coolant problem help..

graphite · Post by **graphite** » Feb 26, 2005 4:21 PM

i changed my coolant today.. and my thermostat.. and now it heats up past the center and would probably go to over heating if i didnt turn it off before hand.. it doesnt feel like any coolant is going through my radiator at all.. the upper coolan hose is hot but it doesnt feel like its full of coolant but the radiator is cool to the touch.. not even warm. i'm waiting for it to cool down some so i can take the thermostat back out and check it in boiling water.. anyone have anything else i could check?

csp23 · Post by **csp23** » Feb 26, 2005 4:32 PM

I am not terribly familiar with these cars yet, but I will assume there is a bleed valve for bleeding the system of air. Make sure you get the air out. Is it possible you put the 'stat in backwards? Other theory, which you are already going to check is if the new 'stat is bad.

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Feb 26, 2005 4:44 PM

DId you change both thermostats? If so, you might've swapped them.

Make sure all of the hoses are routed correctly (it's really hard to mess this up, actually, since the hoses are pre-molded).

Definitely, definitely, definitely bleed the system and bleed again. Some have to bleed several times, just like on the clutch and brake hydraulics.

Also check your auxiliary fan fuse. It's one of the only 25A fuses in the fuse box, and the fan is the only thing on that circuit.

One last thing that I can think of for you to check is the fan clutch. try to spin the main fan by hand. If it spins freely (like mine), it's time for a new fan clutch. If it gives you some tension, it should be good.

HTH,

[Edit by Shifty on [TIME]1109454349[/TIME]]

graphite · Post by **graphite** » Feb 26, 2005 5:03 PM

both thermostats? didnt know there was more than one.. tried the thermostat both ways.. i think i had ti wrong the first time.. the side with the thermister solenoid part is faceing the engine right now and the spring part is facing the radiator.. the thermostat i have works (put it in boiling water)... it had no markings on it for direction but i'm pretty sure its correct right now..

no hoses were removed so its not hoses.. fan clutch is new.. just installed today as well.. i've bleed.. but for some reason when the car is not running and i fill the resevoir it never gets to the point where fluid comes out on its own.. but it does when running.. i definately didnt need 12L to fill it though.. was more like 8.. It really seems to me like the radiator isnt getting coolant.. that upper radiator hose just feels like it has hot air in it.. i'm going to go grab my radiator i have from my 85 535i and try putting that in.. wont be able to till late tonight or tomorrow though.. i'll have wasted $50 in bmw coolant by the time this is through.. didnt realize that stuff was so expensive..

smackmybutter535i · Post by **smackmybutter535i** » Feb 27, 2005 11:54 AM

Try properly flushing the system. You might have a blockage. You also might have a blown head gasket.

a · Post by a » Feb 27, 2005 12:18 PM

the simplest way I have found to bleed my etas (should work fine for a big 6) is to ramp the l/front wheel and to remove the top aux fan switch on the radiator. Add coolant until it pours out. I have never had to repeat the procedure. BTW, the aux fan is powered off fuse 17.

Threeshifter · Post by **Threeshifter** » Feb 27, 2005 1:45 PM

I want to know about the 2nd thermostat.

Does it really exist? Where is it?

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Feb 27, 2005 2:37 PM

[QUOTE="Threeshifter"]I want to know about the 2nd thermostat.

Does it really exist? Where is it?[/QUOTE]

I was talking about the two aux fan switches on the radiator, sometimes called thermostat switches. Swapping the switches can be a bad thing. I thought that's what you were referring to, but I apparantly thought wrong.

Threeshifter · Post by **Threeshifter** » Feb 27, 2005 2:45 PM

I was talking about the two aux fan switches on the radiator, sometimes called thermostat switches. Swapping the switches can be a bad thing. I thought that's what you were referring to, but I apparantly thought wrong.

Aahhh. That makes sense. I was not trying to burn you I just wanted to learn about something that I might not have known about or clear up a miscommunication.

Steve Haygood · Post by **Steve Haygood** » Feb 27, 2005 3:14 PM

Spring portion goes toward the engine, any m30 engine after 85 is royal pain to get the air out,Remove the cap, then remove the upper hose at the radiator, pour in the coolant till the hose is full, quickly connect to the thermo housing. Remove bleeder screw and fill coolant bottle. Pinch the overflow off, and blow into the coolant until a steady stream comes out of the coolant bottle, while holding pressure against the system, tighten the bleeder screw. Finished, call me if you need more help

UOTE]Originally posted by graphite

both thermostats? didnt know there was more than one.. tried the thermostat both ways.. i think i had ti wrong the first time.. the side with the thermister solenoid part is faceing the engine right now and the spring part is facing the radiator.. the thermostat i have works (put it in boiling water)... it had no markings on it for direction but i'm pretty sure its correct right now..

no hoses were removed so its not hoses.. fan clutch is new.. just installed today as well.. i've bleed.. but for some reason when the car is not running and i fill the resevoir it never gets to the point where fluid comes out on its own.. but it does when running.. i definately didnt need 12L to fill it though.. was more like 8.. It really seems to me like the radiator isnt getting coolant.. that upper radiator hose just feels like it has hot air in it.. i'm going to go grab my radiator i have from my 85 535i and try putting that in.. wont be able to till late tonight or tomorrow though.. i'll have wasted $50 in bmw coolant by the time this is through.. didnt realize that stuff was so expensive..

[/QUOTE]

Threeshifter · Post by **Threeshifter** » Feb 27, 2005 4:04 PM

Remove the cap, then remove the upper hose at the radiator, pour in the coolant till the hose is full, quickly connect to the thermo housing. Remove bleeder screw and fill coolant bottle. Pinch the overflow off, and blow into the coolant until a steady stream comes out of the coolant bottle, while holding pressure against the system, tighten the bleeder screw. Finished, call me if you need more help

And if you still have not found your cars G spot, repeat with increased speed.

graphite · Post by **graphite** » Feb 27, 2005 9:51 PM

i got it now... thermostat was backwards this time.. but it still wasnt bled all the way anyway.. had the thermostat right the first time then flipped it.. now its right.. the way i got it bled well was to jack up the front but put the jack stand on the passenger side higher a couple notches than the driver side.. then i took out the top fan switch from the radiator.. opened the bleed screw.. had the overfill tube plugged and the nipple on the resevoir taped off.. then i poured coolant relatively slowly as to try not to trap air anywhere.. coolant came out the bleed screw and i closed it.. but the resevoir filled up all the way before coolant came out of the fan switch hole.. i started to remove the lower fan switch and coolant started seeping out .. so i knew it was only that top corner that had a little air.. sealed it up lowered it and put the overflow hose back on and it worked.. opened the bleeder at operating temp and only coolant came out..

wasted 1.5 of the 2 gallons of the blue bmw coolant though (~$45 at the stealer) and ended up with the autozone special instead..

its done though so i'm happy about that

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

coolant problem help..