Dang me, Dang Me, You oughtta get a rope and hang me...

[futuresoptions]

Well a little word to the wise when buying a 928 that has been sitting for a while and not been started frequently...... My car as many of you know had been sitting for at least 6 years since I had originally looked at it.... Well when I finally got around to starting it after purchase, (and I am not sure if I have posted this in an earlier post or not) but the radiator had failed and pumped oil out of the motor into the radiator water and then out the fill tank.... well, I didn't think much of it, purchased a new radiator (which I haven't installed yet) and did my timing belt and water pump job.... today I went to change the filter on the tranny I know the tranny did not have any fluid in it because the PO advised it had leaked all the fluid out due to a leak..... Well guess what.... it was full to the top with oil and water...... I guess the seal on the transmission side of the radiator failed also and pumped the oil/water mixture all the way to the tranny.... I have drained it all out and will refill with cleaner and fluid tomorrow. Will then drain and refill with fresh fluid and new filter.... I have taken precautions to never let this happen again. I purchased an new aluminum radiator and a separate oil cooler and a separate transmission cooler.... The aluminum radiator ran $250.. The oil and transmission coolers ran me about $150. for the pair.... Still alot cheaper than $1250 for the original radiator and will have no problems associated with the old set up....

[Danglerb]

Hate to say it, but its not unusual after about 2 years for the coolant to go acid and start eating parts it touches.

[N2O-SHARK]

I run distilled water and "water wetter" since I'm in Florida. Any known issues of not using any antifreeze at all?

Back on topic, both my Sharks have external oil coolers (Both are 5 speeds). Did some sharks have them in the radiator?

[Normy]

I wouldn't do that N2O- you need the anti-corrosion ingredients in the antifreeze to prevent your radiator and a few other things from rotting out. The only time you should go straight distilled water in a radiator is when you are on a track, since many of those places don't allow antifreeze.

Futures- where did you find in-tank coolers? I understood that they weren't available any more. I had to mount an external air-oil cooler on my '85 when the radiator failed a few years ago.

N

[Danglerb]

The coolers come in the replacement end tanks don't they? (sold by the usual places)

Water has a higher thermal capacity than coolant, but a lower boiling point. The 15 psi radiator cap raises the boiling point, but some parts of the motor, like the heads have very hot spots, and once boiling occurs the coolant loses direct contact with the metal and temps can get much higher, plus its a differential with areas still in contact with the coolant, and that can mean warping.

Short answer, use water wetter if you like, but if a 50/50 coolant mix doesn't provide enough cooling something needs to be fixed.

[N2O-SHARK]

No issues yet. about 2 years now. Water Wetter has rust and corrosion protection. I noticed a significant drop in tempurature when I switched, though I upgraded to a 3600cfm E-fan at the same time. Car never hadoverheating issues prior just wanted to keep cylinder head temps as low as possible for N2O.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by N2O-SHARK

I run distilled water and "water wetter" since I'm in Florida. Any known issues of not using any antifreeze at all?

Back on topic, both my Sharks have external oil coolers (Both are 5 speeds). Did some sharks have them in the radiator?

Yeah, my 928 came with a Corvetter Radiator in it. I brought it back to stock and purchased a used dual cooler radiator. 1 for the Auto Tranny, the other for the Oil.

[Danglerb]

My 84 Euro AT had an external cooler, maybe its a Euro thing?

[N2O-SHARK]

That's what I was wondering. Both of mine are '81s. In 81 the ROW non-S cars recieved the full "S" treatment save the 4.7L. That would explain why my daughters non-s has one as well. Haven't looked at an early US model to see.

[futuresoptions]

Well first on the coolers... I did away with the Porsche radiator, and am running an all aluminum one now.... I purchased a seperate external cooler for both the tranny and for the engine oil.... Cars with aluminum blocks or castiron blocks with aluminum heads have to have antifreeze..... plain water will pit the heads and pit the block..... eventually the head gasket will fail..... I do not know if water wetter has enough concentration of corrosion preventative in it to help or not..... I know you are supposed to use that orange colored coolant.... I believe it is either low phosphate or sulphate, one of the two, cant remember off hand...... If it was me... I would add some coolant to the mix, it is cheaper than taking a risk and having to pull your engine apart because of not doing so......

[futuresoptions]

PS, if you do need a oem Behr radiator with or without coolers, I found them somewhere on line for $400. brand new...... The reason I spent about the same amount and did not go OEM is for the following reasons...... The all aluminum radiator will be lighter and more efficient than the original, The oil cooler and transmission cooler will be alot more efficient than the originals...... but last but not least..... I will never even allow the possibility of oil and water mixing into my engine or transmission again..... Talk about a pain in the butt to try and flush and clean.... If I get oil in my coolant or coolant into my oil, I will know that I have problems elsewhere (possibly a head gasket) .

[Danglerb]

The cheapest new 928 radiator I found was from some chain called Kaiser, but I don't think they are OEM. Where did you find an OEM Behr for $400?

[futuresoptions]

Hey Danglerb!

Man I did a google for "928 Radiator" and probably went through at least 60-70 hits... I really don't know.... It very well might not have been a Behr, but I seem to remember it saying that it was OEM, which would have made it a Behr..... could quite possibly been the same company that you are refering to.....

[MPDano]

Now that $400 New Radiator find will really suck since I paid $500 for my dual cooler Behr (used) a couple months ago.

[ROG100]

For the record the end tanks do not come with coolers inside them. You reuse the existing cooler matrix if good. As far as I know the coolers are not available seperatly.
I have the end tanks with or without the cooler holes.