318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Technical, Maintenance and Modifications > Engine

Notices

Engine Tuneups, chips, wires, spark plugs.

.
» Recent Threads
1999 M-Sport For Sale
12-31-2023 05:10 PM
Last post by Coop540iT
03-23-2024 06:39 PM
1 Replies, 101,433 Views
Once again 318ti owner...
03-20-2024 12:39 PM
Last post by two30grain
03-22-2024 02:04 PM
1 Replies, 64,467 Views
What brakes do I...
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
Last post by huirtera
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
0 Replies, 61,651 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-14-2007, 01:32 AM   #1
adamud
Senior Member
 
adamud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 585
iTrader: (0)
Default Black Coolant

I replaced my water pump this weekend due to it seizing up and breaking off all the belts. When I drained out the coolant from the radiator, it was black. That bothered me so I drained the whole system from the engine block and yet again the coolant was still black. I know it is supposed to be blue if you use BMW coolant, which I do, but I had just changed the coolant this summer.

Could the black coolant possibly be from the water pump going out?
Just sorta worried about going on an upcoming 700 mile adventure.
adamud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 01:44 AM   #2
cali-ti
aka Stabby
 
cali-ti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mead, CO
Posts: 5,336
iTrader: (0)
Default

did a google search and found a few links:

http://www.mustangforums.com/m_4119600/tm.htm
(this one is talking about diesel engines so don't know that it applies):
www.penray.com/images/99.014.pdf
__________________
1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray

acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts




2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel
cali-ti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 02:05 AM   #3
adamud
Senior Member
 
adamud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 585
iTrader: (0)
Default

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ant-color.html

I found this, but it is from 2002.

I'm going to stop by Baron BMW tomorrow and ask around. Could it be from old coolant lines?
adamud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 05:37 PM   #4
mohaughn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,525
iTrader: (1)
Default

Black like it was dirty black, or black like it had oil in it. If you let the coolant sit for awhile could you see oil pockets form in the coolant?

Usually black coolant means you have oil getting into the coolant, but you can tell it is oily.
mohaughn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 08:14 PM   #5
campaiar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 890
iTrader: (0)
Default

^^Exactly. Let the "fluid" sit and see if it separates into black and green.

If it does and you can identify the black as oil and green as freeze, you have a problem.
__________________
SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver
M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs
campaiar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 08:45 PM   #6
jimmyloose
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SoCal :D
Posts: 73
iTrader: (0)
Default

Oil in coolant = game over.

Check your oil and see if it has a milky color.
jimmyloose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 09:56 PM   #7
adamud
Senior Member
 
adamud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 585
iTrader: (0)
Default

To mohaughn and campaiar; there were was no oil pockets or separation of the coolant. It looked more as if it was just dirty.

To jimmyloose; the oil is still mobil 1 caramel brown.

When I stopped by BMW today I had the parts guy go and ask a technician or two about it. He asked the head tech and got the oil answer from him AND that it could be from old falling apart pipes. He also asked the mini head tech about the coolant dye decomposing and he had never heard of that. After I purchased a few things I asked my friend who works there as a service manager and he said it was probably a bad batch of coolant. He also said that if I had a bad head gasket, then oil could get in that way, but I replaced that three years ago (I'm sure its fine).

So I a couple answers. I'm going to change the coolant next week and see if the colour has changed at all. Plus I'll thoroughly inspect it for oil or anything of that matter.

Input is still welcome.

EDIT: I totally forgot to bring up something. Does the water pump happen to have any grease or anything in it. Because if it does, then that would explain why the coolant was black?!
adamud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2007, 08:10 PM   #8
adamud
Senior Member
 
adamud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 585
iTrader: (0)
Default

A little update on the black coolant. I'm in the process of replacing almost all of the cooling system, so once again I had to drain the coolant. There was absolutely no sign of oil or any separation between the coolant and other aqueous solutions. I'm either guessing the black colour was from bad dye or from the water pump having grease in and around the bearings, and when it went out the grease got into the coolant. <- Just a complete guess, but it seems that oil is not the culprit in the black coolant mystery.
adamud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2007, 12:36 AM   #9
campaiar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 890
iTrader: (0)
Default

The waterpump bearing is a sealed unit. If its lube was leaking, the pump would fail immediately.
__________________
SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver
M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs
campaiar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2007, 01:07 AM   #10
adamud
Senior Member
 
adamud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 585
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by campaiar View Post
The waterpump bearing is a sealed unit. If its lube was leaking, the pump would fail immediately.
That is pretty much what happened, while cruising on the highway. Water pump quit spinning and burnt/broke off the belts
adamud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2007, 02:52 AM   #11
elfhearse
Senior Member
 
elfhearse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: back in PA
Posts: 204
iTrader: (1)
Default

The PenRay coolant article mentioned fluid turning black from high concentrations of metal... maybe the water pump/bearings was wearing out and breaking down with metal particles contaminating the coolant. + how old was the coolant?
Usually when a head gasket fails you get the cloud of white steam (coolant) out the exhaust. Not sure about only oil leaking into the coolant without the higher coolant pressure pushing out the other direction into the engine (just guessing, no SME on that theory)

If you have around 100K miles, you should probably change the coolant hoses and the two coolant manifold blocks.
elfhearse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2007, 03:03 AM   #12
adamud
Senior Member
 
adamud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 585
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by elfhearse View Post
The PenRay coolant article mentioned fluid turning black from high concentrations of metal... maybe the water pump/bearings was wearing out and breaking down with metal particles contaminating the coolant. + how old was the coolant?
If you have around 100K miles, you should probably change the coolant hoses and the two coolant manifold blocks.
I'm almost positive that the water pump was to blame for the colour of the coolant. The coolant was barely 6 months old. I have almost 200k and I've almost replaced the whole cooling system.
adamud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2007, 03:25 AM   #13
DustenT
doesn't care about you.
 
DustenT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 3,925
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by adamud View Post
I'm almost positive that the water pump was to blame for the colour of the coolant. The coolant was barely 6 months old. I have almost 200k and I've almost replaced the whole cooling system.
Your theory about the water pump grease getting into the coolant sounds probable.
__________________

'99 Dinan M3
DustenT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2007, 02:49 AM   #14
ClubSport
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 290
iTrader: (0)
Default

How long have you owned the car? It sounds like prior owner put some of that miracle-in-a-bottle radiator stop leak in the rad. Some brands are known for turning the coolant black and also not good stuff for the water pump to be chewing on.
ClubSport is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FS: ti Outer Tie Rod Ends (selling on ebay) NismoPick US and North America 2 05-25-2007 02:50 PM
Spectacular drift ends in disaster - DustenT crashes! DustenT Lounge 44 03-06-2007 03:49 AM
tie rod ends dodj eBay and Craig's list listings 1 05-29-2006 12:25 AM
never ends.... 3184ever Misc 8 04-22-2006 07:18 AM
Supercharger Ebay auction ends tonight! KOjag eBay and Craig's list listings 2 09-12-2005 02:14 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:19 AM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 112.02 k/133.49 k (16.09%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.