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Message: Re: 2000 Boxster transmission fluid...
Changed By: MarcW
Change Date: February 09, 2016 09:39PM
Re: 2000 Boxster transmission fluid...
Change Date: February 09, 2016 09:39PM
Re: 2000 Boxster transmission fluid...
[quote=Pbastian]
So, I was at the track this weekend with my 2000 Boxster 5-speed, and noticed some light, amber fluid on the floor of the track garage; very small drips. Seemed like motor oil, but just a bit lighter. Came home, crawled underneath and found this stuff in a lot of places, droplets coming off the bottom of the engine/transmission mating point. Took the engine cover off, and poked around. There is a small, vertical port coming off the right side of the top of the tranny (if you are facing the back of the car), with a small black cap. The cap is not tight on the port; I can move it and spin it, but I cannot take it off without more force. The area around this port was wet with a coat of fluid. I also noticed that my axle air guide on this same side was missing. I did not check the clutch slave cylinder, but my clutch performed perfectly. Don't believe its brake fluid. Someone else suggested power steering fluid.
So, now I am wondering:
1) Is that port on the transmission a relief port for transmission fluid, in case it expands from overheating, so as to prevent pressure buildup inside the transmission?
2) Is the axle air guide that critical to cooling the transmission? Could it have overheated then, without that axle air guide?
3) perhaps most importantly, is transmission fluid for this model Porsche a fairly thin fluid? I've looked around and get varying opinions on gear oil, it's consistency and what is inside a Boxster transmission. Have never replaced it myself.[/quote]
The transmission is vented. That is the small vertical port with the cap. The vent is there to let the transmission breath that is maintain air pressure balance between the inside and outside of the transmission. If this wasn't done as the transmission and fluid got hot pressure build up could force fluid out the seals. Do not force the cap off or you may be facing an expensive transmission repair to replace it.
The fluid is not transmission fluid. That is thick (75w-90) and nasty smelling stuff.
The fluid is probably power steering fluid. Often times on the track the power steering system gets hot and the fluid can be forced out the vent at the top of the tank (cap). Some install a power steering fluid cooler. Or just keep your sessions shorter.
Be sure the power steering fluid level is correct. Do not over fill but do not under fill either. Check the system for any leaks and check the steering rack boots for any fluid build up. They'll feel like breast implants. The Boxster can experience a failed power steering high pressure bypass valve failure that routes too high pressure fluid to the rack. This forces the fluid out the seals but it is caught by the dust boots. One often doesn't know there's a problem until the power steering pump gets noisy due to low fluid level but by this time it can be too late.
I am not sure what axle air guide you are referring to. The little rubber scoops that hang down from the leading edge of the under engine stiffener tray are I believe there to cool the rear brakes. These get torn away once in a while and you want to replace them when this happens. While maybe not that critical for just every day street driving they are I think pretty important if one is engaging in some canyon carving or spending some time on the track.
The 5-speed (and 6-speed) fluid is some Shell fluid or Mobil fluid with a 75w-90 viscosity. I get my 2002 Boxster 5-speed transmsision fluid changed at the dealer. While the fluid is a bit pricey the labor is just 3 tenths of an hour. And often the dealer gives me a price break on the fluid. One time it charged me just $5/liter as it had some left over from warranty work. The fluid is pretty good. My Boxster's tranny is going on 298K miles and all I've ever had in it is Porsche transmission fluid, changed every 60K to 90K miles.
So, I was at the track this weekend with my 2000 Boxster 5-speed, and noticed some light, amber fluid on the floor of the track garage; very small drips. Seemed like motor oil, but just a bit lighter. Came home, crawled underneath and found this stuff in a lot of places, droplets coming off the bottom of the engine/transmission mating point. Took the engine cover off, and poked around. There is a small, vertical port coming off the right side of the top of the tranny (if you are facing the back of the car), with a small black cap. The cap is not tight on the port; I can move it and spin it, but I cannot take it off without more force. The area around this port was wet with a coat of fluid. I also noticed that my axle air guide on this same side was missing. I did not check the clutch slave cylinder, but my clutch performed perfectly. Don't believe its brake fluid. Someone else suggested power steering fluid.
So, now I am wondering:
1) Is that port on the transmission a relief port for transmission fluid, in case it expands from overheating, so as to prevent pressure buildup inside the transmission?
2) Is the axle air guide that critical to cooling the transmission? Could it have overheated then, without that axle air guide?
3) perhaps most importantly, is transmission fluid for this model Porsche a fairly thin fluid? I've looked around and get varying opinions on gear oil, it's consistency and what is inside a Boxster transmission. Have never replaced it myself.[/quote]
The transmission is vented. That is the small vertical port with the cap. The vent is there to let the transmission breath that is maintain air pressure balance between the inside and outside of the transmission. If this wasn't done as the transmission and fluid got hot pressure build up could force fluid out the seals. Do not force the cap off or you may be facing an expensive transmission repair to replace it.
The fluid is not transmission fluid. That is thick (75w-90) and nasty smelling stuff.
The fluid is probably power steering fluid. Often times on the track the power steering system gets hot and the fluid can be forced out the vent at the top of the tank (cap). Some install a power steering fluid cooler. Or just keep your sessions shorter.
Be sure the power steering fluid level is correct. Do not over fill but do not under fill either. Check the system for any leaks and check the steering rack boots for any fluid build up. They'll feel like breast implants. The Boxster can experience a failed power steering high pressure bypass valve failure that routes too high pressure fluid to the rack. This forces the fluid out the seals but it is caught by the dust boots. One often doesn't know there's a problem until the power steering pump gets noisy due to low fluid level but by this time it can be too late.
I am not sure what axle air guide you are referring to. The little rubber scoops that hang down from the leading edge of the under engine stiffener tray are I believe there to cool the rear brakes. These get torn away once in a while and you want to replace them when this happens. While maybe not that critical for just every day street driving they are I think pretty important if one is engaging in some canyon carving or spending some time on the track.
The 5-speed (and 6-speed) fluid is some Shell fluid or Mobil fluid with a 75w-90 viscosity. I get my 2002 Boxster 5-speed transmsision fluid changed at the dealer. While the fluid is a bit pricey the labor is just 3 tenths of an hour. And often the dealer gives me a price break on the fluid. One time it charged me just $5/liter as it had some left over from warranty work. The fluid is pretty good. My Boxster's tranny is going on 298K miles and all I've ever had in it is Porsche transmission fluid, changed every 60K to 90K miles.
Original Message
Author: MarcWDate: February 09, 2016 09:37PM
Re: 2000 Boxster transmission fluid...
[quote=Pbastian]
So, I was at the track this weekend with my 2000 Boxster 5-speed, and noticed some light, amber fluid on the floor of the track garage; very small drips. Seemed like motor oil, but just a bit lighter. Came home, crawled underneath and found this stuff in a lot of places, droplets coming off the bottom of the engine/transmission mating point. Took the engine cover off, and poked around. There is a small, vertical port coming off the right side of the top of the tranny (if you are facing the back of the car), with a small black cap. The cap is not tight on the port; I can move it and spin it, but I cannot take it off without more force. The area around this port was wet with a coat of fluid. I also noticed that my axle air guide on this same side was missing. I did not check the clutch slave cylinder, but my clutch performed perfectly. Don't believe its brake fluid. Someone else suggested power steering fluid.
So, now I am wondering:
1) Is that port on the transmission a relief port for transmission fluid, in case it expands from overheating, so as to prevent pressure buildup inside the transmission?
2) Is the axle air guide that critical to cooling the transmission? Could it have overheated then, without that axle air guide?
3) perhaps most importantly, is transmission fluid for this model Porsche a fairly thin fluid? I've looked around and get varying opinions on gear oil, it's consistency and what is inside a Boxster transmission. Have never replaced it myself.[/quote]
The transmission is vented. That is the small vertical port with the cap. The vent is there to let the transmission breath that is maintain air pressure balance between the inside and outside of the transmission. If this wasn't done as the transmission and fluid got hot pressure build up could force fluid out the seals. Do not force the cap off or you may be facing an expensive transmission repair to replace it.
The fluid is not transmission fluid. That is thick (75w-90) and nasty smelling stuff.
The fluid is probably power steering fluid. Often times on the track the power steering system gets hot and the fluid can be forced out the vent at the top of the tank (cap). Some install a power steering fluid cooler. Or just keep your sessions shorter.
Be sure the power steering fluid level is correct. Do not over fill but do not under fill either. Check the system for any leaks and check the steering rack boots for any fluid build up. They'll feel like breast implants. The Boxster can experience a failed power steering high pressure bypass valve failure that routes too high pressure fluid to the rack. This forces the fluid out the seals but it is caught by the dust boots. One often doesn't know there's a problem until the power steering pump gets noisy due to low fluid level but by this time it can be too late.
I am not sure what axle air guide you are referring to. The little rubber scoops that hang down from the leading edge of the under engine stiffener tray are I believe there to cool the rear brakes. These get torn away once in a while and you want to replace them when this happens. While maybe not that critical for just every day street driving they are I think pretty important if one is engaging in some canyon carving or spending some time on the track.
The 5-speed (and 6-speed) fluid is some Shell fluid or Mobil fluid with a 75w-90 viscosity. I get my 2002 Boxster 5-speed transmsision fluid changed at the dealer. While the fluid is a bit pricey the labor is just 3 tenths of an hour. And often the dealer gives me a price break on the fluid. One time it charged me just $5/liter as it had some left over from warranty work. The fluid is pretty good. My Boxster's tranny is going on 298K miles and all I've ever had in it is Porsche transmission fluid, changed every 60K to 90K miles.
So, I was at the track this weekend with my 2000 Boxster 5-speed, and noticed some light, amber fluid on the floor of the track garage; very small drips. Seemed like motor oil, but just a bit lighter. Came home, crawled underneath and found this stuff in a lot of places, droplets coming off the bottom of the engine/transmission mating point. Took the engine cover off, and poked around. There is a small, vertical port coming off the right side of the top of the tranny (if you are facing the back of the car), with a small black cap. The cap is not tight on the port; I can move it and spin it, but I cannot take it off without more force. The area around this port was wet with a coat of fluid. I also noticed that my axle air guide on this same side was missing. I did not check the clutch slave cylinder, but my clutch performed perfectly. Don't believe its brake fluid. Someone else suggested power steering fluid.
So, now I am wondering:
1) Is that port on the transmission a relief port for transmission fluid, in case it expands from overheating, so as to prevent pressure buildup inside the transmission?
2) Is the axle air guide that critical to cooling the transmission? Could it have overheated then, without that axle air guide?
3) perhaps most importantly, is transmission fluid for this model Porsche a fairly thin fluid? I've looked around and get varying opinions on gear oil, it's consistency and what is inside a Boxster transmission. Have never replaced it myself.[/quote]
The transmission is vented. That is the small vertical port with the cap. The vent is there to let the transmission breath that is maintain air pressure balance between the inside and outside of the transmission. If this wasn't done as the transmission and fluid got hot pressure build up could force fluid out the seals. Do not force the cap off or you may be facing an expensive transmission repair to replace it.
The fluid is not transmission fluid. That is thick (75w-90) and nasty smelling stuff.
The fluid is probably power steering fluid. Often times on the track the power steering system gets hot and the fluid can be forced out the vent at the top of the tank (cap). Some install a power steering fluid cooler. Or just keep your sessions shorter.
Be sure the power steering fluid level is correct. Do not over fill but do not under fill either. Check the system for any leaks and check the steering rack boots for any fluid build up. They'll feel like breast implants. The Boxster can experience a failed power steering high pressure bypass valve failure that routes too high pressure fluid to the rack. This forces the fluid out the seals but it is caught by the dust boots. One often doesn't know there's a problem until the power steering pump gets noisy due to low fluid level but by this time it can be too late.
I am not sure what axle air guide you are referring to. The little rubber scoops that hang down from the leading edge of the under engine stiffener tray are I believe there to cool the rear brakes. These get torn away once in a while and you want to replace them when this happens. While maybe not that critical for just every day street driving they are I think pretty important if one is engaging in some canyon carving or spending some time on the track.
The 5-speed (and 6-speed) fluid is some Shell fluid or Mobil fluid with a 75w-90 viscosity. I get my 2002 Boxster 5-speed transmsision fluid changed at the dealer. While the fluid is a bit pricey the labor is just 3 tenths of an hour. And often the dealer gives me a price break on the fluid. One time it charged me just $5/liter as it had some left over from warranty work. The fluid is pretty good. My Boxster's tranny is going on 298K miles and all I've ever had in it is Porsche transmission fluid, changed every 60K to 90K miles.