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Thread: My car runs cold all the time? bad for the car?

  1. #1
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    My car runs cold all the time? bad for the car?

    My 95 bmw 325i has always been on the cold side since I bought it. I put half water and half antifreeze in it. Sometimes I let it warm up for 15 minutes and the temp gauge gets to the middle. Then I go for a drive and it gets colder. Should it stay in the middle while I drive? Is it possible i have a fail safe thermostat that has went bad?

  2. #2
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    It's possible that you don't have a thermostat at all. Take it apart and check, definently sounds like a thermostat is bad.


  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by IWannaBMW View Post
    It's possible that you don't have a thermostat at all. Take it apart and check, definently sounds like a thermostat is bad.
    cool. I wish it wasnt so cold.

  4. #4
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    yeah your thermostat is probably stuck open. replace your thermostat. running your car like that isnt too bad for it. it will just burn more fuel.

  5. #5
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    Happened on my e36, thermostat stuck open. Get it fixed, it is not good to run on a cold engine in the long run, at least not for your pocket and definitely not good in cold weather. If I recall correctly, it is an easy fix on the e36, but I didn't do it myself.
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  6. #6
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    If the engine is not at proper operating temperature, it'll burn more gas due to poor fuel atomization and if it's 'too' cold it's revert to the cold run program which dumbs lots and lots of fuel to help heat up the engine.
    Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?

  7. #7
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    The manual says not to let your car warm up. It's better for the engine to just let it warm up while you drive. Just take it easy on the car till its warmed up. But yeah, you sir, have a bad thermostat in your car. It's a very simple fix i just did mine. had your exact same symptoms.

  8. #8
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    +1

    right on the front of the engine

  9. #9
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    You will need to remove the fan. A 32 mm wrench, and remember it's reverse threaded.
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    past BMWs: 5/1994 325isa (Arktisgrau), 3/1997 328is/5 (cosmosschwartz), 9/1990 535i/5 (calypsorot), 9/1990 318i/5 (brillantrot) 7/93 325i/5 convertible (samoablau) 2/92 325i/5 cabriolet (lagunengruen).
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  10. #10
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    Definatly an easy fix and you can think of it one way atleast its not overheating.

  11. #11
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    It is an ez fix, but if it's too cold out wait for a good day. I did a 2200 mi trip to go skiing in Col with below 0 temps and guage never got much above blue. Averaged over 31mpg too, so it wasn't dumping that much extra gas in either. Biggest problem was having to wear coats in the car cause the heater was worthless at that temp Fixed it a few weeks after I got back.
    David M.
    '96 328 Sedan

  12. #12
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    awesome. I have been running the car like this for a year and didnt realize what the problem was until I heard of fail safe thermostats. I just bought a t stat for 17 bucks at advance I hope I can replace it soon. I have a garage with a heater but I dont like to drive threw the yard, we just had it reseeded.. i may still fix it tomorrow. thanks for the help. -Austin

  13. #13
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    Fix it's bad news. My temperature starterd wandering recently and then slow warm up. Diagnisis thermostat. As car is over 5yrs old then top hose, expansion tank, coolant etc. Getting done 5th January as that's the earlist I could get in. No trips till then unfortunately

  14. #14
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  15. #15
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    Thanks.

    BINGO. My old thermostat was broken in half. I installed it today but my radiator plug poped out, because I broke it a year ago. Im suprised it likes to pop out now. I order a new one. Thanks for the guides but I never got a chance to use them because I started on it and figured it out by myself. I didnt have to take the fan off, I just had to take the fan shroud out.

  16. #16
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    Ok, not to thread jack, but- Ive noticed in the cold weather we are having in the PNW that if Im just sitting at idle my heater doesnt blow very warm. If I rev the engine it gets warmer.....while Im driving or at idle the gauge reads right at middle. Is this normal?? Thanks-

  17. #17
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    yup, thermostat. pretty common.

  18. #18
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    We're lucky these aren't Subarus (the older ones). Their thermostat design causes them to fail in the closed position. That's a "hot" problem.

    I hated finding that 32mm wrench, btw. Lame.
    1998 E36 M3/4/5 - 1993 Spec E36 325is
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  19. #19
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    Running cold does in fact accelerate wear on your engine.
    -Luke

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  20. #20
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    Agree: it's the t-stat

    Quote Originally Posted by whiteknight View Post
    Ok, not to thread jack, but- Ive noticed in the cold weather we are having in the PNW that if Im just sitting at idle my heater doesnt blow very warm. If I rev the engine it gets warmer.....while Im driving or at idle the gauge reads right at middle. Is this normal?? Thanks-
    '95 325i- My t-stat is dead as well as the heater core leaking and fogging up the passenger side windshield. If change the t-stat yourself, pray that you only have to remove the shroud, otherwise, it's a PITA,,,,or at least, that's been my experience. I ran out of patience and took it to my guy to fix. $132 later, it was doing fine,,,,until this year!

  21. #21
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    I took a Standard wrench and ground it to size as it was Sun. evening

  22. #22
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    I have the same problem with my M3.

    I change the thermostat, one year old, I replace it for a new one, and the problem still there.

    Any solution?

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Taper View Post
    I have the same problem with my M3.

    I change the thermostat, one year old, I replace it for a new one, and the problem still there.

    Any solution?
    What problem is that from those posted above, no heat at idle? If that's it:
    - it's normal for the air to be lukewarm until you give it some revs (1.5k or so will do), because the airstream's cooling capacity overwhelms the heater core's heating capacity at the low flow rate at idle
    - you may have air bubbles in the system, causing poor coolant flow through the heater core. Bleed the system.

  24. #24
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    If I drive my car in traffic the temperature stay in the middle, but if I drive my car on open roads the temperature drop to the blue zone

  25. #25
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    Running the proper temperature also helps with oil proformance, below normal temps will cause sludge to form.

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