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Date: 10-14-05 08:56
From: a54atii
Subject: Coolant loss mystery - need some help  
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Some background - '70 1600-2, new waterpump, some hoses replaced. Car was running ok but temp would climb on long drives before water pump was replaced. No previous coolant loss.
Now I am losing coolant but can't figure out where its going. No puddles under the car and I haven't seen any obvious dribbles on the engine. Have not noticed any white smoke coming from the tailpipe or unusual smells. I had a chance to start it up and watch the coolant level yesterday and here's what happened. Car started and idled fine and coolant guage stayed pegged at cold for 3-4 minutes, then shot up to about 2/3 on the guage in 8-10 seconds. The coolant level was still ok at this point, but as the guage temp came down to around 1/2 the coolant level started going down. (Or something close to that... I was trying to watch the guage, the coolant level and my 3-year old son at the same time!) I shut the car off when the top tank on the radiator was empty. Still no signs of leaks or smoke.
No sign of coolant in the oil and oil is clean and level stays the same. Also, the carpets are dry so I don't think the heater core is leaking. I feel like I'm missing the obvious here. I thought it was probably a head gasket leak but I'm not so sure. Any suggestions on what to check?
TIA,
Karl
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Date: 10-14-05 09:04
From: Tom Winston
Subject: How much coolant are you losing and in what time frame?(nt)
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(nt)
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Date: 10-14-05 09:51
From: Derek (florida 1600)
Subject: Did you bleed out any air pockets?
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1. Start with a cold engine and fill up to the proper level with a 50/50 BMW coolant/distilled H20 mix. Turn the heater on full blast.
2. Jack up the front end of that dude, chock the rear wheels and fire er up in neutral.
3. Allow engine to run to normal operating temp, so that the thermoshtat opens and you can observe bulbs in the rad tank.
4. Rev the engine above idle and hold it there by hand, while observing the rad tank.
5. Keep doing this until the air bubbles disappear.
6. Git'er dun.
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Date: 10-14-05 10:29
From: a54atii
Subject: Down over 1" in 1-2 minutes. (nt)
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(nt)
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Date: 10-14-05 10:38
From: a54atii
Subject: Thanks for the reminder.
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I find that I'm more apt to miss things now that I live a life of distraction (1 wife + 3 kids + 1 cat = 3 minutes of car time for me each week). I'll go back and try to bleed out any air pockets and see what happens. I hope I don't find any bulbs in the rad though! I try to keep those in the ground. j/k ;)
Thanks,
Karl
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Date: 10-14-05 10:52
From: Tom Winston
Subject: Couldn't agree more with bleeding the system. You probably just have
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air in the system. Even if you don't bleed the system in that *fancy* way if you keep filling it up again and again sooner or later it's got to work all the bubbles out.
So keep filling it up till it's to the top & if it goes back down that fast.... fill 'er up more. If it still goes down and you can't find the leak..... I don't really know what to tell you...
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Date: 10-14-05 11:37
From: mike
Subject: Hope it just needs bleeding and is not an eroded water passage...
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call me if you need help...
mike
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Date: 10-14-05 02:09
From: Steve J
Subject: Maybe try a "Block Check" tester. May save you from un-needed work.
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As seen in the McCartney book. It checks for exhaust gasses coming out through the coolant. Cost about $30 or so. If the fluid turns color, that would tell you that you likely have a head or gasket problem.
Where are you at, I could let you use mine here in the SF Bay Area.
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