Dumb question from new 911 owner!!!

[ascarswell]

I've recently purchased my first Porsche - a '79 911sc Targa - and am thrilled with the way it is running. The PPI sure paid off.

BUT...today I pulled into a gas station to top up with a quart of oil, and as I was walking out of the store I saw a puddle under the engine on the right hand (rear passenger) side of the car. I stooped down to investigate to find a light green, non-oily, waterish feeling fluid. "It must be coolant", I thought to myself! It was fresh and hadn't been driven through - "Could it be from my car?" my thought continued! "Well...it's an air cooled car, so it can't be coolant! What else could it be?" That's when I thought I'd post this question and give you Pelicaners a good laugh.

Could it be another fluid that I'm unaware of? Something to do with the A/C? Steering? Brakes? Transmission? I turned off the A/C and drove home with no problems whatsoever.

What I really think it is - the person who'd parked there before me had a coolant leak, and I'm just a typical paranoid new Porsche owner who can't afford a big repair bill right now. Am I right? Any advise/suggestions/opinions/ideas and/or comical remarks would be appreciated. I can take it if you want to make fun of me, too...I'd rather be made fun of than have my new baby explode on me on the way to work tomorrow!

Thanks a ton!

Cheers,
Adam

[Jim Smolka]

On the PPI, did they note if someone had installed a V8 350 motor?
Not too many Chevy small blocks were air cooled...

Most likely from another car.

Congrats on your 1st Porsche. We need pictures

[radcon]

If it's a green, watery liquid, my guess would be that it's coolant from someone else's car. Can you say p-a-r-a-n-o-i-a!?! Seriously though, now question is too dumb for this board. The worst that can happen is someone making fun of you.

[ascarswell]

Thanks, guys...I am totally paranoid...I admit it!

Everything seems to be going too well with this car! That's what makes me nervous! It's been a dream of mine to own one of these, but I was always concerned about the maintenance/reliablity of them. When I did the research and found them to be relatively reliable, I decided to take the plunge. I guess I still have a bit of that reservedness in the back of my mind. (I got the deal of the century, though...$7,700, 109K, functional A/C, and a very encouraging PPI from a very reputable West Palm Beach FL Porsche mechanic)

Work done so far has been largely cosmetic, with the exception of replacing the rear left drive shaft. By the way...the CV boot was "wiggly" and my guy recommended replacing the whole shaft...would you agree with his recommendation? Anyhow...while away for a week in NYC I had the front seats recovered - turned out beautifully...a 78 year old "grampa" who does "old school" upholstery work did a better than expected job. I've been able to find on the parts board of Pelican all of the little cosmetic pieces that I knew I'd want to replace very reasonably...seatbelts, sun visors, thresholds, heater knobs, decklid bolts, center A/C vent, and floor mats. This becomes addictive, doesn't it!

Again...thanks a lot for the piece of mind. Continue the thrashing and making fun of...I'm ready!

Cheers,
Adam

[ascarswell]

Here's a pic...but keep in mind that it's dirty and a poor quality pic - I had only owned my new baby for a few hours at the time of this photo. I'm waiting 'til it gets a bit more "polished" before I take it for its first photo shoot.

Cheers,
Adam

[Jim Smolka]

Now what you need is track time

For the heater knobs, there you can do a search and see how folks have reconditioned the heater knobs using red dye.

[ascarswell]

Oh no...I've already replaced everything I listed! Yup...I got right on it...and now I can't stop! Somebody help me!!!

Cheers

[zbph10]

Congrats on your first Porsche.

I took the plunge about just over a month ago myself.
Nice looking car, looks like your kids enjoy it as much as mine.

Curious if you had recently filled your windshield washer fluid at all. When I filled mine one night before I went to bed half of it leaked out onto the floor in the garage by the next morning.
I had used the green colored washer fluid.

Just a thought.

Have fun

Brian

[zbph10]

Missed the part where you said under the engine, sorry

[ScottKelly911]

If I were you, I'd check the Crankbob or Tire Pressure Regulator or perhaps may have been Flux Capacitor fluid
Very nice car, welcome to Porsche ownership. BTW, I love that pic with your kid in the back seat, it reminds me of when I first fell in love with the Porsche Marquee. My dad's friend had a 911 and we took a trip down to Sea World in it. I was 5 and my dad's friends daughter was 4, we sat in the backseats. We fit so perfectly in those seats that I knew it was made for me. 26 years later, I'm still in love with these cars!!! Hopefully you'll be able to pass along the love of Porsche to your child(ren), congrats on your new SC.
Scott aka Mouse

[nostatic]

you obviously blew a muffler bearing. Can't believe the other guys didn't pick that one up...can o' corn.

If the cv joint is toast, replacing the entire half shaft is kind of an economical way to go...less labor cost makes up for increased part cost. You might do both sides at the same time if you want to by symmetric.

[azasadny]

Adam,
Beautiful car, welcome aboard!!! No question is too dumb for me to ask...

[MOMO3.2]

Adam:

Great 911! White is the best color for 911's too. How did I get stuck with black...

Enjoy.

Mike

[JonT]

You may want to check your brakes in the rear. It could have been brake fluid. Same watery bluish/green color. A leaky caliper or line could be the culprit and you don't want to find out the hard way especially with kids aboard.

[aigel]

Next time, if in doubt, taste the fluid. They put it in the wine in Austria, it can't be THAT bad for you. Just have a mountain dew to flush it down.

Cheers, George

[Paul Franssen]

Hey Adam, nice picture but, gosh, what's all those flakes spread around your car, it that the underbody seal being flaked off by the suspected exhaust leak (which is what is probably causing the green goo to leak from the emissions exhauster exchange system and making the engine sound strongly "vroom" when applying the gas).
Better have that checked, engine should be absolutely silent, of course you know that
(relax max, homes, nice car n... that's a proud kid there, isn't it?)

[Schrup]

Adam, nice car. These cars are a pleasure to work on. If you don't already have tools, they would be a good investment along with a Bentley manual, & 101 projects our host produced. For the money you paid your guy, you probable could have ordered & installed all new CV joints yourself. The service life on you CVs is 100k miles, so if the others are originals I would consider replacing them as well.

[ascarswell]

Thanks a ton for all of the reassurances, advice, compliments, etc., guys. I'm really enjoying this car...no doubt about it! Oh, and I'll be sure to check into your recommendations...when I get to Mars!

Cheers,
Adam

[targa911S]

probably the reevus whoovus overflow. i'd get that checked out right away. by the way i heard the police were looking for and aircooled car leaking green slime.

Nice car. welcome to our world.
Are you over near Sanford Fl? See the thread about The Tampa Bay gang get together this weekend.