loss of coolant. oily canister. blown gasket?

bmwdiesel · 10-28-2019, 10:07 AM

hello so i had a dashboard msg that coolant is low. opened a coolant canister, and yes the liquid was only at the bottom and when i tried to touch the coolant stick, it was oily...would this confirm the head gasket is blown?
how else without tools I can confirm it? read various ways, so i am confused now.
1.running the engine with open coolant canister? and when bubbles or even spilling out, that would confirm it I guess?
but is there any chance it can be a head gasket and not have above symptom? (maybe a small hole only under high load?)
2. white or blue smoke? is it only while cold engine ?
3. as i mentioned above, when only a small hole in head gasket that won't show the symptoms with opened coolant canister, what's the best way to confirm it with no tools? (i guess the pressure test would be the next step?)
thanks

Nadir Point · 10-28-2019, 02:06 PM

The best way to do anything without tools is take it to a dealer. But in the meantime, try refilling, don't go on any long trips and keep a close eye on it.

bmwdiesel · 10-29-2019, 08:09 AM

taking it to the local stealer, or stealers (they all are the same where i live) would mean that not only head gasket is blown, but radiator leaks, maybe cylinders or valves were affectedand need renovation, also turbos need to change as a result of it and few other things....(they wanted to change my turbos already about 5x, everytime another stealer and even indie stealers....;-) yet they are fine, and only red hose was unplugged or vacuum line was perished....etc. etc. etc. if I have a good mechanic that I can trust, I wouldn't even be on this forum tbh...

10-28-2019, 10:07 AM	#1
bmwdiesel Private 14 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 335d 2007 Join Date: May 2018 Location: old continent iTrader: (0)	loss of coolant. oily canister. blown gasket? hello so i had a dashboard msg that coolant is low. opened a coolant canister, and yes the liquid was only at the bottom and when i tried to touch the coolant stick, it was oily...would this confirm the head gasket is blown? how else without tools I can confirm it? read various ways, so i am confused now. 1.running the engine with open coolant canister? and when bubbles or even spilling out, that would confirm it I guess? but is there any chance it can be a head gasket and not have above symptom? (maybe a small hole only under high load?) 2. white or blue smoke? is it only while cold engine ? 3. as i mentioned above, when only a small hole in head gasket that won't show the symptoms with opened coolant canister, what's the best way to confirm it with no tools? (i guess the pressure test would be the next step?) thanks
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10-28-2019, 02:06 PM	#2
Nadir Point Lieutenant 103 Rep 579 Posts Drives: Diesel Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: CO iTrader: (0)	The best way to do anything without tools is take it to a dealer. But in the meantime, try refilling, don't go on any long trips and keep a close eye on it.
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10-29-2019, 08:09 AM	#3
bmwdiesel Private 14 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 335d 2007 Join Date: May 2018 Location: old continent iTrader: (0)	taking it to the local stealer, or stealers (they all are the same where i live) would mean that not only head gasket is blown, but radiator leaks, maybe cylinders or valves were affectedand need renovation, also turbos need to change as a result of it and few other things....(they wanted to change my turbos already about 5x, everytime another stealer and even indie stealers....;-) yet they are fine, and only red hose was unplugged or vacuum line was perished....etc. etc. etc. if I have a good mechanic that I can trust, I wouldn't even be on this forum tbh...
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