The Porsche is a high-class, super-performance vehicle with both style and reputation. Every Porsche driver knows that their driving experience is unique to other cars, and they expect the best from their vehicle. Your Porsche can still experience coolant leaks, particularly from the thermostat housing.
Coolant is critical for keeping your car’s temperature regulated, and when it leaks, it can result in an array of other problems. During typical operation, your Porsche’s engine naturally produces a great amount of heat. Your car’s cooling system ensures that the engine runs in an optimal range and reduces the chance of overheating. A mixture of water and coolant flows through your engine to absorb unneeded heat.
This heat is then directed away from the engine and into the radiator, where its temperature lowers before entering the engine once again. Coolant moves through the system through the water pump, driven by a belt at the front of your Porsche’s engine.
Finally, the temperature is regulated by a thermostat located in the route of the coolant. This coolant must be kept within a certain range in order to provide for safe driving. The coolant thermostat controls this function, and the job is completed in the thermostat housing.
The Engine Coolant Thermostat Housing
The engine’s thermostat is located within the route of the engine and the radiator. When the engine’s temperature is below normal operation range, the thermostat stays closed. This enables the coolant to move throughout the engine, except to the radiator.
When the temperature is close to the top of its normal operation range, the thermostat opens up and gives way for coolant to make its way to the radiator where it is cooled down before going back to the engine.
The thermostat is held in the thermostat housing, and is typically attached to the upper radiator hose, but is sometimes on the lower one.
Symptoms of a Leaking or Failed Engine Coolant Thermostat Housing
If your vehicle overheats, a failed or bad thermostat could be the culprit. However, a thermostat housing that has sustained damage is more likely going to give way for a coolant leak. This comes from either a failed seal in the engine or warped housing.
If you notice high or fluctuating temperature readings on your Porsche, there could possibly be a coolant leak. It’s best to get it checked out as soon as possible because engine overheating can be a serious problem for your Porsche.
Can I drive with a thermostat housing leak?
If your Porsche’s coolant thermostat housing is leaking, it needs to be replaced as quickly as you can get the job done. If the leak is enough for an engine overheat, you should pull your vehicle over immediately and tow it to a repair shop.
In some cases, an electronic mechanism within your car will force your Porsche to shut down partially, idling the engine so that you can’t drive very fast or for long distances. Eventually, your Porsche can shut down completely in order to allow you to get to an auto service center before it leaves you stranded.
Additionally, a low coolant warning light will usually illuminate on your dash to let you know that your Porsche is low on coolant. This will typically happen well before your engine starts overheating. These are just a few ways your car protects you from potential danger.
The housing of your thermostat should typically outlast the thermostat itself, and ideally, it should last as long as your Porsche does. However, at times the housing can crack because of consistent heating and cooling along with the rubber coolant hose moving constantly.
Your thermostat housing should be inspected for damage or wear if your Porsche’s engine overheats at any point. Your mechanic should also check this when you get the radiator hose replaced.
Momentum Motorworks: Your Porsche Experts
Located off of Old Montgomery Highway in 
Birmingham, Alabama, Momentum Motorworks is AL’s premier automotive repair shop. We service all Porsche drivers in the surrounding areas including Alabaster, Homewood, Helena, Hoover, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia, AL.
If you notice any of the above symptoms or indicators that your car is going to overheat due to a coolant leak in the thermostat housing, bring your Porsche to us right away. We guarantee to repair the problem right the first time, every time.