Author Topic: Coolant Temp Question (Read 4103 times)

badboypolar · « **on:** April 12, 2007, 12:24:59 PM »

Okay I have 150 miles on my rebuild. It runs at the middle tick and doesn't usually move unless it goes up a little but does get almost up to the 3rd tick. Is that normal for this car?

My 325e runs between the first and second ticks and hardly ever gets up to the second tick. I understand they are different cars so I just want to know what is normal for the M42 318is.

shutter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2007, 12:54:12 PM »

That's high. It should be pretty much right on the 1/2 way mark. Mine has been running one needle width to the right of 1/2 in traffic, and I feel that is a little hot. It's a long story, but after I broke my collar bone when the car was new, I took it to a recommended mechanic just to do fluids and stuff that did a horrible job. To make a long story short, I've been dying to find the time to rebleed it now that it's getting warmer outside b/c before they touched it, it never thought of going above 1/2 :mad:

ecpreston · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2007, 02:06:54 PM »

Always a good idea to verify that the temp gauge is accurate before going too much further. Mine goes above half quite often as well, and when it's almost at 3/4, I measure the temp of hoses with an infrared pyrometer, and the temp of the housing with a tire temp probe, and it's all pretty much 190deg, right on spec. Tracked it the other weekend and it was just fine. I just get used to seeing the gauge there.

Your eta was also wrong or had a lower temp tstat, as the halfway mark is what these cars should sit at.

BTW, shutter, in traffic, going above half (if the gauge is dead on accurate) is perfectly normal. Tstat is 88C/190F. The electric fan switch is set at 91C for low and 99C for high. That's 196F and 210F! So yours is probably getting to 196, and the low speed fan is keeping it there.

vjlax18 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2007, 02:42:28 PM »

Stock BMW gauges are never the same. Just as long as it always goes to the same point and stays there. If it ever starts climbing, turn the car off.

shutter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2007, 03:07:49 PM »

I'm just paranoid because the mechanic gave it back to me already running hot, and didn't really even have an answer when I asked if it was bled at ALL!! Before he touched it, it never went over half. I know it's not dire, but I plan to rebleed it myself in the next few days. Mostly for peace of mind heh. Of course, we've barely been in the high 40's for a couple of weeks now =/ But someday Spring will come back, I swear!

As an aside, this mechanic came highly recommended by a local Euro car club, but man they couldn't even do my belts (left a tensioner loose), hoses, and fluids correctly when I first bought the car. I was in a sling and couldn't do the work myself unfortunately! It also took them over 6 hours to do this, I would have been faster one handed hehe. Anyways, Alpine003 knows who I'm talking about, and I find it best to check their work! The employees look cool with tatoos and stuff, but they suck. It's too easy to impress rich youngsters with S4's with looks I guess.

Edit: Meant high 30's =(

badboypolar · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2007, 03:59:04 PM »

I'll rebleed it tonight and I'll have to find a coolant tube with a sensor port.

BrandC · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2007, 06:13:55 PM »

Someone mentioned the coolant gauge connector behind the gauge cluster might be loose or corroded. Check that and just make sure you're not getting a false reading cuz of a bunk connection.

The other option is to yank your intake manifold off and clean the two coolant sensors in the cylinder head with electrical parts cleaner. Try that and cleaning/tightening the cluster.

I have the same exact problem. My car is obviously not overheating and I have brought it to the track as well, but my gauge lies.

D. Clay · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2007, 08:30:36 PM »

I too think all the gauges are different. Mine reads 1/4 when it's at 190 degrees.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2007, 11:13:17 PM »

Quote from: shutter;23639

I know it's not dire, but I plan to rebleed it myself in the next few days. Mostly for peace of mind heh.

Man, you should've told me last time you came by and we could've rebleed it. It's only a couple minute process if that.

Another good reason to get separate aftermarket guages. Oil temp, Oil Pressure, water temp will probably be the 3 that goes in my center console.

shutter · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2007, 09:27:20 AM »

Yeah, I finally got around to getting some blue coolant last weekend.... It was no biggie in the Winter with limited driving and the cold weather. Now I'm more concerned about rechecking it with summer coming and sitting in traffic.

Aftermarket gauges will be awesome! If I just had oil pressure I'd be very happy, I hate not having it.

badboypolar · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2007, 12:59:37 PM »

Bleed the system and it now sits between 1/4 and 1/2. However now I don't get any heat from the heater core while driving. If I'm sitting in one place for about 5 minutes I will start to get heat. As soon as I start moving, I get cold air from outside.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2007, 02:29:00 PM »

Quote from: badboypolar;23878

Bleed the system and it now sits between 1/4 and 1/2. However now I don't get any heat from the heater core while driving. If I'm sitting in one place for about 5 minutes I will start to get heat. As soon as I start moving, I get cold air from outside.

1. Your heater core is clogged
2. Your heater valve is faulty
3. You have the inlet and outlet coolant hose going to the firewall backwards

badboypolar · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2007, 03:22:29 PM »

1. maybe... I hope not
2. not likely as I removed it
3. probably. I was unsure which one was inlet and outlet. I think I have the inlet tube on the top right now.

Author Topic: Coolant Temp Question (Read 4103 times)

vjlax18