Engine Overheat

[c-square]

Dammit.... On my way for a meeting this afternoon, my car overheated. Saw the red warning light and quickly pulled over by the road shoulder and switch off the engine. Saw the water was boiling in the expansion tank. I noticed the water level was about 3/4 of the expansion tank and thought it couldn't be insufficient water in the cooling system. Waited for a little while and decided to release the pressure via the bleed screw. Once that was done and engine is somewhat cooled (about 30mins) I noticed that the there is no more water in the expansion tank (a while ago it was like 3/4 full ???). Anyway, called AAM and got the car towed to M1 (segambut). The mechanic did a pressure test, filled up the radiator with almost 4 litres of water, check this and that for possible leakages from hoses, etc. Couldn't find any wrong Fingers cross that it is not the cylinder gasket burned or something as "painful" as that, which I experienced about a year back :cry: :cry: :cry: Since M1 could not detact the problem, may I ask the experts here what could possibly be the problem with my car

 

[ersalle]

Gone is ur cylinder head gasket ehhehehehhe. Sometimes even with compression test it wont be able to detect. Head block could be warping or possible hairline crack also. Mine had gone thru top overhaul recently and change cylinder head gasket. After that still leaks,my mech had done compression test and says nothing wrong. The best part is my car never show overheating signs, temperature was normal operating position. Only thing is that every day loss water when engine cools down. Then difficult to start because combustion chamber was wet, yet after many cranks it will start and works as per normal. But my mech says theres a slight warp on cylinder head. Fedup with it didnt want to repair, find another engine and dump it in... hehehehehe

 

[ALBundy]

csquare, do you want a 318is engine with manual tranny?? :nyehehe:

 

[c-square]

Originally posted by ALBundy@Apr 6 2006, 04:10 AM
csquare, do you want a 318is engine with manual tranny?? :nyehehe:

hahaha, now that would be a nice thought

 

[Lee36328]

That's bad news.

I thought you've overhauled the top and changed the gasket already since the last overheating episode?

Need to ask ur workshop why it's still happening it seems.

 

[jarance]

Ced,

who did the check for you at M1? Did you tell them about the
overheating.

btw, how often you check the radiator level when it is cool?

You might have a small leak in your cooling system. have the
mechanic check the rubber hose at the back of the engine and
also the water manifold located just below the throttle body.

 

[Lee36328]

The fact that you were topping up water regularly recently turned out to be the indicator that trouble was coming...

 

[jsen]

huh,, again anohter victim with radiator prob.

c-square, when was the last time u flush yr radiator..? hopefully not the gasket n cyclinder head le..

i flushed mine, now so far so good alredy.. i did the pressure testing too, no result also.. so decided to flush the radiator as the basic step. done..

 

[Raymond@M-BeasT]

i heard people said it's common on a e36 though.. :blink:

 

[jsen]

raymond, not only e36 le..

all cars also got le, dun worry yr time will come... :nyehehe:

 

[bmwsideways]

Originally posted by jsen@Apr 6 2006, 09:42 PM
raymond, not only e36 le..

all cars also got le, dun worry yr time will come... :nyehehe:

lets hope it will happen much more later :lol:

 

[tyke]

c suare,sorry to hear tht ur experiencing overheating probs bro...
nobody wants to go thru tht again...

hope alls well...

rgds,
-brad-

 

[ICEMAN 68]

c-kuasa 2 , sorry to hear bout that ... anyway just try 10 big 50 small for ya car number on kuda , toto and magnum .. never know it's gonna pop out in the 1st slot this SAT and SUN ... small invesment but big returns ... If strike all the worries are away...buy an E36 M3 cash lorrr .. HOW ??

i think it's ya radiator needs to be flushed or the termstat malfuntion...

Mine too had been drinking water like crazy, every week need to TOp up with Vodka and once i switch to a new Radiator , everything went back to the normal mode and my car sober up...

hope ya OK

 

[c-square]

where to go for radiator flush?

 

[c-square]

Originally posted by Lee36328@Apr 6 2006, 04:53 AM
That's bad news.

I thought you've overhauled the top and changed the gasket already since the last overheating episode?

Need to ask ur workshop why it's still happening it seems.

Lee, that was about 1 year ago and done by a different mech. Doubt the mech will take full responsibility on the top overhaul and rectify my current problem for free

 

[tyke]

Originally posted by c-square@Apr 7 2006, 12:57 AM
where to go for radiator flush?

bro...just go to ur regular mech and tell thm to flush ur radiator and also do a compression check...
they will either do it there and thn if they hav the expertise or send it out to a specialist to be done...
shld b no more thn a couple of hours o get tht done...

rgds,
-brad-

 

[c-square]

Originally posted by jarance@Apr 6 2006, 04:55 AM
Ced,

who did the check for you at M1? Did you tell them about the
overheating.

btw, how often you check the radiator level when it is cool?

You might have a small leak in your cooling system. have the
mechanic check the rubber hose at the back of the engine and
also the water manifold located just below the throttle body.

Unker Jaran, long time no see. How are you getting along?

Dunno his name but he looks quite senior and have apparentice following him around, so I guess he's somebody experienced. Yes, I told him of my previous overheating problem and also mentioned that I did my top overhaul, replace gasket and all. Still cannot identify the problem and asked my to drive around and if encounter another overheating episode, then he said it would be more like the gasket :beaten:

BTW, how do I check "the rubber hose at the back of the engine and
also the water manifold located just below the throttle body" that you mentioned?

 

[ersalle]

At the far end back of the headblock you will see 2 hose, 1 big one which goes into the heater matrix and 1 small one going to the throttle body. Normally if it leaks here you can see puddles form juzz below the transmission bell housing area.

 

[jsen]

c-square.

i sent it to m speed. usj.. ah meng did it for me..