Author Topic: Bleed screw (radiator) leak help PLEASE (Read 4098 times)

melloh · « **on:** June 22, 2009, 01:41:19 PM »

Hello, all. I've spent the last 2 weeks working on this car only to have a leaking radiator bleed screw keeping the car off the road.

Simply put, it is leaking through the bleed screw.

I just replaced with a new screw ($8 from dealer!!) and it is still leaking.

I looked in and poked around to see if there were any obstructions - nothing.

I do not know what the anatomy is supposed to look like, so I will describe what I discovered.

In the middle of the hole, there is a metal(?) tube (like 1cm dia.) surrounded by plastic. However, for about 1/3 of the circumferance around the metal tube, there is NO plastic (I could stick a toothpick all the eay through). Is this correct???

So, I am curious what my options are. Obviously, I want to avoid buying a new rad. Hopefully I get some feedback soon or I will have to give up aand take it to a mechanic.... I need my car back!

Thanks in advance.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2009, 02:10:23 PM »

I can go take a look at mine...but I have to admit I'm a little bit afraid of breaking it.

melloh · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2009, 02:25:29 PM »

Thanks, Dave. I'd appreciate it. IF I need to replace the whole thing, I'm wondering if it is possble to 'bandaid' it until the next time I need to flush (hopefully I can afford a new rad then) by putting RTV sealant on the bleed screw? I know this is not optimal, but if it works, it'll have to do.

B318M42W · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2009, 05:30:00 PM »

or might want to try and find a suitable sized O-ring instead of the RTV???

CCR Engineering · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2009, 05:53:23 PM »

I had that problem before. On mine the plastic around the threads was cracked. Once that happens no o-ring is going to work, you have to replace the radiator.

melloh · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2009, 06:27:41 PM »

Crud.... ha ha. That's what I assumed. Any brand suggestions? I'm looking at the Behr from Pelican (157.25). The only other option is the Nissens or Valeo from thepartsbin.com. I'm ordering the Behr.

The biggest kickers are:

1) I have to drain it again.. another $15 worht of radiator fluid and water wetter (I know it can be reused, but I don't trust the cleanliness of my bucket)

and

2) I had spent a good 4 hours with a plastic toothpick straighening fins and digging out pebbles, bugs, hairs, newspapers, etc... ACK! What a waste.

Thanks for the quick replies, all.

PS: I assume the toothpick was NOT supposed to be able to go through, right? It's supposed to be solid plastic around that little tube?

rx82000 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2009, 06:40:58 PM »

I got the same issue. The threads on the radiator are gone.

I used "teflon tape", i.e. the stuff you put on the threads for plumbling, around the bleed screw and it fixed the leak.

I got it in there and its not leaking. I might try the re-tap the radiator when I need to get it out.

They sell a Brass one on bimmerspecialist.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2009, 07:11:12 PM »

I tried to get mine out, but it's stuck a little too hard. With all these stories of new radiator I have to admit I'm being cautious with this one...but I did the next best thing, found a picture slideshow:
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-323i-M52_2.5l/Engine/Cooling/ES10888/

rx82000 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:15:09 PM »

This is the Brass bleed screw:

http://www.bimmerspecialist.com/canada/parts/product_details/17111712788