M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: jason318is on July 14, 2008, 05:18:39 AM
-
Hi all,
i though i have fixed my water leak, but returning from Bimmerflex on sunday....(great day, really good turn out). i discovered that i havent fixed it at all.
I thought the leak was coming from the plastic pipe that goes into the cylinder just to the RHS of the oil filter housing (M42 motor) i replaced the o ring and checked the plastic pipe.
i now think the leak is coming from the head gasket. you can just make out water marks running from the gasket. What i would like to know is can you pressure test the water system so i can pin point the leak once and for all. i dont what to strip the motor down if i dont need too!!
is there a pressure test you can buy or is a specialist job?
The leak is only very slight and the car doesnt overheat, am i ok to still run the car, there is no sign of water in the oil system.
if it turns out to be the head gasket, do these things just leak due to wear and age or is it likely a result of something more major? the car has only ever got hot once and that was for about 2 minutes after the water bump packed up on me?
sorry for the numberous questions!!
cheers for any help
jay
-
You can rent a cooling system pressure tester from AutoZone. Money up front, but you get it back when you are finished; in essence, a free rental. Make sure it has the proper adaptor to fit the M42 coolant reservoir.
Not sure where you are geographically, but if there are no AutoZones in your area, call around to see if another store has the tester to rent.
No definitive answer regarding your headgasket, but the previous overheating incident could be related.