Author Topic: Overheating after Head Gasket Replacement? (Read 2752 times)

Serge · « **on:** July 12, 2009, 02:10:39 AM »

Hi guys as some of you may know I have been replacing my head gasket on the 1993 e36 M42, I have just buttoned her up, filled her with coolant and oil etc... and let her idle just to find out the needle pegs above the normal operating temp.

I have bled the system by opening bleeder screw and pouring in coolant until no bubbles are coming out... at least 5 times....

When replacing head gasket I had the head pressure tested and machined so no worries there. I also replaced water pump, thermostat and all the hoses.

When I first got the car there was no thermostat in there?

The car idles considerable better than I first got her but still a little bit of steam coming out of exhaust? is that to be expected?

I thoroughly cleaned the surfaces before placing the gasket down etc..

I also replaced every gasket known to man including the profile gaskets.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2009, 02:21:15 AM »

Serge-first, let the car cool, start it and see which hose get's hotter first.

Serge · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2009, 04:17:35 AM »

the top right hose heats up first but the left bottom remains cool? water pump?

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:22:01 PM »

That's what it sounds like to me, but you have replaced the WP correct? Is this a new pump or used? Now you said she didn't have a thermostat before, but now the top right hose heats up----------thermostat could be sticking or WP could be faulty(I'm not the brightest star in orions belt, but that's where I think the problem may exist). Hope you find the solution.

Serge · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:40:17 PM »

ok thanks for the input, I have drained all the coolant from system including the block and started again. Filled her up etc... got a little better with the heater on there is now a little bit more heat coming from it but still quite nada.

My question is, if the coolant hoses which run to the throttle body and intake plate are mixed up could this cause my problem?

Also ran a scan and pulled up e4 on the peake research tool, which indicated the coolant temperature sensor failure. Could this be causing my problem? I thought the sensor only sends the temp to the ecu not to the cluster?

Another thing could I have installed the thermostat in the wrong way? therefore this issue?

As I said the water pump is brand spanking new along with hoses, thermostat etc...

There was no thermostat in there before due to the PO being a bit of a shady character... so this shouldn't affect the opeation of the car:)

Any input would be great,

Thanks Hater Proof for your input

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2009, 06:24:18 AM »

"Another thing could I have installed the thermostat in the wrong way?" If you look at the thermostat, the top side will look like space probe or ship. The side that is flat and looks like that's where the rocket engines could be--that side has to be faced towards the engine bay. http://www.bimmerdiy.com/diy/e36coolingsystem/ this site will show you or just type in E36 cooling.

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2009, 06:32:20 AM »

Pay no attention to my metaphores, but that site will having you heater foes free.