Ever since I got my car, coolant has disappearing like it just burns it off. Every two to three weeks, I have to pour more coolant in it. My car does not drip any type of liquid at all. What could the problem be? Where is the coolant going? I use peaks blue bottle 50/50, if that's of any use.
06' 530i 6spd A35/5 Monaco Blue Sport Package
My dad said there was blue smoke but I've never seen smoke, not because I haven't been paying attention but I just don't see it.
06' 530i 6spd A35/5 Monaco Blue Sport Package
.......thanks for the amazing news this morning my friend. Lol thank you though.
06' 530i 6spd A35/5 Monaco Blue Sport Package
That's a perfect example of bad info...
OP, you need to actually TEST and CHECK before you go ripping your car apart. While a head gasket is of course a problem, you could have a leak that only trickles when running and warm, or leaks onto the exhaust and steams away, keeping you from seeing any leaks. Or it could be a heater core, or... or... or...
Point is, get under the car and look around for staining from coolant. If you see even the smallest stain, follow it up to where the leak is. If you see even the tiniest little dangling drop of coolant, follow it up... If you can't find any leaks, do a compression or leakdown test, or even just screw an air fitting into the spark plug hole and look for bubbles in the coolant.
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
And you are probably correct, especially given he seems to have just purchased the car. Previous owner is most likely quite relieved much to the dismay of our OP.
It does deserve to be properly diagnosed before the HG is condemned. I've seen cars with substantial coolant leaks that boil off without ever dripping one the ground.
If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue
Well my heater core actually did go out on me about 2 months ago and it we just bypassed the hoses.
06' 530i 6spd A35/5 Monaco Blue Sport Package
Pressurize the system, inspect.
Also test the coolant for any combustion gases present (kits available on Amazon and etc.,)
yes, the time spent diagnosing a problem is way more valuable than actually fixing it.
(learned after replacing many components unnecessarily)
Last edited by zubbie; 04-16-2014 at 01:04 PM.
I've seen many leaks that will drip from a hose and not hit anything on the way to the ground, and only leave the tiniest dot of a stain on the hose itself. I've had leaks that came to me after baffling several other shops. If I had written them off as bad head gaskets that would have ended in very expensive repairs that didn't solve any problems, while costing owners' money and my reputation. We diagnose problems, not make assumptions. If he doesn't use his heater core then there's no way for it to steam up the windshield, and it can drip. When it leaks like that, it just runs out the drains and doesn't stain anywhere.
Gospel.
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
Check your radiator with a cooling system pressure tester. Make sure the engine is cold!. If the radiator is hot the water will evaporate off before it reaches the floor and it won't drip!!. Also remove the spark plugs and then look inside of the bore for water sitting on the piston. It may help to remove the fan and shroud to fully inspect the rad. It takes time but it will be worth the time and effort if you find the source. Will also save hundreds if you do!!!
Good Luck
Few things to chip in:
1 check the smoke in the exhaust
2 check the head gasket. Had the very same problem and it was the blown gasket.
Edit: i am assuming there is no leak in the pumps etc..
Last edited by Murat999; 04-19-2014 at 07:38 PM.
you got a plastic thermostat housing? i had one, it was cracked, lost coolant but it burnt off on the engine so never noticed it. might be worth checking?
can also leak from under the heater valves where all the hoses go into the thingymajig and you wont notice a leak. are there any white marks on your bonnet sound deadening stuff? if so where does it line up above the engine?
Ugh. I have the same problem right now. My radiator cracked this winter; replacing that in the next few days. There seems to be a leak dripping between the tranny and the engine underneath. I can't quite seem to pin point the location.
I'm also doing a DIY electric fan conversion along with the repairs.
- John
Bookmarks