» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 07-04-2012, 06:13 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 148 | Coolant System Issue??? I did a search, but I'm still confused. I went on a 2 hour drive yesterday and when I got out of the car I smelled coolant. I popped my hood and I was getting steam out of a screw on top of the radiator and there were signs of a small leak (see pics). The temp gauge was right in the middle where it should be. I let the car cool overnight and the water level is at the proper mark. I've replaced the plastic cooling connectors and water pump at 180K (currently at 186K miles). The thermostat housing was replaced at 140K by the previous owner. I think it still has the original radiator. I'm going to check for leaks, but if I can't find anything obvious, does anyone have any suggestions? __________________ Trixie Alpine White 1996 BMW 318ti Sport | | | 07-04-2012, 07:05 PM | #2 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Did you remove the bleed screw or radiator cap while the engine was still hot? Don't ever do that it's extremely dangerous. Otherwise if you didn't remove the bleed screw, the pic shows that it's not screwed down all the way and that would explain the coolant on your airbox and expansion tank. When you replaced those parts, did you follow it by properly bleeding the air out of the system? If so, how many times did you bleed it. I ask because it usually takes several attempts to completely bleed all of the air out. This requires allowing the engine to reach operating temp and completely cool between each bleeding cycle. My advice would be to wipe everything down really good, maybe give it a good bleed exactly as outlined the bleed procedure posted in the knowledge base. Then allow the engine to run while the hood is open so you can inspect and watch for coolant leaks. It may help to have someone lightly rev the engine a couple times as this will speed up the water pump which will likely expose the source of the leak. | | | 07-04-2012, 10:40 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | Joe; I agree with Jesse, it looks like your bleed screw is a little loose, which would account for the spray pattern of coolant. Words from the wise Jesse again regarding getting it all bled properly and checking for leaks. Good Luck! __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 07-04-2012, 11:12 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 148 | Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 Did you remove the bleed screw or radiator cap while the engine was still hot? Don't ever do that it's extremely dangerous. Otherwise if you didn't remove the bleed screw, the pic shows that it's not screwed down all the way and that would explain the coolant on your airbox and expansion tank. When you replaced those parts, did you follow it by properly bleeding the air out of the system? If so, how many times did you bleed it. I ask because it usually takes several attempts to completely bleed all of the air out. This requires allowing the engine to reach operating temp and completely cool between each bleeding cycle. My advice would be to wipe everything down really good, maybe give it a good bleed exactly as outlined the bleed procedure posted in the knowledge base. Then allow the engine to run while the hood is open so you can inspect and watch for coolant leaks. It may help to have someone lightly rev the engine a couple times as this will speed up the water pump which will likely expose the source of the leak. | I had the parts replaced by my mechanic, so I'm sure he bled the system. I haven't touched the screw, so if it looks loose in the pic then that might be the problem. I thought I had a leaking expansion tank. I'll try tightening it and bleeding the system. Keep your fingers crossed! __________________ Trixie Alpine White 1996 BMW 318ti Sport | | | 07-04-2012, 11:18 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 | If that bleed screw is tightened too much the head will break off, I learned that one the hard way. Luckily the philips slots go down into the screw more than just at the head. Just snugging it down should be enough to keep the coolant in. A few sites sell a brass replacement, it's pretty nice. __________________ ~Dave~ 98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop 11 128i space gray slicktop 13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry Search | RealOEM | | | 07-05-2012, 12:22 AM | #6 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | I used to use a coin to tighten mine down. | | | 07-05-2012, 02:02 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 148 | Nope, it wasn't the screw. Looks like the plastic area connecting the cooling tank to the radiator is cracked. I'm going to have to get a new radiator. Oh well, after 16 years and 186K miles I guess I can't complain about the durability of BMW OEM parts. O'Reilley's has a Murray radiator for $170. Does anyone have any experience with that brand? I need to find one nearby because I can't wait to have one shipped to me. I'm going to try calling around tomorrow to locate a Behr, but I may need to go with the Murray if I can't find one. __________________ Trixie Alpine White 1996 BMW 318ti Sport | | | 07-05-2012, 02:03 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 148 | How many hoses do I need to replace? I've done the plastic cooling connectors and water pump already. If I do the radiator and three main connecting hoses, am I good to go? __________________ Trixie Alpine White 1996 BMW 318ti Sport | | | 07-05-2012, 02:14 AM | #9 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Quote: Originally Posted by jggonzalez How many hoses do I need to replace? I've done the plastic cooling connectors and water pump already. If I do the radiator and three main connecting hoses, am I good to go? | Yep, should be good to go. Should probably pick up a couple gallons of coolant while you're at it. Might be able to salvage a gallon from your old radiator and catch bucket if it's clean. Don't forget to bleed it a few times afterwards. And FWIW, it took less than 24hrs for my Behr to arrive when I ordered it from these guys a few years ago: http://stores.ebay.com/Radiator-and-...=p4634.c0.m322 Idk if they still sell Behr radiators, you might want to contact them. IIRC, they're out of SoCal, Burbank or Northridge. | | | 07-05-2012, 04:41 PM | #10 | Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 56 | Not surprising that the plastic cracked. The bleed screw takes very little torque to get it sealed - there is a rubber o ring on it which seals quite nicely with very little torque. Too much torque and crack goes the plastic - don't ask how I know. Jess's suggestion to use a coin is darn good - probably cannot overtighten with a coin. I have always feared the brass screw for just this reason - too easy to use a honking big screw driver and crack....new radiator time. RAS | | | 07-07-2012, 03:59 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 148 | Well, I got the radiator installed by a mechanic. He's a friend of my Dad's and only charged us $300 P&L. He used a Behr radiator and BMW coolant. He said he bled it properly and I've driven it for about 30 mins at 80 mph and the temperature needle never wavered. Looks like we're good to go. I love this car so much I'm thinking of getting a license plate that reads "0RGA5M". __________________ Trixie Alpine White 1996 BMW 318ti Sport | | | 07-07-2012, 07:13 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Phx Posts: 196 | Noticed the small crack in photo when I went to install a temp sensor. Nothing leaking...yet. Anything that will seal this or stop the crack, or am I looking at a new radiator? | | | 07-07-2012, 08:18 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Hey Joe! Remember when I was supposed to meet up with you guys in Vallejo and my cooling system failed, it turns out, while I was stuck in the traffic by Davis on that hot day, my coolant leaked out from the bleed screw on my rad. It was snug, thought it was sealed, but leaked. After a quick tow home, I replaced the rad and no issue since. I had seen some coolant leak out of the screw, but thought it was just loose. Turns out it was somewhat stripped and the stop and go on the freeway on a very warm day was just enough to cause it to fail. BTW, I hope you are doing very well... __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 07-09-2012, 10:18 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 148 | Yes, I remember that. We need to plan another get-together like that. I had a mechanic install a new radiator, but I don't think he bled the system completely. The next day I drove from Fremont to SJ to Foster City and back to Fremont. The water temp indicator stayed in the middle, but I smelled coolant and the engine seemed hotter to the touch than usual. Plus, the heater was only blowing somewhat-hot air. The next day I bled it according to Cooljess76's instructions and everything seems fine. I think my mechanic bled it like he said, but these cooling systems often need to be bled a few times, so its no big deal. She seems fine now. __________________ Trixie Alpine White 1996 BMW 318ti Sport | | | 07-10-2012, 04:19 AM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | Yes, Rich & Joe, we need to plan another GTG! Joe, glad that you got everything sorted out, and sucks that you had to do the work that the mechanic should have done completely (that you paid him for!). __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |