my 318is not keeping heat

[DominguesE30]

Ive realised it takes ages for the engine to warm up. But once moving and a considerable speed the engine losses all its heat. Anyways today my dad picked me up from a party in the bush. And tonight was a freezing night. 14 degrees celcius and my e36 couldnt get no heat wat so ever..
When we got home we opened up the hood and i placed my had on the engine cover/cam cover what ever its called and it was too hot for me to hold it there for a few seconds, so i dont know if its my freaking tacho or the thermostat staying open :dunno:

[Pirate_copy]

Sounds like a thermostat or gauge problem buddy!!

When you start the car from cold, drive it around normally for 5-10 mins and then check to see it the "top hose" is hot. This ensures that the thermostat is at least opening!!

[DominguesE30]

i think the thermostat is always open
I was on the highway for about 20-30 mins before it got out of the blue zone

[Pirate_copy]

That is not so good

Possible you gauge is just buggered though mate

[jarozila]

Probably the thermostat. After I bought my car (94 318is) I did not realise that the car was taking far too long to get to operating temperature. After reading a post I realised that all was not well.

I got my thermostat replcaed and the car now gets to operating temperature in about 4 minutes. With the old thermostat I noticed that when driving at night on a freeway the temp gauge would move off center back towards the blue.

[DominguesE30]

thats what mine does jarozila. TAKES AGES TO WARM UP. No **** 15 mins i left it in the garage on a nice warm day and it reached half way. Soon as i got moving it dropped back down

[Pirate_copy]

You losing coolant?

[DominguesE30]

Nope, nothing.
My e30 pissed it out
If i was losing coolant pete wouldnt my temp go sky rocket instead of cold cold?

[Pirate_copy]

depends on if your guage is working

Just cos it is saying it is cold, doesn't mean it is buddy

I doubt VERY much that the engine is actually cold mate....almost impossible!

[DominguesE30]

thats what im thinking. Is it expensive to fix the gauge?

[Pirate_copy]

Dunno mate, depends what is wrong with it

More likely to be the sensor than the gauge itself though

[99flhr]

depends on if your guage is working

Just cos it is saying it is cold, doesn't mean it is buddy

I doubt VERY much that the engine is actually cold mate....almost impossible!

The fact that he`s getting NO HEAT inside the car AND a low temp gauge reading points to a bad thermostat.

[DominguesE30]

when i got home one night from a 30 min drive in pretty darn cold weather the gauge said it was cold, but i opened up the hood and i couldnt hold my hand on the valve cover (where the oil cap is) Beats me

[Pirate_copy]

Check the sensor at the bottom of your expansion tank then the gauges padawan

[DominguesE30]

i wont check it, next time i visit the dealer ill get him to do a double check

[Pirate_copy]

A STEALER????

Dom, you are disowned!!

[DominguesE30]

i ment the guy who i bought it off :) remember pete. His like family and my bmw is the 3rd one we purchased off him.
Sorry my bad