|
|
|
|
|
|
BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Today's Posts | Search |
|
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
>
Coolant Exploded? Merry Christmas to me!
|
|
12-25-2012, 08:59 PM | #1 |
Lieutenant
29
Rep 430
Posts |
Coolant Exploded? Merry Christmas to me!
As I'm coming home from Christmas lunch with my girlfriend.. doing a good speed down the freeway I get a sudden yellow engine temp light followed by a red engine temp light seconds later. I turn the heat up to max and nurse the car home as the car blew ice cold air from the heater (after turning the heater on max the lights went away and the car seemed fine).
Upon returning home and opening up the hood I saw explosively spilled coolant everywhere - so what had happened is that I lost all coolant in some sort of huge blow-out. I can't seem to find any cracks or leaks but I don't think this has anything to do with the water-pump/t-stat issue. My car: Pre-Lci 325i (3 Litre N52 motor).. only engine mods: Stage 2 AA Tune, scoops. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
__________________
6MT Sport Pkg | BMW Perf. Pedals | BMW Perf. SSK | CF Steering Trim | BMW Performance Black Gloss Grilles | M3 Rep Bumper | Muffler Delete 2.5"| Charcoal Delete + K&N Drop In | CDV Delete | Clutch Stop | Active Autowerke Stage II Tune | H&R Sport Springs | Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts | 18" Gunmetal CSL Reps | BurgerTuning Spacers | Staggered Ventus V12's | ATE Super Blue & Hawk HPS | Blacklines | GP6K Angel Eyes
|
12-25-2012, 09:04 PM | #2 |
King of the road
18
Rep 202
Posts |
Just a hypothesis here but im assuming it is a thermostat or water pump issue. My guess is one of them gave out or something the coolant then over heated to boiling and the pressure then built up and then caused your explosion.
__________________
Jet Black / Pre lci E90 / 6mt / FBO /
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-25-2012, 09:22 PM | #3 |
Major
47
Rep 1,160
Posts |
Had the same thing happen to me, coolant all over expansion tank but no leaks found. Re filled and same thing happened again. Ended up replacing both t-stat and water pump, no issues after that.
__________________
Monaco Blue 330xi - Terra Interior/6-MT/Sport/Premium/Cold/CSL's/M3 Spoiler Lip/Black Kidney's
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 05:35 AM | #6 |
General
17309
Rep 18,733
Posts |
As much as we talk about water pumps around here...
Dude this is a classic case of a water pump failure. When the warning symbol went red you should have stopped the car, turned off the engine, not driven it and inch further, and called a tow truck. Hopefully you have not seriously overheated the engine and damaged the head, head gasket, or even the block. BMW inline six cylinder engines do not like to be overheated. If you had bothered to read the owners manual it clearly states that whenever a warning symbol goes red, immediately stop and turn off the car and call for assistance. Go to the maintenance section of the Forum and search on water pump and read up on what you are up against. Good luck. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 07:09 AM | #7 | |
Lieutenant
29
Rep 430
Posts |
Quote:
Had it come back I would have stopped immediately but it didn't.
__________________
6MT Sport Pkg | BMW Perf. Pedals | BMW Perf. SSK | CF Steering Trim | BMW Performance Black Gloss Grilles | M3 Rep Bumper | Muffler Delete 2.5"| Charcoal Delete + K&N Drop In | CDV Delete | Clutch Stop | Active Autowerke Stage II Tune | H&R Sport Springs | Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts | 18" Gunmetal CSL Reps | BurgerTuning Spacers | Staggered Ventus V12's | ATE Super Blue & Hawk HPS | Blacklines | GP6K Angel Eyes
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 08:04 AM | #8 |
First Lieutenant
23
Rep 322
Posts |
Pfff. I hope you got lucky there, man! I fully agree with Eftheeoh. The light is there for a reason! If you turn on the heater an no heat appears, that should make you even more realize that there is something wrong. I'd put my money on a broken waterpump...
Next time, at least stop to have a look under the hood. I can't believe you took the risk of a $3000-4000 repair for not wanting to stop alongside the road. Fingers crossed you didn't bust your head gasket! |
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 08:08 AM | #9 |
First Lieutenant
50
Rep 388
Posts |
Thermostat, water pump issue.
Your pressure cup has released excess of the pressure inside the cooling system. So you overflow tank is good ( overall ) It is just the waterpump thermo set up that needs attention. I have done it before, not cheap nor easy to work on. Sorry for that. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 08:11 AM | #10 |
Colonel
99
Rep 2,323
Posts |
If you were on the highway the whole time after the warning light, you might have gotten lucky. If you drove in the city, you might have cause more damage. I agree with others, start with the water pump.
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 08:14 AM | #11 |
Gateropode
329
Rep 2,848
Posts |
Probably dead water pump. You should have stopped immediately and called a tow truck, just for safety.
You'll know soon if your gamble worked or if you'll need extensive engine work as a result. If you start seeing oil leaks from everywhere and white fumes, no good. Keep an eye on it. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 09:27 AM | #12 |
First Lieutenant
19
Rep 379
Posts |
Merry Christmas.. sorry to hear this.. you need a new water pump and t-stat. t-stat is probably okay but should be replaced at the same as water pump.
__________________
********** 2008 BMW 335i TT******
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 10:34 AM | #13 |
Lieutenant
29
Rep 430
Posts |
Thanks. On my way to the dealer on a tow truck. I have an AA flash tune on the car now. Will it get erased after the dealer works on the car?
__________________
6MT Sport Pkg | BMW Perf. Pedals | BMW Perf. SSK | CF Steering Trim | BMW Performance Black Gloss Grilles | M3 Rep Bumper | Muffler Delete 2.5"| Charcoal Delete + K&N Drop In | CDV Delete | Clutch Stop | Active Autowerke Stage II Tune | H&R Sport Springs | Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts | 18" Gunmetal CSL Reps | BurgerTuning Spacers | Staggered Ventus V12's | ATE Super Blue & Hawk HPS | Blacklines | GP6K Angel Eyes
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 12:14 PM | #14 |
Lieutenant
53
Rep 450
Posts |
Probably the waterpump....oh wait 7 people said that already? Ok NM then...
Good luck OP. Post a follow-up!
__________________
06 330i 6mt Spt- Eibach Springs, BMW Perf Susp, Supersprint Exhaust, BSW Audio
RIP-94 325i 5mt 4d- M3 springs/susp, Z3 wheels, Chipped, Intake, Exhaust= FUN! |
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 05:45 PM | #16 |
Lieutenant
29
Rep 430
Posts |
Update:
Took it in and replaced the waterpump and thermostat, bled and re-filled the coolant lines and it is alllllll mint. What's more is that I didn't damage anything because it was a crisp night with smooth freeway driving at 100 km/h below 2.8K revs so the engine wasn't close to being at max temp. I will admit now however that JUST before the light's came on I was flogging the car quite hard - quite quite hard.. so after I dialed it back the car made it home no problems. I even got a pretty good deal for parts + labour at 865+ tax = $953 CAD and got it back after 4 hours. Car feels solid. Thanks everybody.
__________________
6MT Sport Pkg | BMW Perf. Pedals | BMW Perf. SSK | CF Steering Trim | BMW Performance Black Gloss Grilles | M3 Rep Bumper | Muffler Delete 2.5"| Charcoal Delete + K&N Drop In | CDV Delete | Clutch Stop | Active Autowerke Stage II Tune | H&R Sport Springs | Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts | 18" Gunmetal CSL Reps | BurgerTuning Spacers | Staggered Ventus V12's | ATE Super Blue & Hawk HPS | Blacklines | GP6K Angel Eyes
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 06:05 PM | #17 | |
Private
6
Rep 89
Posts
Drives: '16 M235xi
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Middletown, CT
|
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 06:15 PM | #18 |
Lieutenant
29
Rep 430
Posts |
120+ km soo it wasn't bad for the original pump
__________________
6MT Sport Pkg | BMW Perf. Pedals | BMW Perf. SSK | CF Steering Trim | BMW Performance Black Gloss Grilles | M3 Rep Bumper | Muffler Delete 2.5"| Charcoal Delete + K&N Drop In | CDV Delete | Clutch Stop | Active Autowerke Stage II Tune | H&R Sport Springs | Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts | 18" Gunmetal CSL Reps | BurgerTuning Spacers | Staggered Ventus V12's | ATE Super Blue & Hawk HPS | Blacklines | GP6K Angel Eyes
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 06:25 PM | #19 |
Brigadier General
964
Rep 3,854
Posts
Drives: 330i, 135i
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Diego CA
|
I wonder if your thermostat was stuck closed? Usually its the opposite and stays stucked open. Either way, glad to hear its fixed.
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 06:26 PM | #20 |
Private
6
Rep 89
Posts
Drives: '16 M235xi
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Middletown, CT
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-26-2012, 06:32 PM | #21 | |
Lieutenant
29
Rep 430
Posts |
Quote:
However, the tech had a look over and said it was all good. What could this fresh oil leak indicate?
__________________
6MT Sport Pkg | BMW Perf. Pedals | BMW Perf. SSK | CF Steering Trim | BMW Performance Black Gloss Grilles | M3 Rep Bumper | Muffler Delete 2.5"| Charcoal Delete + K&N Drop In | CDV Delete | Clutch Stop | Active Autowerke Stage II Tune | H&R Sport Springs | Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts | 18" Gunmetal CSL Reps | BurgerTuning Spacers | Staggered Ventus V12's | ATE Super Blue & Hawk HPS | Blacklines | GP6K Angel Eyes
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
Bookmarks |
|
|