» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 04-11-2015, 07:46 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pullman Posts: 20 | Thermostat reading BLUE on highway Hi, my first post here on 318ti.org. I seem to have an issue with my thermostat, which I've really noticed since taking my 1995 318ti (M42B18 engine) to a cold winter climate after driving it solely in Miami. While driving around town or when the car idles, the thermostat reading is normal (needle around 12 o'clock), and the car interior can heat up fine. However, when I drive on the highway for a while, the reading always drops off, and the needle sits in or on the edge of the blue. Then, the car interior doesn't heat up very well. The same thing happens with the gauge even in hot weather while highway driving. Essentially, increased air flow over the engine causes the thermostat reading to drop...I doubt the air flow is actually cooling the entire engine. Is this a faulty thermostat? Something else with the coolant system? Thanks in advance! | | | 04-11-2015, 07:56 PM | #2 | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 | First thing to do is check your coolant level. __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | 04-12-2015, 12:05 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 373 | Faulty thermostat. It's sticking open. __________________ 2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy | | | 04-12-2015, 01:23 AM | #4 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pullman Posts: 20 | Coolant level is good. Will replace thermostat. My friend suggests that I might as well flush the coolant and replace my water pump while I'm at it...he's sure it'll eventually break. I'm at 105k miles. Thoughts? | | | 04-14-2015, 05:31 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | Your issue is the thermostat being stuck open. And replacing the water pump is a perfect example of good preventative maintenance. A Cooling system failure can destroy the engine, so spend a little now to prevent spending alot later... Oh, and Welcome to the .org! __________________ 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! | | | 04-14-2015, 05:38 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Come on out to meet with us this weekend in NorCal and we can swap it out together. We're trying to get Adam to drive back from TX. __________________ 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! | | | 04-14-2015, 12:16 PM | #7 | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 | Also... 100K miles is a good point at which to replace the radiator. __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | 04-16-2015, 02:53 AM | #8 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pullman Posts: 20 | Thanks for all the advice! Admittedly a little nervous to do the repair and water pump change, after reading about other people having trouble with leaks afterwards and removing seized parts. But I know it's gotta be done. One more question, I've learned that it's the CPS sensor that runs in front of the thermostat housing (see pic attached). The sensor can be removed with a 5mm allen wrench, but then there's the plastic guide for it. Will that get in the way? It runs in front of then behind the thermostat housing. Thanks all! | | | 04-16-2015, 03:52 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | It's relatively easy to remove the CPS and simply move it out of the way while you work. __________________ 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 | | | |