LJpete

Hey guys,

Just cleaned my radiators today. Pretty fun and fairly easy. I did run into some snags but overall, no biggie. Car runs quite a bit cooler now.

Next on the list: install my B&M short shift.

redridge

sweet.... Im doing the rear now, got everything apart right now.... way to much salt this winter.

Malakas

Strong work.

How hard was it to remove the bumper?

russo

I have had to clean the radiatiors on many occasions, what worries me is that you can't get everything out. The next step is to install screens so that stuff doesn't get into it to begin with.

exlondoner

I was about to do that today but didn't have the time to remove the front bumper so removed some leaves that had collected through the bumper.

sbpsu354

How hard is it to line up the bumper when putting things back together? I know I need to clean my radiators.

redridge

easy... German egnineering, need I say more?

sbpsu354

I pulled a pile of mud out of the bumper when I bought it last June and I know there's got to be more. This may be the project for next weekend.

LJpete

Removal of the bumper is not that hard but there are a few things that slow you down. All of the screws for the bumper are Phillips but you will need a set of torx bits to pull/pivot the AC condensers out of the way. You'll need a stubby screwdriver or a bit extension once you break it loose to remove the small screw behind the side marker light (there are 2). One of them is easy, the other is difficult to get to since you have to pull the fender liner back a bit and slowly back that screw out. I was able to get a standard sized screwdriver in to the space but it was pretty difficult to fit my hand and turn the screw driver due to the limited space. Everything else was really easy. There is a great set of instructions on Loren's sight Renntech, in the DIY Section that I used.

It's really easy to align the bumper. Kind of scary how everything more or less slides back into place without much fuss. I was expecting it to be harder. You would be amazed at how much leaves, cigarette butts and sand/grit is trapped between the AC condensers and the radiator. There's a sizable dirt trail slick that flows down my driveway now. Vacuuming won't take care of the issue (it may improve it slightly but that's only a stop-gap measure).

My only recommendation is to buy a trim removal tool, the one that looks like a screwdriver but has a fork like end. It will make removing the 2 trim rivets in the fender liner much easier to take out. I have such a tool but Murphy's law dictated that I couldn't find it. The irony of the situation is that I saw it a few weeks ago in my tool box. I'm sure I'll find it in a few weeks now that I don't need it. LOL

Mick, if you want some help cleaning them out, let me know.

chsu74

I cleaned mine 2 years ago. It was amazing how much mud is caked on the radiators. I think that makes it much less efficient than other debris.

1999Porsche911

There is no difference between having debris on the radiators blocking airflow and installing screens to block airflow? Both will reduce your cooling capacity.


The fact is, for optimum cooling, you are stuck with the chore of cleaning the radiators periodically, as required. Everything else is nothing but "bling".

salayc

really?

redridge

the new gt3 has grill protection.... in the interview, some official said it took only 12% of the air away from the radiators.... Im thinking , damn thats alot! .... but many people wanted it and Porsche listened.

ivangene

I saw a cup car come in for service after the 24 hours of Daytona... those screens get replaced, as well as the entire front bumper. The one for the race was destroyed by debris (no accidents) Its all considered expendable on those cars....

(I thought about taking the old one home for my imaginary GT2 )

perryinva

It really depends on where you drive. When I did my 02 with 6 years & 38k miles on it, there was no mud at all. Just a 2" high compost pile (literally), plus sand, butts, and plenty of leaves between the condenser & rads. The condenser sits about an inch higher than the rads, so plenty gets caught underneath the condenser against the rads. It took about 2 hours to really clean them out well. There is a small drain hole inthe farthest lower corner, that of course plugs in a heartbeat, as any leaves get driven right to it from the suction. I vacuum mine throught the bumper regularly, and always hear the small leaves and sand getting sucked in. If I put a screen on, I wouldn't be able to vacuum, and the sand would still get through, as well as the smaller leaves and pollen crap that is so abundant here. Naturally, this is easy if you garage your car and have a shopvac setuip withthe right attachments. It only takes literally a minute, and the last time I took my bumper off with almost 4k more miles, they were still clean.

BTW, that friggin screw underneatth the side marker that you have to pull the fender liner away to get at is a real PITA to get back in. The hardest aprt of putting the bumper cover back on is getting it back around the fender liner, even with it loose. Also, watch the gap between the top of the bumper and the hood. It is easy to push it too far up against the hood (that distance is adjustable, and is held by the friction of two screws only), and then the hood release will not work.