|
|
|
|
|
|
BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Today's Posts | Search |
|
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
>
Coolant Level Low
|
|
09-02-2017, 01:24 PM | #1 |
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Got a Coolant Level Low warning last night. Noticed a bunch of liquid (now obviously coolant) under the car before I drove off but didn?t think anything of it (was in a parking structure with other potential sources of water).
No SES light and OBD came up with nothing, only showed up on dash and iDrive. Drove it slowly a couple miles to park it at safe location and got a ride home. Oil Temp via Carly showed 89C when I , so I don?t think it got too got to do any damage. Took some photos, but did not do any close inspection since it was late and the area was too hot to touch. There was coolant residue on the big hose and a “moat” of coolant around the perimeter of the reservoir. Went back this morning and opened the reservoir cap and there was some coolant in the cap area. I’m hoping it’s just the cap that is leaking or perhaps the plastic screw next to it. The coolant level was super low but the silver lining is that I could still push down on the floater and it would still float back up so I don’t think it got low enough to introduce air into the system. Any thoughts before I go in deeper?
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
09-02-2017, 03:55 PM | #2 |
Colonel
871
Rep 2,611
Posts |
I've replaced all three of the bleeder screws with brass ones. They tend to loose their tops and leak. That was a preventive measure though. In your case I does not look like it's the bleeder screw. But judging from your pics I would check that overflow connection to the tank. It's flimsy and easy to damage if not careful.
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-03-2017, 07:12 AM | #3 |
Major
325
Rep 1,167
Posts
Drives: F10 550i
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Houston, TX
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2020 BMW M340i [0.00]
2019 RAM 3500 [0.00] 2020 BMW X3 [0.00] 2016 BMW 550i [0.00] 2000 Ford F450 7.3l ... [0.00] |
You might want to also check to make sure the tank isn't cracked. This is a frequent issue as well on BMWs
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-05-2017, 05:53 PM | #4 |
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Thanks guys. I refilled the tank and turned the engine on. Sure enough the bleed screw started bleeding coolant. Ironic but not surprising considering it?s made of plastic. Center of the cross started bubbling then became a slow bleed that overflowed and filled the tank perimeter ?moat?. The screw must be cracked through the center or something.
Placed an order for a brass bleed screw on amazon. Will fix tomorrow.
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
Appreciate
0
|
09-05-2017, 08:05 PM | #5 | |
Brigadier General
775
Rep 3,557
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-05-2017, 09:43 PM | #6 | |
Colonel
871
Rep 2,611
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-06-2017, 05:01 PM | #8 | ||
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Quote:
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
||
Appreciate
0
|
09-07-2017, 10:24 AM | #9 |
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Oh boy. I went to remove the leaking plastic plug this morning and it looks like I found the crack...
Iâm either going to get an extractor kit to pull it out or carefully make a slot and use a flathead to screw or out.
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
Appreciate
0
|
09-07-2017, 03:20 PM | #10 |
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Fixed. Thanks everyone!
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
Appreciate
0
|
09-15-2017, 12:08 PM | #11 |
Kind of a Big Deal
169
Rep 857
Posts |
Just replaced my bleeder screws with brass replacements from Pelican Parts. They came with a cheap o-ring that got all twisted up when I tightened it. I noticed that the old plastic screw didn't have an o-ring so I just tossed it. Did I "screw" up?
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-29-2017, 12:26 AM | #12 | |
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Quote:
O-ring on my brass replacement screw was fine. I would look for a replacement o-ring if I were you, but not for any particular reason other than my gut tells me it?s ?better.?
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
|
Appreciate
1
Persian Whisperjet168.50 |
09-29-2017, 09:44 AM | #13 |
Second Lieutenant
26
Rep 218
Posts |
I just got a low coolant level warning on my car. I haven't taken a closer look, but I am guessing this may be the culprit. I haven't noticed any pooled under the car yet though. I will look later this weekend.
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-29-2017, 10:20 AM | #14 |
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep 296
Posts
Drives: E90 335d | i3 REx
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Orange County
|
Watch your temperatures closely if you decide to drive it. My buddy just ruined his Subaru because he kept driving...
__________________
2011 E90 335d M Sport | KW V3 | M3 Bits (arms/bushings/sways) | JBD | Apex ARC-8 w/PSS
2015 i3 REx | Solar Orange | Tera World | Tech |
Appreciate
0
|
09-29-2017, 11:05 AM | #15 |
Second Lieutenant
26
Rep 218
Posts |
I'm hoping that it isn't super low on coolant, but then again I don't know what that threshold is set at to trigger a light. I will pull the cap Sunday when I am back in town, and see where we're at.
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-29-2017, 01:22 PM | #16 |
Brigadier General
775
Rep 3,557
Posts |
CO, I'd be curious what the trigger point is in terms of coolant temp. Can you use the hidden menus to look at coolant temp? Icarly, torque and others would be alternative to seeing it as well.
My curiosity is if it is triggering because of higher temp or if it really has a level sensor (like the float thing in the reservoir). Last one, how's my SS EGR cooler bypass doing on your car? Any leaks to report ? |
Appreciate
0
|
09-29-2017, 04:38 PM | #17 |
Colonel
213
Rep 2,210
Posts |
There is both a level and of course high temp alarm. The low coolant light comes on fairly early, only have to fill around a 1/2 qt if I remember correctly. High temp though, thats generally set at what most would consider really high, in the 240-260 range. While 240+ might be ok if you have a full coolant fill, if you are low on coolant you might have air pockets in some spots so 240 could be a lot higher in those spots. As long as you dont have an actual leak but rather just a slow seep youre OK to drive with the low coolant light for a bit, I might even say multiple trips as long as you keep an eye on the level and are planning to fix it as soon as you can.
|
Appreciate
0
|
Bookmarks |
|
|