Messages

1

Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 20, 2008, 08:08:27 PM »

Ah, thanks for the info on your head.  I think the head is still ok.  I've decided get a new car, but not for another couple months, so I'll add water and just take short trips until I sell it.

Thanks again.

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Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 20, 2008, 02:47:42 PM »

Thanks been my concern since the temp/cooling system started acting up a couple months ago.  I'm pretty sure it hasn't been over heated, unless you can over heat it without the guage running into the red/and the radiator steaming over.

It started rougher since the shop worked on it.  I think they pressure tested the cooling system and I thought maybe some stuff got mixed up or something.  But it does slightly remind me of how it ran when I first got it 8 years ago and 3 months later the engine did a "hydrolic freeze".  A different shop said there was a hair crack and I had the head replaced.

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Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 20, 2008, 11:22:05 AM »

Thanks for your help guys.  Guess it probably is a leak, and since the shop said the hoses were fine and they didn't find any leaks (in their defense I didn't let them keep the car very long) it probably is the radiator.  The cap is also new.

Would the air in the system also account for it running/starting rougher than normal?  Hopefully I'll have time to look at it over the holidays.  For now it's short trips.

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Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 16, 2008, 11:25:43 PM »

A leak in the radiator?

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Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 16, 2008, 11:02:17 PM »

Sorry, double post.

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Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 16, 2008, 11:01:44 PM »

I'm putting about 24-40oz. of water a day now.  I've driven it a couple times for 40 minutes (each way) on the freeway.  When I arrive some fluid is on the ground when I start to come back and then when I hit some stop lights when I get back the temp. starts rising.  If it's a long light I start getting nervous because the gauge goes up/above 3/4.

I'm mostly driving it just 15/20 minute or short trips and putting water almost daily.  Could something just be blocking a water way that a coolant system would clear out or does it sound like something more/more expensive?

7

Engine + Driveline / Running hot - cooling system part 2

« on: December 16, 2008, 06:47:35 PM »

A while ago I posted a question about my 318is running hot when idling at a stop light.  I'd taken it to a shop and they said the thermo, clutch fan, hoses, etc. were fine.  No leaks.  I do notice after running the car only about 15 minutes there will be water dripping out, looks to be on the left/drivers side of the radiator on the ground.

Today, I noticed when stopped at stop lights (since the outside temp. is cold/only 45 deg.) the air coming out of the heater got cooler, then when driving away from the green light the air from the heater got warm, more like normal.  Does this indicate anything specific?

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Engine + Driveline / Running a little hot - cooling system

« on: October 31, 2008, 04:02:16 PM »

I took it back to the shop and they checked it out again.  Said the temp/sensors and everything was/were about normal, so they thought it was probably the connectors on the gauge itself.  Thanks for the advice.

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Engine + Driveline / Running a little hot - cooling system

« on: October 30, 2008, 06:52:20 PM »

Mine just turned 240,000 miles.  The shop's recommendation was a flush, anyone else agree that flushing it may help.  2 years ago they charged $42.00.

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Engine + Driveline / Running a little hot - cooling system

« on: October 30, 2008, 01:09:17 PM »

The shop recommended a coolant flush.  Any value there?  They did one 2 years ago.

What's one of those laser things cost?  Just so I know what I'm looking for.

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Engine + Driveline / Running a little hot - cooling system

« on: October 30, 2008, 12:30:48 PM »

Ok, here's a more accurate description.

First, with freeway driving the temp. gauge sits just under or right at the 1/2 mark (65-70 mph).  Appears to perform normally.

While driving on city streets it's about the same right at or just under the 1/2 mark.  When idling or sitting at a light the needle starts moving up usually to near/at the middle between the 1/2 and 3/4 mark.  When I start moving from the stop light the needle moves back down to just under, or even slightly more, the 1/2 mark.

I do get hot air out of the heater.

I guess I can still drive it this way as most of my driving is freeway.  The question would be what's the hottest temp. reading that safely away from cracking the head, up to 3/4?

The fan clutch was replaced two years ago along with the thermo., doesn't this sound like the thermo. might have gone bad again?

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Engine + Driveline / Running a little hot - cooling system

« on: October 29, 2008, 09:32:08 PM »

These are two posts from my thread on another site.  Any ideas/suggestions?

Had the car in for brakes and a wheel bearing and had the shop look at the cooling system as well because it had just started doing this - temp. would raise while sitting at a stop light. From about the 1/2 mark to in the middle between the 1/2 and 3/4 marks.

The shop said the following:
Coolant a little low, at the bottom of the reservoir
Pressure tested and found no leaks, but cap is old and leaking
After topping off coolant, test drove and temp. gauge was fine
Checked fan clutch, good
Checked thermostat via radiator hoses, good
Hoses and belts all looked good
Recommend new cap and coolant flush

In the end they topped off the coolant and put a new cap on. The car ran good for about a week, I noticed some liquid on the ground a couple days ago, touched it. Didn't feel/look like oil. Today, the temp. starts doing the same thing. Sitting at stop lights it's starts moving up.

Any ideas? Would a flush help? Could they have missed a leak?

What's the safest temp. to let the engine get up to before (seriously) worrying about a cracked head?

2nd--

Thanks guys. Some additional info I didn't have time for earlier. The same shop replaced the thermostat, fan clutch, did a coolant flush and replaced hoses I think it was 2 years ago. Yes, 2 years ago. According to the invoice I told them the car was running hot when sitting in traffic and too cool when driving.

Right now it's basically sitting at 1/2 way and then goes up when sitting still, definitely not running too cool.

What do you think I should do first? I don't really think it's leaking, I noticed some fluid after it had been sitting for an hour.