I think my ti might be suicidal

[oldtin]

The warning signs are there - a few weeks ago - it hemorrhaged a giant puddle of oil. A couple of weeks ago - snapped off a piece of the radiator. There's rust in the floor and today. coolant temp hit red (distracted by a phone call - dammit). I don't think this car wants to live.

Actually what I suspect is I was having heater - cable issues - so the heater core was closed off when I rehabbed the cooling. I fixed the cable yesterday - and probably introduced an air lock into the system. Hopefully it survives, but by reputation, I don't have a lot of hope that it will. I do have a spare m42 (my ti is a 95). Although if I pull the engine it will be oh so tempting to throw an m50 in there.

[geetarspaz]

oh i know,

take it to the m50 recovery center located in your garage. it'll come out smiling

[oldtin]

Looks like the new t-stat is not opening at all. Fired it up this afternoon - seems to running ok - no water in the oil. Fingers crossed there's no head damage.

[ti cali ed]

I think the t-stat on these are supost to fail open - if they fail. At least that's what factory bmw ones are designed to do.

[jca]

Originally Posted by ti cali ed

I think the t-stat on these are supost to fail open - if they fail. At least that's what factory bmw ones are designed to do.

I've read the same thing.

[oldtin]

Unfortunately an aftermarket part. Definitely not opening - nothing flowing. Next one will get tested before it goes in.

[98318ti]

When I did an engine swap a few months ago I found that a lot of the burping problems can be prevented by filling up the coolant using the top radiator hose. This bypassess the thermostat and fills up the the engine and the radiator through the bottom hose. Even with a working thermostat it seems to take forever for it to open and then it takes in coolant in one huge gulp just as you are thinking that the car is going to overheat. When it does that just shut it off and let the engine heat soak the thermostat. Wait 20-30 minutes and repeat adding more coolant as needed.

[oldtin]

Update - been commuting on the bike (triumph daytona - 30* lows - brrrr). Got a new t-stat - did a kitchen test - this one is good - old one failed the kitchen test (dunk in a pot of heated water and kitchen thermostat). Bled the system and it seems to be working. Interesting - I've never seen or heard the fan run. Wiring and fuse check out. Time to check out the relay