Help!! M43 Mixing oil and water

sazwex · Aug 28, 2012

I have a 1999 E46 318i with an M43 engine. What started out as just a small leak in the radiator has turned into a nightmare!!

To cut to the chase, we warped the cylinder head quite badly and opted on importing a good 2nd hand head from the UK. It was fitted and after running quite smoothly for a few mins; 5-10 we noticed steam from the exhaust and the oil had mixed with coolant and we thought to skim it some, which we did. Fixed it back on with yet another new gasket and again in the same time frame steaming exhaust and a mix of oil and coolant.:argh: It passed a pressure test. Quite a load of cash :argh:and several opinions later:blab:, a cracked block, gasket quality and torquing of head bolts were all ruled out. Any ideas what what could be wrong here?:biglol:

Swiegie · Aug 28, 2012

Hi

Did you guys check the oil cooler?

Just my 2c

Mr Occo · Aug 28, 2012

Swiegie said:
Hi

Did you guys check the oil cooler?

Just my 2c

Correct, once mixed you need to flush the system.

Charlie Brown · Aug 28, 2012

To my knowledge - no oil cooler on the M43tu motor. Cracked block maybe ?

bmw328 · Aug 29, 2012

Cracked aliminium block or if its cast iron, might be rusted at the top of the ports were the head and headgasket meet, causing it not to seal as it should Had such an issue with my 7 series.

PS, The old E30, E36 M40 engine block is the same as the M43, everything can be swopped! I'll recommend u also redo the engine after it's overheated that much. Bmw piston & rings normaly don't last long after overheat! (Start to smoke)

Peejay · Aug 29, 2012

Charlie Brown said:
To my knowledge - no oil cooler on the M43tu motor. Cracked block maybe ?

Plus 1.

Maybe a second hand engine might be a better idea?

moranor@axis · Aug 29, 2012

Heven said:
Charlie Brown said:

To my knowledge - no oil cooler on the M43tu motor. Cracked block maybe ?

Click to expand...

Plus 1.

Maybe a second hand engine might be a better idea?

no why it has an engine oil cooler... only the e46 M3 comes with one...

Peejay · Aug 29, 2012

Doomsdaya said:
Will this fit an e36 328i or is only meant for M3 ?

moranor@axis said:
Heven said:

Charlie Brown said:

To my knowledge - no oil cooler on the M43tu motor. Cracked block maybe ?

Click to expand...

Plus 1.

Maybe a second hand engine might be a better idea?

Click to expand...

no why it has an engine oil cooler... only the e46 M3 comes with one...

Yes M3s do have engine oil coolers. But also most newer BMW have automatic gear box oil cooler built into the radiators.

moranor@axis · Aug 29, 2012

Heven said:
Doomsdaya said:

Will this fit an e36 328i or is only meant for M3 ?

Click to expand...

moranor@axis said:

Heven said:

Charlie Brown said:

To my knowledge - no oil cooler on the M43tu motor. Cracked block maybe ?

Click to expand...

Plus 1.

Maybe a second hand engine might be a better idea?

Click to expand...

no why it has an engine oil cooler... only the e46 M3 comes with one...

Click to expand...

Yes M3s do have engine oil coolers. But also most newer BMW have automatic gear box oil cooler built into the radiators.

dont know much about auto boxes :yuck:

but if the oil in the coolant is coming from the gearbox then that does not explain the steam out the exhaust...

Peejay · Aug 29, 2012

Yes. That's right. Probably a hair line crack some where

moranor@axis · Aug 29, 2012

or they did a kak job skimming the head... engine will have to be striped down to find the problem

sazwex · Aug 29, 2012

Wow! Thanks guys!:bravo: I am overwhelmed. :ty: and I really don't know what to touch first. For starters, it has an auto box. I don't see an oil cooler or heat exchanger so I figure it doesn't have one. If the problem was on the transmission oil cooler, how would that affect the engine oil? A replacement engine sounds like a great escape but I would like to know what is wrong with this engine before I pursue that option. The mechs ruled out a cracked block because the pistons are intact. Saying heat that would crack the block would surely melt the pistons :idea:dunno oh and its coolant in the engine oil not the other way around

Pfw28 · Aug 29, 2012

Just another 2c, but did anyone check the top of the block for flatness? May also need a skim. :fencelook:

moranor@axis · Aug 29, 2012

im pretty sure the block can be cracked without piston damage...

Peejay · Aug 30, 2012

Pfw28 said:
Just another 2c, but did anyone check the top of the block for flatness? May also need a skim. :fencelook:

This could be a possiblity?

What block is it? Cast iron or aluminum?

sazwex · Sep 2, 2012

Heven said:
Pfw28 said:

Just another 2c, but did anyone check the top of the block for flatness? May also need a skim. :fencelook:

Click to expand...

This could be a possiblity?

What block is it? Cast iron or aluminum?

Its cast iron

sazwex · Oct 16, 2012

Opted to import an engine. As the old engine was built for Japan and the replacement unit is ex-South Africa, we faced a small challenge with something the mechs refer to as a secondary air pump :flyfun::argh: The SA engine doesn't provide for it so we left it out to protect any warranties and I drove it out some 300km and the darn car jus wasn't performing and check engine light was on 350km out at a top speed of 110kph and what do you know?? Suddenly the light goes out and I'm easily getting speeds in excess of 180kph :joy:
I don't know what kicked in but I can safely say I am have with the performance now:rollsmile: and thank you all for coming to help! any one looking for M43 engine spares? :fencelook:

kugs330 · Oct 17, 2012

:thumbs: enjoy ur new engine bru

Pfw28 · Oct 18, 2012

That's cheating! Glad you're sorted though. What was the diagnosis? :rollsmile:

Dippies · Oct 18, 2012

:thumbs::thumbs: glad its sorted and enjoy

Help!! M43 Mixing oil and water

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