e46 Cooling System (M54 motor)

[Chicayne]

Hey all,

Just a quick one...

The e46 radiator tends to spring a leak over time. I have some seepage occurring at the top of the radiator, just on the inner side of the expansion tank (for reference).

Anyone tried to resolve the issue with radiator stop leak? If so, what process did you follow, and which products did you use? How long has it lasted? Any subsequent issues?

Please PM me your number if you don't wish to type a whole story:thumb:

 

[Blue Shirt]

Just go buy a new radiator from Goldwagen/Silverton or even have the old one refurbished. Both options will be way cheaper than fixing the cracked cylinder head that will be the result of the overheat.

Stop leak products are temporary at best, and may even block other vital coolant passages in the cylinder head.

 

[Peter@AEW]

^^^^
What he said.

goodkoop = deurkoop

 

[AdiS]

Behr Radiator is about R2k. Replace it.

 

[Beemer3]

I recently had the same issue , replaced radiator bought from Beras motorspares for R1000 and a new 2 bar cap, issue solved.

 

[Chicayne]

Convinced...will replace both radiator and expansion tank (for good measure). Was never a fan of quick fixes anyway.

 

[kilotango]

eish mate, dont use any of those stop leak additives, they really F$5* up your system. i had seen a case where it blocked up the heater core, so the car wouldnt bleed properly when the system was finally repaired and flushed. its a problem!

 

[Straight six]

I just bought radiator and new water pump...they do not leave leave you broker at all...crack cylinder head might do that though

 

[Spiro]

i bought a new radiator from Silverton Wynberg for R1300, a new Water pump for R400 from Incomex, and installed everything.... done

 

[Waseem 333i]

I used bars leak once over a year ago. I was in durban and the coolant light came on every 60km. (I'm from jhb) When i got back home i removed a few coolant components and everything was clean. A year later and no issues including driving in heatwave.

 

[Chicayne]

Ok...so took my normal Fanatics enthusiast approach...replaced radiator, exp tank and water pump one time!! Only to find out after that there's another leak...the heater inlet pipe:argh:

Anyone perhaps have a spare unused, still freshly wrapped one laying about?:fencelook:

Will be checking for prices asap so I can get her back to perfection:thumbsup: