Coolant system gloop

[Pfw28]

Hi all, have just recieved an E90 320i with chocolate icing on the coolant bottle and in the system! :rollsmile: Seems someone put oil into the coolant tank. Best flushing agent? :fencelook:

 

[Tractor Power]

That sounds like a issue with Head or maybe jst the gasket ???

 

[Dippies]

:fencelook:

 

[Pfw28]

:rollsmile: Not issues with the car's head, but the owner! Established definately, some petrol jockey put oil into the water bottle.

 

[Dippies]

you have serious issues if that is your water bottle.

this is gonna hurt your pocket. IMHO.

 

[Pfw28]

Luckily not mine, I just get to fix it.
Removed radiator and piping, drained block, then closed up and filled with petrol. After 15 min, blew out muck, flushed with hot soapy water and compressed air, then clean water. Same treatment for the radiator and piping. After 3 rounds, water flowing clean and free throughout, re assembled and filled/bled. There's no temp gauge, so can't say for sure, but after 20 min idling, then 45 hard km, no complaints from the car, so here's hoping. Not so expensive, at least.

 

[Dippies]

just make sure you bleed the system correctly :thumbs:

 

[S1NGH 001]

Ouch :bangdesk:

 

[Kish2604]

Hell!!! At least it won't rust now...

 

[Pfw28]

just make sure you bleed the system correctly :thumbs:

We have a secret weapon there, compressed air. With the bottle full, bleed screws open, gently pressurise the bottle, until you get clear water about 1m high from each screw. Close down the screws while still under pressure, shooting water. I've never had a problem yet. :thumbs:

---

Hell!!! At least it won't rust now...

:biglol: If it was an american V8 I'd be happy for the guy, but these ally engines? At least it was confined to the cooling system, no water in the oil, so head should be ok. Still have my fingers crossed! :fencelook:

 

[LordPhoenix]

Bliksem. Whoever put oil in there. Deserves the dumb ass of the week award.

 

[Twinz]

How the heck...:argh:

Glad you sorted out that peanut butter :thumbs:

 

[MikeR]

:fencelook::fencelook:

 

[Clownshoe]

So what about the heater circuit?

 

[XMAX]

as long as youre certain that the oke put oil in the water tank...



Cos ive seen this before on 3 other BMW's....


The oil cooler sometimes breaks internally. This leads to water entering the cooling system which eventually causes the expansion tank to look exactly like what happened to your car.


It has happened to me and my brothers BMW's in the past. This happened with out E46's... and not our e90's....


I am not sure if the e90's would suffer the same... though I dont see why it wouldnt (the E90 320i came with the N46 engine which is the same as the later e46 318i....)


I hope it wasnt the oil cooler issue (cost me R4k for the total repair including new oil cooler and system flush)... and that youre sorted now for good.


Please keep monitoring the water for any possible sludge...

 

[Philip Foglar]

That's a mess!! And a lesson for car owners - don't ever let petrol attendants near your car's engine bay, bonnet should never need to be opened there anyway since all checks on fluids is the owner's responsibility BEFORE taking to the road! But anyway, not all road users are "car" people...

Personally I would have replaced those components, but nothing wrong with cleaning and salvaging. But what about the heat exchanger and engine block where the coolant travels?

 

[Pfw28]

That's a mess!! And a lesson for car owners - don't ever let petrol attendants near your car's engine bay, bonnet should never need to be opened there anyway since all checks on fluids is the owner's responsibility BEFORE taking to the road! But anyway, not all road users are "car" people...
owed
Personally I would have replaced those components, but nothing wrong with cleaning and salvaging. But what about the heat exchanger and engine block where the coolant travels?

We flushed out the block and heater system with the same procedure, until the water showed clear. Heater working well, no complaints from the engine. Now done about 1000km, including a 600km return trip. Seems like we got lucky.
:thumbs:

 

[Philip Foglar]

That's a relief! Well done!! :thumbs:

 

[flyhid]

Does the e90 work with an electric water pump and there is a 12 min procedure that they do to bleed the cooling system.....

 

[Philip Foglar]

I would think the 320i does also use the electric water pump too, and therefore the 12 minute purge procedure is valid for bleeding the coolant system.