2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER warning

170
Maintenance, Car Care
A - Coolant expansion tank cap
B - Coolant level Coolant Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 168.
The cooling system is filled at the factory with a
permanent coolant.
It provides year-round protection from corrosion
and freezing down to –31°F/–35°C.
Only use antifreeze authorized by Porsche.
Checking coolant level The expansion tank with its filler orifice is in the
rear luggage compartment.
fCheck the coolant level regularly at the trans-
parent window of the expansion tank.
When the engine is cold and the car is level the flu-
id level must lie between the “Min.” and “Max.”
markings.
Topping off coolant
Warning!
Danger of serious personal injury from scal-
ding. Coolant is hazardous to your health,
and may be fatal if swallowed.
fDo not open the cap of the expansion tank
while the engine is hot.
fAllow the engine to cool down before opening
the cap and protect your hands, arms and face
from any possible escape of hot coolant.
fKeep coolant out of children’s reach.
fAlso, keep coolant away from your pets.
They can be attracted to it should there be a
spill, or to used coolant left in an open contai-
ner. Coolant can be deadly to pets if consu-
med.
Risk of damage from overflowing coolant.
fTake care while topping off coolant not to soil the luggage compartment or items of luggage.

Maintenance, Car Care
171
1. Switch engine off and let it cool.
Please observe the chapter “COOLING SYS-
TEM” on Page 80.
2. Cover the expansion tank cap with a thick rag.
Open cap slowly and carefully and allow over-
pressure to escape.
Then unscrew cap completely.
3. Only add a mixture of antifreeze and water in
equal parts, and do not exceed the “Max.”
mark.
Antifreeze in coolant:
50% gives protection down to –31°F/–35°C
60% gives protection down to –58°F/–50°C
4. Screw cap firmly on.
If in an emergency pure water has been added, the
mix ratio must be corrected at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Marked loss of coolant indicates leakage in the
cooling system.
The cause should immediately be remedied at an
authorized Porsche dealer.
Radiator fansThe radiator and radiator fans are in the front of
the vehicle.
Warning!
Risk of injury. The fans can start running as
a function of temperature, even with the
engine switched off.
fExercise extreme caution when working in the area of the radiator fans.

172
Maintenance, Car Care
Engine Oil Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality
and viscosity of oil, the speed at which the engine
is operated, the climate, road conditions as well
as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the lub-
ricant.
If the vehicle is used for repeated short trips, and
consumes a normal amount of oil, the engine oil
measurement may not show any drop in the oil le-
vel at all, even after 600 miles (1000 km) or more.
This is because the oil is gradually becoming dilut-
ed with fuel or moisture, making it appear that the
oil level has not changed.
The diluting ingredients evaporate out when the
vehicle is driven at high speeds, as on an express-
way, making it then appear that oil is excessively
consumed after driving at high speeds.
If the conditions you drive your vehicle in are dus-
ty, humid, or hot, the frequency of the oil change
intervals should be greater. If the vehicle is driven at a high rate of speed, cli-
matic conditions are warm, and the load is high,
the oil should be checked more frequently, as dri-
ving conditions will determine the rate of oil con-
sumption.
– The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to lu-
bricate and cool all of its moving parts.
Therefore, the engine oil should be checked re-
gularly and kept at the required level.
– Make it a habit to have the engine oil level che-
cked with every fuel filling.
– The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level
indicator.
The oil pressure warning light indicates serious
engine damage may be occuring when lit, if en-
gine rpm is above idle speed.

Maintenance, Car Care
173
Engine Oil Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 168.
fRegularly check the oil level using the on-board
computer after the vehicle is refuelled.
Please observe the chapter “OIL DISPLAY AND
MEASUREMENT OF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
on Page 97.
fThe oil inlet opening is in the rear luggage com-
partment.
Topping off engine oil
Warning!
Engine oil is hazardous to your health and
may be fatal if swallowed.
fKeep engine oil out of children’s reach.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals.
fAlways protect your skin by washing thorough-ly with soap and water. Caution!
Risk of damage from overflowing engine oil.
fTake care while checking and topping up en-
gine oil not to soil the luggage compartment or items of luggage. 1. The on-board computer indicates how much oil
must be added.
2. Unscrew cap of the oil filler opening and pull
out filling aid.
3. Add at most half a liter of engine oil at a time.
4. Measure oil level again with the on-board
computer.
5. Add more engine oil if necessary. Never add
more engine oil than required to reach the
max. mark.
6. Push filling aid in with the cap and close cap
carefully.

Maintenance, Car Care
175
Brake Fluid Level fPlease observe the chapter “EXERCISE EXTRE-
ME CAUTION WHEN WORKING ON YOUR VE-
HICLE” on Page 168.
fUse only new (unused) Original Porsche
brake fluid.
Warning!
Brake fluid is hazardous to your health, and
may be fatal if swallowed.
Brake fluid also attacks paintwork.
fKeep brake fluid out of children’s reach.
fTake care while topping off brake fluid not to
soil the luggage compartment or items of lug-gage.
Checking the brake fluid level The reservoir for the hydraulic braking and clutch
systems is in the front luggage compartment.
1. Open and remove cover flap A.
2. Regulary check the brake-fluid level on the
transparent expansion tank through the win-
dow B.
The fluid level should always lie between the
“Min” and “Max” marks. A slight decrease in the fluid level due to wear and
automatic readjustment of the disc brakes is nor-
mal.
If, however, the fluid level falls markedly or below
the “Min” mark, the braking system may have de-
veloped a leak.
fHave the braking system checked immediately
at an authorized Porsche dealer.

176
Maintenance, Car Care
Changing the brake fluid Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air over ti-
me. This accumulation of water lowers the boiling
point and, under certain operating con ditions,
can affect the braking action.
Therefore have the brake fluid changed in accor-
dance with the change intervals stated in the bro-
chure “Maintenance”. The brake-fluid warning lights in the instrument pa-
nel and on-board computer indicate:
– brake-fluid level too low,
– in conjunction with large pedal travel, braking-
circuit failure.
If the warning lights should light up while
driving:
fStop immediately in a suitable place.
fDo not continue driving.
Please have the fault remedied at your nearest
authorized Porsche dealer.
Warning light USA
Warning light Canada

178
Maintenance, Car Care
Fuel
Warning!
Fuel is highly flammable and harmful to
health.
fFire, open flame and smoking are prohibited
when handling fuel.
fAvoid contact with skin or clothing.
fDo not inhale fuel vapors.
To prevent damage to the emission control
system and engine:
fNever drive the tank completely out of fuel.
fAvoid high cornering speeds after the warning lights have come on.
fPlease observe the chapter “FUEL ECONOMY”
on Page 177.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMISSION CONT-
ROL SYSTEM” on Page 182.
fPlease observe the chapter “FUEL” on Page
82.
Check engine warning light
If the warning lights in the instrument panel and on-
board computer come on and remain on while
driving, it suggests:
– an improperly fastened tank cap or
– refuelling with engine running.
Opening the filler flap The filler opening is under the filler flap in the front
right fender.
fWith the vehicle unlocked, press on the front
part of the filler flap (arrow) to open the flap.
The filler flap is centrally locked along with the
other locks. If there is a defect in the automatic unlocking
system:
fOpen the passenger door.
fPull the ring in the right-hand door aperture
(arrow).

Maintenance, Car Care
181
Fuels containing MMT Some North American fuels contain an octane en-
hancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
If such fuels are used, your emission control sys-
tem performance may be negatively affected.
The check engine warning light on your instrument
panel may turn on.
If this occurs, Porsche recommends you stop
using fuels containing MMT.
Portable Fuel Containers
Danger!
Portable fuel containers, full or partially em-
pty, may leak causing an explosion, or result
in fire in case of an accident.
fNever carry additional fuel in portable contai-ners in your vehicle.