1997 BMW 328 Coolant Loss

1997 BMW 328
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ELAMARR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Car overheated. Replaced thermostat, replaced leaking water pump, replaced cracked radiator reservoir tank, flushed the radiator, pressurized the system to check for leaks (none). Every 2nd day or so, the reservoir tank will be empty or very low of coolant. Where is the coolant going? If we do not check every 2 days the car would overheat?
May 25, 2006 at 11:37 AM
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SDALTON19
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 87 POSTS
this cooling system is one of the hardest to bleed out there. when i refill them when i work on them i take off the upper radiator hose until it comes out of the top of the radiator then even with me its been hit or miss best way after doing that top off system drive it till it gets hot(not overheating) and the thermostat opens and let it get cold and then fill the tank again repeat this process until it stops taking coolant in the resevoir if after fives times of doing this it still needs coolant need to start thinking about a possible blown head gasket hope this helps
May 25, 2006 at 2:53 PM
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RAYRAMOS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The easiest way to check if you have a blown head gasket is to: (1). Check the radiator to see if you have oil in it and (2). Check your oil. If the oil is a chocolate color then you have anti-freeze getting into your oil. If either of these two are occuring then you have a blown head gasket. Bye the way I had a similar problem....head gasket it was.
Jun 23, 2006 at 10:49 AM
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Suggested Repair

Bleed the cooling system thoroughly: remove the upper radiator hose until coolant comes from the top of the radiator, top off, drive until the thermostat opens without overheating, let it cool, and refill the reservoir. Repeat until it stops taking coolant. If it still needs coolant after about five cycles, check for a blown head gasket by looking for oil in the coolant and milky, chocolate-colored oil.

Conversation Summary

A 1997 BMW 328is overheated. The thermostat, leaking water pump, and cracked coolant reservoir were replaced, the radiator was flushed, and a pressure test found no leaks, but the reservoir still runs empty about every other day. One reply says this cooling system is hard to bleed and recommends a repeated heat-and-cool refill procedure, then suspecting a blown head gasket if coolant loss continues. Another reply suggests checking for oil in the coolant and milky oil, and reports a similar loss was caused by a head gasket.

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