Cooling system question

[MTech]

Hi

I recently bought a 2002 318i. The car leaks coolant at a rate of 500ml a day and I plan on looking for the leak myself.

Where do I start? Usual suspects?

I know the expansion tank was replaced in September last year but i`ll check it anyway.

Thanks

 

[Sankekur]

Check all the water pipes, also be sure to check the plastic ones that go into the block, they also have a tendency to break with age. The radiator might also be leaking. The easiest way would be to look where the water is actually coming from. Also check that the bleed screws are all properly fastened.
Also check the oil, if its milky it might be head gasket problem.

Just be sure to properly bleed the cooling system once you have fixed the problem.

 

[Peejay]

With so much coolant being lost everyday, did the car overheat? Also check the T. stat. Housing

 

[MTech]

With so much coolant being lost everyday, did the car overheat? Also check the T. stat. Housing

No overheating. The heat gauge sits in the midle, never been in the red while i had the car.

I cant see any leaks on the motor. It does look like some water is driping from the area under the expansion tank. Theres watermarks on the plastic dustcover at the bottom.

The car has 138 000 kms on the clock.

I have invoices showing that an expansion tank and waterpipe was bought in September 2009.

 

[andrewbuch]

could also be the radiator where the top pipe fits. I had a leak there & it was the radiator not the pipe that was leaking..

 

[andrewbuch]

could also be the radiator where the top pipe fits. I had a leak there & it was the radiator not the pipe that was leaking..

 

[Dip007]

Shucks, maybe try and lie underneath the car and see were the water are dripping from..I will start my investigation from there.

Water pipes tend to crack and perish with age, could be perfect timing to change all of them just for safety measure... fix one pipe and before you know it another one leaks..

Good luck

 

[dbrits]

I once got my car back from BMW after a service and it started leaking water all over the show.

Turned out that they broke the thread on the radiator cap. About 8mm of thread was chipped off. Enough for the radiator to empty itself in 5km's though.

 

[MTech]

Thaks for the tips guys

Found the leak.

Water pipe under the intake manifold was leaking.

The thing was not fitted properly and had no bolt to hold it in place. This from a car with a BMW service history.

Fixing it was finicky but its sorted now