Air Cooled Or Water Cooled?

[zmydust823]

Which system do you prefer and why....before the 996 models...all porsches were air cooled...now the new porsches (996-997) are water cooled...

[sameerrao]

I used to think aircooled was the best - it sounded different. But after driving a water cooled Boxster and listening to the engine - I have changed my mind.

My take: The mode of Cooling is irrelevant.

The 911 Carrera RS Touring and the 911 GT3-RS are my fav road going Porsches...

I still have a fondness for 993 - best shape of 911 of the last 40 years ....

[zmydust823]

i have a 993 and i have driven the 996 carrera and to me, the 993 sounds very deep and throaty, very beautiful..while the 996 on the other hand is more quiet...and more gentle...which is no what porsche is about..

[crayzayjay]

I prefer air-cooled, but the water-cooled 996 with a sport exhaust sounds just as mean. And like sameerrao says, Boxsters sound very, very nice indeed. So overall a slight preference for air-cooled but im not averse to the water-cooled variety.

[lakatu]

Well I asked basically the same question a while back and the answer that I received was that the preference for air cooled comes down to the sound of the engine http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?p=120611#120611 . An air cooled engine has a more mechanical sound due to the whirl of the fan and the lack of a noise insulation that a water jacket surrounding the internal engine parts creates.

IMO a water cooled engine is able to more efficiently cool the engine which should increase reliability and thermodynamic efficiencies. The only down side other than the sound is added weight and potentially added mechanical problems with a more complex system. I’m sure that a water cooled medium with water, radiator and pumping that runs to the front radiator has to weigh more and certainly there are more parts that could fail. The other aspect of air cooling is the nostalgic association to a relatively unique Porsche characteristic. Porsche fans love nostalgia :wink: .

[CMonakar]

Which system do you prefer and why....before the 996 models...all porsches were air cooled...now the new porsches (996-997) are water cooled...

Don't forget the 944 and 928 are watercooled:)

[zmydust823]

very true i agree with all your points..all valid...and how could i forget the 944 and the 928 haha....

[SilviaEvo]

honestly a Porsche is a Porsche i dont care!

[zmydust823]

yeah its all good haha.