I'm thikning of replacing my thermostat housing wiht one of the aluminum ones.

The thing is that I just recently replaced all of the coolant in the system and I'm wondering if it's reasonably possible to take off and replace the thermostat housing and gasket without spilling out most of the coolant.

I noticed that the thermostat and housing are at the apex of the hoses for the cooling system, and I'm thinking that the coolant would most likely setle below this point while the negine is off.

Anybody have any thoughts on this :az: ?

I'd imagine it's going to spill a lot of coolant. I wonder if raising the front of the car might mitigate that (?).

Yeah, I was thinking about that method as well. So you don't think it would all settle to the bottom below the thermostat housing?

The high point of the cooling system is likely where the bleed screw is - namely, next to the coolant expansion tank.

Like XOC said, expect to lose a lot of coolant. Make sure you have enough to replace what you spill.

you will lose over a gallon of coolant doing this.

I was hoping to hear something else! Oh well.

:drip:drip:drip:drip :(

You might make it easier by just draining out the radiator into a container, at least that's more controlled. Then I'd imagine very little would spill from the housing.

Guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the plastic thermo housing was only a thing for the early E36s?

Mine is a 1998 and it has one.

You may be referring to the water pumps with the plastic impellors. Those also can be in almost any build year E36!

Originally posted by Dubpower
Guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the plastic thermo housing was only a thing for the early E36s?

Actually, the early E36 M50 engines were supplied with metal thermostat housings. BMW soon switched to plastic housings.

So BMW went backwards! Probably an ill-fated attempt to save money.

if you just dont want to waste the coolant...why dont you just drain it into a clean bucket and then re-use it?

Draining at the radiator only will drop the coolant level below the thermostat housing. Use a new trashbag to line your bucket if it isn't completely clean and you can dump your coolant right back in afterwards.

Originally posted by G. P. Burdell
Actually, the early E36 M50 engines were supplied with metal thermostat housings. BMW soon switched to plastic housings.
They switched housings at the same time they switched struts on the '92 MY 325s, 6/92.