Factory Coolant for 996?

[88carrera]

I just got an '03 Carrera C2. I noticed that the level of the factory coolant is a little below the minimum level in the reservoir so I went to my local Porsche dealer to get a gallon of genuine Porsche antifreeze/coolant ($37), telling them my model.

The original coolant is yellow-green. The driver's manual says it needs never to be changed for the life of the car(?). When I poured out some of the new Porsche coolant, it is bright pink in color. I immediately called the Porsche service department to ask what was going on. They told me that the yellow-green coolant is what they install at the factory and what they use in Europe, but not what is used in this country. They said I would need to bring the car in and have all of the coolant flushed out and replaced with the pink stuff. The cost would be about $200.

What gives here? Anyone have further info about this?

Thanks.

[Aerkuld]

Top it off with distilled water. Much easier, cheaper, and just as good for the small amount of difference it will make.

[88carrera]

That might work for a while in the warm, sunny South, but here in Colorado it can get cold in the winter and antifreeze dilution would not be good.

[Aerkuld]

If your really concerned do a search, I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Volkswagen/Audi coolant is compatible with the Porsche factory coolant. Please check first though!

Besides, it was cold here last week, got into the low 80's. Brrrrrr.

[88carrera]

Aerkuld,
You are correct! This past weekend I spoke with a Porsche source whom I trust to have this knowledge and he confirmed what you have said; namely, that the blue VW/Audi factory coolant is compatable with the yellow-green Porsche original factory fill. He said that a few years ago the factory changed to the bright pink coolant that I got at the local Porsche dealership.
Warning, he said that the "old" yellow-green factory fill and the "new" pink coolant are incompatible and may form a gel if you mix them. Not something that is good for a water-cooled Porsche.
So, if you have the original yellow-green factory fill in your car, you can either add some blue VW/Audi blue OR completely drain and flush the coolant and refill with the new pink Porsche coolant. It is probably best to do the latter, just to be safe.
(Dropped into the 40's here today.)

[Aerkuld]

It got pretty cold here too, probably got into the mid 70's the other day. Brrrr.

Glad that helped, worth remembering.