coolant seems to go really quickly

mstar · Aug 3, 2004

hello,

Recently my dad brought a new E36 (328i 1996) he is experiencing the coolant level dimishing quickly. He confess's he puts water inside (and i flipped when he said that [bash]

) but replacing it with anti-freeze/summer coolant will that cure our problem? or is ther something wrong that even with my dad [bash]

putting only water inside, it goes really quickly!! [mad]

any help guys be really helpful [wiggle]

lpquick · Aug 3, 2004

mstar said:

You must provide more info, how much water does he add and how often. Water will evaporate, anti-freeze will not. Just by replacing the level with anti-freeze, will not fix the problem. Using strictly anti-freeze during the summer is not good. Check under the car after parking overnight, is there any anti-freeze? Take it to a mechanic and have him check the coolant system under pressure. Too many possibilities, not enough info. Let us know what you find. Good luck!

Ghost · Aug 3, 2004

If you’ve filled the system you’re either leaking or burning coolant, which can be caused by many reasons. Check the oil to see if it has a milky texture (bad head gasket). Like lpquick stated, water evaporates faster than coolant when heated, so for now I think having a mixture of more coolant would help in finding the dilemma by creating symptoms that can focus the problem to certain areas (i.e. white smoke, pools of coolant on the ground, milky oil).

Under normal conditions it’s best to run a coolant/water mixture of 50/50 in multiple climates, more water in hotter climates, or more coolant in colder climates so as not to freeze up. Just remember for normal driving conditions it’s not recommend that you go more than 70/30 in either direction.

mstar · Aug 4, 2004

thanks guys, i am keeping a eye on matters i have put in 50/50 coolant/water and i will see if it leaks now.

BTW: i have noticed the A/C doesn't seem cold as my E36, can this be related?????

andreyiv · Aug 4, 2004

I don't think there is a way the two can be related. The A/C uses freon and I don't think the two interract in any way except when you use heat, now that's the coolant.

knightpitt · Aug 4, 2004

putting in water vs. 50/50 should not affect your "coolant disappearing" problem. Water actually has a higher specific heat than coolant (otherwise known as antifreeze - added so the water won't freeze) and is thus more effective at transferring heat. However, it freezes, which is bad. I'm not even sure that water has a lower boiling point than coolants. That doesn't matter, though, because if the system was not under pressure it would start to boil off. Anyhow, all of that is to say, adding water, although not the ideal solution, is certainly not the cause of your problem. (I'd just flush it all before winter)

The two main things that would cause your coolant disappearing would be 1.) a leak somewhere in the system to the outside or 2.) a leak in the head gasket to one of the oil lines or cylinders.

If there's a leak in the head gasket that would be most easily determined by milky oil. If there's a leak in the coolant system, it'd be leaking somewhere on the ground.

m5runner · Aug 4, 2004

u might also want to bleed the coolant while you are pouring it in. the best and most effictive way to get the air our of your cooling system is to park the car on an incline, turn the heat to max and the direction towards the windshield and as it warms up the thermostat will open and bleed the air out of the system via the water pump. check what the guys said above but that's one of the things i would do before spending money on getting the car looked at

mjbst111 · Aug 4, 2004

I'm pretty sure if you have 100% water in there it will evaporate out. You will have to keep adding water because it will keep evaporating (dissapearing). But if you are putting a lot of water in then you probably have a leak somewhere.

One thing to keep in mind.... never add coolant to a hot engine. The head can warp and you will have some serious problems.

knightpitt · Aug 4, 2004

the water won't evaporate out because it's a closed, pressurized system. There's nowhere for it to evaporate out to, unless there's a leak in the system, in which case evaporation will be the least of your worries.

mjbst111 · Aug 4, 2004

actually there is a relief valve, if it gets over pressurized

knightpitt · Aug 4, 2004

haha.... good point.... you caught me. the system shouldn't be overpressurized, though, especially if it's losing coolant.

Abdoman · Aug 4, 2004

I had the same thing happen to me and it was a leak - look for the tank cracking at the inlet. This is very common and most likely your problem. The leak is very small and only leaks when it is hot, so you might not see any coolant dripping.

mstar · Aug 5, 2004

I think you might be right as i can't see no leaks on the floor, where is the " tank cracking at the inlet"?? sorry i am a new BMW newbie

mjbst111 · Aug 5, 2004

knightpitt said:

Thats true too, if it's not overpressurized then you won't lose water.

By the crack inlet at tank, i think he means the tank that you add coolant to, near the bottom where there is a hose that comes out and goes to the radiator.

Also, check the radiator all over (especially near the bottom) after you have driven it for a little while.

Ghost · Aug 5, 2004

Here's an informative article on coolant, surfactant and water.

Physical properties of liquid

mstar · Aug 9, 2004

ok guys i dnt have any leaks when i lok under the car (short/long journeys) i am really stuck for ideas :-( it must be something requesting more coolant then the engine needs am i right in saying the thermostat is responsible for this? i am stuck to see why the car is so thirsty as no signs of over heating

phill328i · Aug 11, 2004

I have a '96 328i and it appears that I have the same problem as mstar. The coolant needs to be refilled every 1 - 2 months or so. I checked the ground where i park everyday and there aren't any signs of leaking onto the ground. I will check the "inlet" as was previously suggested and the oil for milkiness. Hopefully its nothing serious. I had the water pump propeller break a year ago and had to get that entire system replaced. I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

knightpitt · Aug 12, 2004

coolant is not a consumed fluid the way that gasoline or even oil is. In a perfect world, it wouldn't be disappearing from anyone's system ever. All it does is flow around and get hotter and colder.

If you don't see any leaks on the groud, then actually get under the car and start looking for them - everywhere. We can't tell you where your leak is, you need to go and find it. If you can't find it, then take it someone who can. It's leaking somewhere, most likely.

mstar · Aug 22, 2004

right guys i got BMW dealer to fix the problem, and they did a pressure test and it's the radiator!!!! i am shocked as he said it has bellowed and leaking from the bottom.

I am shocked as i have never had a car that the radiator went after 70k miles!!! seems a bit odd, but i am also dissapointedthat my BMWhasmore problems then my ford carsput together

m5runner · Aug 22, 2004

you don't even want to know how many radiators my car went through. you might be right about the ford but i gaurantee you that ford drives nothing like the beemer

coolant seems to go really quickly

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