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BMW Service Questions

21 messages,  Last post on Jan 24, 2012 at 11:25 AM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 3

#15 of 21 Re: Oil change question [kyfdx] by iajtapmas

May 08, 2011 (3:31 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (May 07, 2011 7:39 am)
Thank you very much for responding.

#16 of 21 OVERHEATING by shellybilingto

Jan 11, 2012 (7:55 pm)

OVERHEATING I have a 1993 bmw 318i 4 cylinder,
E30 engine series 1.8L, 4-spd automatic trans, DOCD car that keeps overheating. I have a brand new radiator (install by a certified mechanic shop, but couldn't afford to have them work on it after that), I also needed, so I bought and install, a brand new fan clutch. Now here's my question, I have bought 2 thermostats, one from O'Reilly's Auto Parts and one from a specialized European Automotive shop. Both places gave me a thermostat that opens up at 192 F, with the specialized shop insisting they were giving me the right thermostat, an OEM part. I told them that my car requires one opens up at 176 F, but they still insisted that I was getting the correct one. Could installing that thermostat cause my car to still overheat, fairly quickly? Also we checked the waterpump and and it appears to be good, but were not sure. Oh, also the hose going from the tank is cool, but the return hose going back to the radiator was steaming hot after I test drove it and the temperture read hot in the red zone. Thank you, Shelly B.

#17 of 21 Re: OVERHEATING [shellybilingto] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 11, 2012 (8:06 pm)

Replying to: shellybilingto (Jan 11, 2012 7:55 pm)
Well if the thermostat were stuck, or in backwards, yeah, it could overheat the car quickly, but being the wrong temperature rating--no, that wouldn't matter.
 
Given the age of the car, and being a 318, you'd best check for a bad head gasket, too.

#18 of 21 Re: OVERHEATING [Mr_Shiftright] by roadburner

Jan 23, 2012 (6:53 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 11, 2012 8:06 pm)
An M42 shouldn't need a cylinder head gasket prior to 200K miles unless it has been severely overheated(or the profile gasket has never been replaced). It sounds as if the cooling system wasn't bled properly.

#19 of 21 Re: OVERHEATING [roadburner] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 23, 2012 (7:01 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Jan 23, 2012 6:53 pm)
One might hope, but there's no such thing as 'shouldn't" to the thorough investigator because all cars are treated differently in their long life. You gotta look at everything as possible or you might get tripped up on diagnosis. I brought up the head gasket because he said it overheats "fairly quickly", and a bad head gasket or cracked cylinder head is very good at boiling water for tea.
 
But sure, let's hope that's not it. Seems like an air block would cause his temp gauge to move around alot.
 
A simple pressure test should solve this problem. Pressurize the system, then while holding the pressure, remove the spark plugs one at a time. If you see coolant on the tip of any of them, there you go.
 

#20 of 21 Re: OVERHEATING [Mr_Shiftright] by roadburner

Jan 24, 2012 (8:30 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 23, 2012 7:01 pm)
A head gasket problem is certainly possible, but as I said extremely rare if the car has never been overheated. If the OP has continually overheated the car the whole engine may now be toast. That said, I can guarantee that an incorrectly bled cooling system can generate all kinds of bizarre symptoms.

#21 of 21 Re: OVERHEATING [roadburner] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 24, 2012 (11:25 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Jan 24, 2012 8:30 am)
Well it IS a 20-year-old car, so head gaskets simply wear out like anything else. It's certainly not a "fault" of the car, any more than wrinkles on a person.
 
And if we add in the inherent weakness of the cooling systems of most 3-series in the 1990s, one has to at least be suspicious of overheating stresses, as you pointed out.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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