Help!!! Coolant Problems!!!

[///R_Power]

I'm mysteriously losing coolant every month and my "check coolant level" message appears on the OBC!!! There's NO leak or anything its just disappearing! Its becoming very common now too for every month I fill up the reservoir 1-2 times a month! This has been going on since December of 08 and I was told its normal...I DON'T THINKS ITS NORMAL!:mad:

I did a coolant flush in Feb. '09...no help!

I did a compression check...everything is OK! (13 bar)

Now my colleagues and Auto teacher CLAIM its a cracked cylinder head!:bawling:

What else could be the problem because I really don't want to cracked head...

[HyphE36]

Radiator, Radiator Hoses (upper, lower), Heater Core, Thermostat housing, and lower engine block. only places coolant goes that I know off. randy... my car ate two finches today, straight through the grill >< those fawkers cracked my aux fan, put a leak in my radiator, and to top it all off... it was nasty!

[cmy_bimmer]

^ aww gross : puke:. That sucks bro. They went through your stocl bumper? How the hell fast were you going?. Anyway, hope both of you guys get everything settled.

[HyphE36]

lol, i think one went in the grills and one the bumper... they were flying like ****in retarded ass squirrels with wings right infront of and with my car. i wasn't going very fast because i didn't want to hit them, probably like 20, i thought they would move... thumpthump... WRONG! i'll take pics of whats left of the carnage tomorrow.

I swear birds are getting dumber

P.I.

[mybavauto]

a few months ago with my car, the cause was a bad cylinder head, luckily it was only warped so it was machined and put back on. in addition to that, new cooling system, and all the labor came to about $5000. the cylinder head job was about $2500 alone

[cmy_bimmer]

Haha, yup. One landed REAL close to me while I was driving and I had to slam on the brakes while people were behind me. Damn birds :D.

Anyway, back on topic. Did u talk to LWRENCE Randy?

[///R_Power]

***The following message is to be read in a positive tone.*** (you know who you are)

OK thanks but...

A: I'm still laughing about those birds:rofl:...I can picture it in my head...at least they're not like the birds in Texas...holy shcyt! Those birds would wait in the trees 'till your right there then swoop down and...

B: I don't have $2500-$5000...:cry: nor do I wanna spend that much sorry...

C: No I haven't talked to Lawrence...I kind of forgot to...:D

D: Usmama! Your gonna love the "package"...:thumbup:;)


PS- All the Bimmerforum-ians keep saying it a leak...I clearly stated that its not..WTF?

[Black Isis]

Is your tailpipe smoking or do you have an abundance of yellow gunk under your oil filler cap? could be a slightly cracked head gasket leaking coolant into the cylinders. the reason you are not seeing any fluid drips is because you are burning it off.

[E36 Phantom]

Kids on BFc don't actually read, they just look at the title and post a useless stream of consciousness response that usually is utterly pointless.

Anyways, yeah, your head is warped. The car is probably worth 5-600 max in that condition. If you want, I'll do you a favor and take it off your hands for $1000 to try to get rid of it for you, I know it's a hassle dealing with broken cars. Sorry you have to go through this, the tow truck driver will be at your house at 4pm.


Seriously, you've probably got a hairline crack in the expansion tank. You need to fill and pressurize the coolant system and check for leaks like that.

[cmy_bimmer]

HAHA, Chad it won't work, I already tried :lmao:.

Well, Randy check your coolant system first :thumbup:

[///R_Power]

Kids on BFc don't actually read, they just look at the title and post a useless stream of consciousness response that usually is utterly pointless.

Anyways, yeah, your head is warped. The car is probably worth 5-600 max in that condition. If you want, I'll do you a favor and take it off your hands for $1000 to try to get rid of it for you, I know it's a hassle dealing with broken cars. Sorry you have to go through this, the tow truck driver will be at your house at 4pm.


Seriously, you've probably got a hairline crack in the expansion tank. You need to fill and pressurize the coolant system and check for leaks like that.

HAHA, Chad it won't work, I already tried :lmao:.

Well, Randy check your coolant system first :thumbup:


everyone's seems to say pressure test...i guess i can do that next...whats its like?

[ryder23]

Hey, is there any white residue on your Rad cap? It might be that if so. I was losing my coolant slowly and figured it was the rad cap. You can't see the coolant escaping when you are idling with the hood up.

My friend had the same problem too on his e36.

Bests

[tooli21]

My car mysteriously consumed a few ounces of fluid twice, leading to the "Check Coolant Level". This occured at the end of winter, when the weather started to warm up. I haven't had any problems since, and the coolant level has been steady

[ColumbusBMW]

***The following message is to be read in a positive tone.*** (you know who you are)

OK thanks but...

A: I'm still laughing about those birds:rofl:...I can picture it in my head...at least they're not like the birds in Texas...holy shcyt! Those birds would wait in the trees 'till your right there then swoop down and...

B: I don't have $2500-$5000...:cry: nor do I wanna spend that much sorry...

C: No I haven't talked to Lawrence...I kind of forgot to...:D

D: Usmama! Your gonna love the "package"...:thumbup:;)


PS- All the Bimmerforum-ians keep saying it a leak...I clearly stated that its not..WTF?


I had the same scenario with my Swedish car. Constantly losing small amounts of cooland. Yet no sign of a leak. No puddle under the car when parked, no wetness under the hood, no milky oil from bad head gasket, no smoke in the turbo. Does that sound like what you are experiencing?

Ended up being a heater/coolant bypass valve. Only leaked under pressure of driving and would evaporate so as to not be visible. Oh and the fricken thing was hidden so it was very hard to see. $36 later and 30 minutes of my time all is well. I;m not saying this is the problem but worth a check. There is no way to tighten the old one or fix it. Just replace it.

Hope this helps.

[PhilipWOT]

I'm mysteriously losing coolant every month and my "check coolant level" message appears on the OBC!!! There's NO leak or anything its just disappearing! Its becoming very common now too for every month I fill up the reservoir 1-2 times a month! This has been going on since December of 08 and I was told its normal...I DON'T THINKS ITS NORMAL!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_iz8z2AGw

[///R_Power]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_iz8z2AGw

uhhh...OK?:dunno:

I don't see how that's helpful...

[PhilipWOT]

uhhh...OK?:dunno:

I don't see how that's helpful...

It's just realistic. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you aren't leaking coolant onto the driveway and you dont have a blown hg (which I dont think you could since your compression is good) then it sounds like you could only have a cracked head.
The good news: S50 motorsets can be had for ~$3000 if you know where to look.

[///R_Power]

It's just realistic. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you aren't leaking coolant onto the driveway and you dont have a blown hg (which I dont think you could since your compression is good) then it sounds like you could only have a cracked head.
The good news: S50 motorsets can be had for ~$3000 if you know where to look.

uhhh...the song is realistic? OK....

anyways....$3000 is just a wee bit over the budget :rolleyes:

[E36 Phantom]

It's just realistic. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you aren't leaking coolant onto the driveway and you dont have a blown hg (which I dont think you could since your compression is good) then it sounds like you could only have a cracked head.
The good news: S50 motorsets can be had for ~$3000 if you know where to look.

Not necessarily. Pressure test first.

(BTW I enjoyed the Taps. Get the stick out of your ass, Randy. :p)

[cmy_bimmer]

In other words, your car is dying Randy :D.

Oh, and BTW I GOT TEH INTERWEBZ BACKS!!!!! :banana:.

proceed :D

[///R_Power]

WTH? I'm so confused!:cry:

A: I enjoyed the taps too but it wasn't helpful...

B: I khwill pressure test it once I get the right tool (unless I don't need them):thumbup:

C: There is definitely NO stick in my a$$...trust me...i checked...:thumbup:

D: Yay for Usmama! Now YOU can post the thread about your Angel Eyes because I Keep forgetting...:p

BTW: It COULD OF been worse right? I COULD OF overheated my engine and blew it up and supposedly pistons would fly out everywhere and billions would be dead!!!:thumbup:

[Black Isis]

Btw you bolded could of when you should have bolded could have sorry its just that it was bolded :)

[///R_Power]

Btw you bolded could of when you should have bolded could have sorry its just that it was bolded :)

i know....its an inside joke...:thumbup:

Chad knows whats up....:p

[E36 Phantom]

i know....its an inside joke...:thumbup:

Chad knows whats up....:p
More like Chad wants to punch you in the f*ckin' face.

[HyphE36]

More like Chad wants to punch you in the f*ckin' face.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[///R_Power]

More like Chad wants to punch you in the f*ckin' face.

:jawdrop:...:cry:...:bawling:

[Black Isis]

Ha! was that you Chad who had the rotating grammar flash thingy in your sig?:beerchug:

[E36 Phantom]

This one? Yep that was me.

<img src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m237/ChadMKIII/EnglishRules.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[LWRNCE]

don't keep guessing what it is. You will end up spending more than you have to. Bring it by the shop and have us take a look at it.

[///R_Power]

don't keep guessing what it is. You will end up spending more than you have to. Bring it by the shop and have us take a look at it.

i feel bad for asking...but should i bring some money for the time it takes? :bigpimp:

[E36 Phantom]

i feel bad for asking...but should i bring some money for the time it takes? :bigpimp:

Yes, you should, so you can help Lawrence buy some properly fitting wheels.

:rofl:

:p

[///R_Power]

Yes, you should, so you can help Lawrence buy some properly fitting wheels.

:rofl:

:p

whatch you talking about willis!?!?!?

those wheels are sexy!:D

[J.Spearse]

whatch you talking about willis!?!?!?

those wheels are sexy!:D

lol... sexy for a sea cow.. :mad:

[PhilipWOT]

More like Chad wants to punch you in the f*ckin' face.

:rofl: Someone's been watching Dane Cook?

:bustingup :lmao:

[E36 Phantom]

:rofl: Someone's been watching Dane Cook?

:bustingup :lmao:

Actually, no, I haven't watched him for ages.

Rest assured knowing that was truly from the heart.

:angel:

[LWRNCE]

Yes, you should, so you can help Lawrence buy some properly fitting wheels.

:rofl:

:p

lol. You are the king of bimmerfest.com? because you can't hang in BF.C? Everyone knows that bimmerfest is for noobs. I take it the Jaguar forums are a bit too mature for you:thumbdwn:
lol... sexy for a sea cow.. :mad:

Must be nice walking everywhere or bumming rides...

[LWRNCE]

i feel bad for asking...but should i bring some money for the time it takes? :bigpimp:

Just bring it by. Me and mike can take a look at it and let you know whats going on. Give me a call at the shop.

[E36 Phantom]

lol. You are the king of bimmerfest.com? because you can't hang in BF.C? Everyone knows that bimmerfest is for noobs. I take it the Jaguar forums are a bit too mature for you:thumbdwn:


Must be nice walking everywhere or bumming rides...

Dude - it was a joke. Chill. People who take everything someone online says about their car so seriously are hilarious.

I hang at Bimmerfest because I enjoy the people here, and don't really care for the people at BFc. I don't know who constitutes "everyone" but you can take that idea and shove it up your ass. :) I'm on various Jaguar forums but I've yet to find a forum I enjoy for just chillin online more than Bimmerfest. Go take some Prozac and relax a bit dude.

[rocker540i6]

Have a mechanic check the heater valve/aux. water pump. I had the same problem you have been having, and finally it went to the shop, limping in with coolant dripping from behind the driver's front tire. Evidently the pump is located on the firewall. They found that coolant was leaking from the valve. It was about a $500.00 job from a trusted indy shop. I hope that this solves the problem. I saw the valve that came out and it doesn't look like a 450.00 part, but it is a bimmer. Hope this helps.