), and the mother of all leaks, the one from coolant line that requires engine dropped (twice - long story), was also brownish and was under engine in rear. This last leak was as much fun as a dentist appointment. Actually, more like a house remodeling since it took 3 months (another long story).

What I could share from the experience is:
1. Whatever dealer you decide, ask the advisor to assign the single best and most experienced mechanic on your car. Be specific and insist on this.
2. Your car is out of warranty anyway, and in case this is a complicated fix that requires dropping the engine, having a dealer far away just might make the experience that much more painful. If local dealer has a great master mechanic, I would consider it.

Good luck and hope this is only a minor problem.

 

When you see your dealer, don't tell him you only drive it once a month.

 

Totally sucks! I sent you a PM. Maybe I can help point you in the right direction.

 

My '02 GT2 had the driver side radiator crack a fitting. Easy fix.