What drain plug is this? Did I mess up?

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

I am in need of a new radiator/recore and when I was pulling the radiator I figured I would drain the coolant from the block as well. I loosened what I thought was the coolant drain plug only to release a tablespoon worth of oil, a spring and metal collar. (see photo) I immediately put the plug back and tightened it back up.

Also got the radiator out with no troubles. Gonna see about a recore.

Inside the radiator:

[ray_]

Timing chain tensioner. If it went in the way it came out (quite likely), you're fine.

Asuuming you didn't rotate the motor while it was out. :-)

GL,

Ray

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

DOH!

[2002haus]

The timing chain tensioner piston needs to have fresh oil added and bled properly.

If not there could be some bad noises coming from an unhappy engine.

[ray_]

Er, listen to this guy! ;-)

And buy a Haynes manual!

Cheers,

Ray

The timing chain tensioner piston needs to have fresh oil added and bled properly.

If not there could be some bad noises coming from an unhappy engine.

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

The timing chain tensioner piston needs to have fresh oil added and bled properly.

If not there could be some bad noises coming from an unhappy engine.

Sorry for being such a noob How does one do this? is it in the the Haynes Manual?

Thnaks guys.

[BlueBarchetta]

CD has some good diagrams w/ instructions, circles and arrows...(sounds like Alice's Restaurant, eh?)....use the search engine and I'm sure you'll find a few threads w/ the info...

[Collinster742002]

The coolant drain plug is up under the exhaust manifold, IIRC between the back two cylinders. It's a real bugger to get to unless you put your car up on jack stands and crawl underneath the passenger side and contort yourself up in there. I THINK it's a 17mm plug, but it's been a year since I did my cooling system overhaul.

Definitely bleed your tensioner! It's ok, no harm done. I got confused as to what that plug was too.

[c.d.iesel]

-= Y I K E S ! ! =-

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

Boy, is my face red. Live and learn. OOPS!

[TobyB]

If you want to be sure it's back in right, pop the valve cover and

look down where it would protrude into the front chain cover.

It's really hard to see, but you want to make sure the 2 ears

on it straddle the timing adjuster slider.

Then, to prime it, loosen the cap on the end just a little, fill the little pocket

in the front cover with oil, and move the tensioner back and forth

with a screwdriver. When oil leaks out past the cap, you're done.

Takes 15 minutes.

If you don't, it'll often re-fill itself in driving- but it can take a while, and

the chain gets to flop around quite a bit in the meantime.

Not a big deal,

t

[OriginalOwner]

radiator recore: I'll recommend a 3-row. You probably know that, so I'll just say it to say it.

Cheers,

Carl

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

radiator recore: I'll recommend a 3-row. You probably know that, so I'll just say it to say it.

Cheers,

Carl

I'm pretty new to all this (as if you couldn't tell) Tell me about a 3-row recore.

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

Ben

[OriginalOwner]

Standard issue is a 2-row ....... those vertical tubes in the core of the radiator. 3-row gives you another row, hence more surface area for cooling.

2 years ago I bought a 3-row core and had my local radiator shop do all the labor.

Checking my 2-yr-old notes, Mark Preisendorf near Oakland, CA is a BMW community contact for a 3-row core, or for a complete radiator.

as best I know, his email: silicongarage02@gmail.com

I'm sure there are other sources .....

Cheers,

Carl

[Kidasters]

Standard issue is a 2-row ....... those vertical tubes in the core of the radiator. 3-row gives you another row, hence more surface area for cooling.

2 years ago I bought a 3-row core and had my local radiator shop do all the labor.

Checking my 2-yr-old notes, Mark Preisendorf near Oakland, CA is a BMW community contact for a 3-row core, or for a complete radiator.

as best I know, his email: silicongarage02@gmail.com

I'm sure there are other sources .....

Cheers,

Carl

What Carl says. The SG radiator is bolt in.

You can also buy an E21 radiator kit from places like Bavarian Autosport (www.bavauto.com), but they aren't "bolt in".

Good Luck. And bleed the chain tensioner.

Ken