my car is leaking coolant

zach · 01-09-2004, 05:37 PM

My girlfriend is out getting some more to fill it up. I fear that there is a hole in the radiator. I guess I should bring it to the shop.

The HACK · 01-09-2004, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcasavant

My girlfriend is out getting some more to fill it up. I fear that there is a hole in the radiator. I guess I should bring it to the shop.

How bad is it? If you see a puddle beneath the car then I'd worry about it.

If you had to top off once every 6 month then it's no big deal. In fact, it's not out of the ordinary for the liquid to expand and contract enough to require a fill up during winter.

JST · 01-09-2004, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcasavant

My girlfriend is out getting some more to fill it up. I fear that there is a hole in the radiator. I guess I should bring it to the shop.

Check the radiator neck, where the upper coolant hose comes into the radiator (on the right side of the radiator if you are standing in front of the car). As you may know, E36 M3s are notorious for having this plastic flange fail, which can lead to rapid coolant loss. In other cases, cracks in that area can lead to slower leaks.

If that's where the leak is coming from, I would not drive the car. If it's cracked, that part can fail at any time, leading the car to disgorge its entire coolant load and leaving you stuck by the side of the road.

OTOH, if the car is just down on coolant and there is no visible leak, Hack is correct; I've had to add coolant to lots of cars.

zach · 01-09-2004, 06:14 PM

Yes, a puddle, but I'm not 100% sure it's mine. The coolant is definitely low, and I've been getting the OBC warnings. My girlfriend is out now getting more coolant for the car. I'm going to try to examine where it might be leaking, but it's 0F out. I may just have it towed tomorrow.

JST · 01-09-2004, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcasavant

Yes, a puddle, but I'm not 100% sure it's mine. The coolant is definitely low, and I've been getting the OBC warnings. My girlfriend is out now getting more coolant for the car. I'm going to try to examine where it might be leaking, but it's 0F out. I may just have it towed tomorrow.

If it's leaking that badly, a flashlight should reveal whether the neck is the source of the leak fairly quickly. Look for liquid or white streaks on the plastic surface of the radiator beneath the hose.

zach · 01-09-2004, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcasavant

Yes, a puddle, but I'm not 100% sure it's mine. The coolant is definitely low, and I've been getting the OBC warnings. My girlfriend is out now getting more coolant for the car. I'm going to try to examine where it might be leaking, but it's 0F out. I may just have it towed tomorrow.

If it's leaking that badly, a flashlight should reveal whether the neck is the source of the leak fairly quickly. Look for liquid or white streaks on the plastic surface of the radiator beneath the hose.

I'll look when she comes over in a few minutes. She wasn't able to locate any coolant.

zach · 01-09-2004, 07:10 PM

Hmm.

I just looked under the hood and under the car with a flashlight. There are no obvious leaks near the radiator. Perhaps Hack is right and it just needs a refill. I'm going to check under the car after dinner and see if there's a puddle.

I'll check the coolant level then too.

zach · 01-09-2004, 08:29 PM

Well, I got some coolant. There was no puddle after dinner. I will wait until the car cools down and then fill to the fill line. Does it matter if I just add pedestrian coolant to the system -- do I need BMW coolant?

SARAFIL · 01-09-2004, 08:42 PM

When the car starts to leak coolant, that is it's way of telling you that it is starting to die a miserable death, and that you should replace it with something newer and far more exciting with great urgency...

zach · 01-09-2004, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

When the car starts to leak coolant, that is it's way of telling you that it is starting to die a miserable death, and that you should replace it with something newer and far more exciting with great urgency...

What's more exciting than an e36 M3?

01-09-2004, 05:37 PM	#1
zach swinging for the fences Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5,037	my car is leaking coolant My girlfriend is out getting some more to fill it up. I fear that there is a hole in the radiator. I guess I should bring it to the shop.

01-09-2004, 08:42 PM	#9
SARAFIL I like BMWs Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: X5 M50 / M550 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5,789	When the car starts to leak coolant, that is it's way of telling you that it is starting to die a miserable death, and that you should replace it with something newer and far more exciting with great urgency... __________________ 2020 X5 M50i -- Alpine White / Coffee Leather 2020 M550i -- Carbon Black / Beige Leather

01-09-2004, 06:14 PM	#4
zach swinging for the fences Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5,037	Yes, a puddle, but I'm not 100% sure it's mine. The coolant is definitely low, and I've been getting the OBC warnings. My girlfriend is out now getting more coolant for the car. I'm going to try to examine where it might be leaking, but it's 0F out. I may just have it towed tomorrow.

01-09-2004, 07:10 PM	#7
zach swinging for the fences Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5,037	Hmm. I just looked under the hood and under the car with a flashlight. There are no obvious leaks near the radiator. Perhaps Hack is right and it just needs a refill. I'm going to check under the car after dinner and see if there's a puddle. I'll check the coolant level then too.

01-09-2004, 08:29 PM	#8
zach swinging for the fences Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5,037	Well, I got some coolant. There was no puddle after dinner. I will wait until the car cools down and then fill to the fill line. Does it matter if I just add pedestrian coolant to the system -- do I need BMW coolant?