But from the phrasing of your question, your ending it with t. Radiator cap off the expansion tank, bleeder screw cracked open, squeezing hoses all over the place, topping off coolant as needed, wot jabbing of the throttle when cold for 30 secs at a time. Replace yours with a new one if it is cracked or if there is corrosion inside. In this video you see some of the common problem areas as far as coolant leaks. Aftermath of coolant expansion tank replacement archive.
Over time and mileage, the oem coolant expansion tank can fail due to years of temperature variances. Sep 14, 2017 this expansion tank just cracked, exploded and spilled all the coolant in my engine bay. Theres the bmw engine compartment with lots of plastic pieces and before we look at this ill just show, this is the coolant overflow bottle, it was cracked, this sits on the side of the radiator, the red arrow points to a big long crack along the length of the bottle and we do see these from time to time. Symptoms of a bad or failing coolant reservoir yourmechanic. The cracked at upper radio hose radiator the water pump upper and lower hoses and the often problematic expansion tank. Cracked coolant expansion tank on ford taurus bob is the. Many coolant expansion tanks of first generation ls400 have small cracks at the top around temperature connector. When a cooling system component fails the entire cooling system should be inspected. The bmw e46 coolant expansion tank is a part that commonly fails in all 19982006 3 series cars. Mike millers old school bmw maintenance would be 2 years of coolant changes. Bmw expansion tank troubleshooting questions answered.
The plastic coolant pipes tend to leak as they corrode and crack inside the cylinder head. Jun 04, 20 bmw e39 525 expansion coolant tank leak crack why. Genuine bmw coolant expansion tank 177542986 e6061 e6364 nonm if your tank is cracked or leaking, this oe bmw expansion tank is the perfect option to get rid of the leak and prevent coolant loss. Cooling system problemsother possible problems with bmw. E46 328 oil in coolant page 1 bmw general pistonheads. Bmw 328i coolant reservoir replacement cost estimate repairpal. Im on my third, yes third, expansion tank in the last year and every single one develops hair line cracks along the seams.
Karpal radiator coolant recovery expansion overflow tank reservoir and sensor and cap and clip 17117573781 compatible with e46 e83 e53 323i x3 apremium coolant expansion tank with cap and sensor for bmw e46 320i 323ci 323i 325ci 325i 325xi 328ci 328i 330ci 330i 330xi x3 x5. This morning when i started the car, noticed that the coolant light came on. How to replace a coolant reservoir yourmechanic advice. While i dont have full vehicle service history there is possibility that in 2012 it already had coolant reservoir changed due to a similar coolant leak. If the container your talking about has a small tube ran from the top of the radiator by the cap to it, you are taking about a over flow tank. I ordered up a replacement expansion tank and fitted it. I own a 2003 e46 320i and about two weeks ago my coolant light came on. On this page, you are looking at the mishimoto aluminum coolant expansion tank.
Have a bimmer w a cracked upper neck that would leak slowly. This is an oem expansion tank for any nonm model e46, x5 3. Bmw e46 330i 325i 330ci radiator coolant expansion tank. Behr hella service 376755111 engine coolant reservoir bmw. Mishimoto mmrte4699e bmw e46 nonm vehicles aluminum coolant. I did mine at 85k just to be safe and bought a kit from ecs tuning dotcom. A couple of days later the coolant light came on again so i topped up again and low and behold a couple of days later coolant light back on again. The reservoir tank is covered under warranty but they want to charge me 293.
Our coolant expansion tank is a replacement part for your aged, cracked, or otherwise deformed coolant expansion tank. Coolant flush interval change with my2004 question bmw. Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank replacement bmw 325i. The coolant expansion tank provides a buffer for the coolant to overflow too when the cooling system is running. If your cooling system has a problem the hot coolant will need a place to go and chill out.
I think pressurized coolant expansion tank is a bad idea, coolant reservoir is safer and more reliable. This is a 100% aluminum unit that is tigwelded, and it improves the underhood aesthetics especially when compared to the oem unit. They told me the answered by a verified bmw mechanic we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Yours is not the only mark \ model that has this type of issue. Bmw coolant expansion tank crack europeprogram5s diary. My radiator reservoir tank cracked and i am having it. Dont forget to change the manual trans and the differential fluids at 30k miles. A couple of days ago i had to top up engine oil as the light came on.
The coolant reservoir collects the hot coolant for recycling back into the radiator once it has cooled down. Factory bmw tanks are made of plastic, and will eventually crack, leak and fail. This is from a e46 330i m54 motor with automatic transmission. But when i check again, theres no coolant in the expansion tank. The dealer replaced a faulty fan relay which was diagnosed as the culprit. Theres the bmw engine compartment with lots of plastic pieces and before we look at this ill just show, this is the coolant overflow bottle, it was cracked, this sits on the side of the radiator, the red arrow points to a big long crack along the length of the bottle and we. Most e46 fanatics will tell you to replace most of the cooling system, if not the whole thing tstat, pump, hoses, radiator, expansion tank, and sensors about every 90k miles. E46 coolant leak, e46 power steering leak, e46 problems, e46 valve cover, e46 valve cover gasket leave a comment on common problems on bmw e46 chassis models. I topped up with about 200mls of coolant as it showed that this was all that was needed.
I read all of the cooling system posts here and on the forums, and decided to do the full overhaul. One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing coolant reservoir is the need to constantly add coolant. It is underneath the expansion tank on the e46, and uses the coolant to cool the atf. These 4 hoses are the hidden cooling circuit under the manifold. Electric cooling fan attached to rear of radiator the cooling fan is controlled by the engine control module ecm via an output final stage. Its a quick and dirty video, but it shows you some good places to look for. There was a lot of coolant on the outside of the expansion tank so i assumed i had fallen victim to the well known cracked expansion tank issue. A loss of coolant does mean that there is a leak in the system. Buy a replacement coolant expansion tank for bmw e46 318i built 1998 to 092001. Posted by admin april 24, 2016 april 24, 2016 posted in e46 valve cover tags.
Whenever the coolant is drained and filled, the system should be bled of trapped air. Aug 26, 20 a loss of coolant does mean that there is a leak in the system. Coolant expansion tank cap e36, e46, e34, e39, e38, x3, x5, z3, z4. May 30, 2012 my x5 overheated and all the coolant shot out of the little hole at the top of the expansion tank. Usually a bad or failing coolant reservoir will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver that a problem has occurred and should be serviced. Nov 08, 2019 the bmw e46 coolant expansion tank is a part that commonly fails in all 19982006 3 series cars. If your vehicle leaks too much coolant, your engine can overheat. Cooling system problemsother possible problems with bmw e46. Genuine bmw coolant expansion tank 177542986 e6061 e63. Coolant return hose set, rein e46 323i325i328i330i. Well, if it is not falling on the ground have you checked your splash guard to see if it is puddled up there. If you search enough online forum threads, you will quickly realize that one of the bmw e46s achilles heels is the coolant expansion tank.
I wanted to make that clear for those more familiar with american vehicles where. If you are often adding more coolant to the reservoir, you might have a leak. In your case it leaks out so when the engine cools down there is no reserve water to keep the system at its proper level. After two previous plastic tanks cracked and leaked, i installed this aluminum tank. Bmw coolant radiator expansion tank cracking, splitting, coolant expansion tanks. On most coolant reservoirs, there will be a clip that secures the reservoir to the rear of the engine compartment. Bmw coolant radiator expansion tank cracking, splitting. Judging from the picture of the coolant tank with cap off, you have oil mixing with coolant as evidenced by the sludge visible. An engine coolant leak may develop from the expansion tank resulting in engine overheating.
The coolant levels in your cars expansion tank should be inspected frequently because large drops in the coolant level could indicate a leak somewhere in the cooling system. When i opened the radiator cap, noticed that the watercoolant was thick and creamy. Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank 19982006 3 series all models. Cooling system problemsother possible problems with bmw e46 engine need someone who knows about this stuff. I have heard that the cooling system in this model needs some additional options or addons to stop the overheating problem that killed my first engin. Also 6 months before the low coolant light came on first time it had oil filter housing gasket or engine gasket changed cant quite tell from the handwriting on the receipt. Jun 12, 20 it is a common misconception that people mistake a older style coolant overflow tank for a newer style pressurized reservoir. It is a common misconception that people mistake a older style coolant overflow tank for a newer style pressurized reservoir. Also 6 months before the low coolant light came on first time it had oil filter housing gasket or engine gasket changed cant quite tell from the handwriting on. Jan 01, 2008 my radiator reservoir tank cracked and i am having it repaired at carmax where i purchased it. When coolant spilling from the bleed screw is free of air bubbles, tighten the screw and the expansion tank cap.
It is not uncommon to find additional component have failed or are leaking. It is not uncommon to find additional component have failed or. Coolant expansion tanks and parts, radiator mounts and parts, radiator supports and parts. If your 2004 bmw 3seriess coolant tank is discolored or cracked, dont risk low coolant level or overheating. You might see coolant leaking if the tank is cracked or damaged. You need to drive the car and drive it hard at times. Ignoring a small crack is a bad idea, as they can grow rapidly. Mishimoto aluminum coolant expansion tank subaru wrx sti.
Bmw e46 radiator and coolant expansion tank replacement duration. The gaskets at the oil filter housing and the oil cooler housing need to be changed. These 4 coolant pipes are often replaced as while youre in there parts during a starter, crankcase vent, or intake manifold removal on 19992006 e46 323i325i328i330i. Determining root cause for cracked bmw coolant reservoir. Place your orders online or via phone with one of our enthusiast experts. Bmw e46 330 325 coolant expansion tank reservoir removal duration. How to replace coolant reservoir 0105 bmw 325xi youtube. Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank replacement bmw 325i 2001. When questions arise in owners minds, the best recourse would be to turn to experts for reliable answers. Aug 31, 2016 when you remove the hose on the bottom, you will lose the majority of coolant inside the tank. In the event of a cracked reservoir, there will be a very noticeable coolant leak on the ground, underneath the front of the vehicle. We have found that the expansion tanks should be replaced based on age as well as condition. Made from plastic, over time they can become brittle and crack. Bmw coolant expansion tank replacement e46 323 325 330.
Radiator cap on expansion tank, bleeder screw cracked open, squeezing hoses all over the place, topping off coolant as needed, wot jabbing of the. Fortunately i was able to drive for a short period watching the temperature gauge to get home. We found that the plastic coolant expansion tank developed a hairline crack which caused a leak in the coolant system. Bmw and mini losing coolant but no leaks low coolant.
Normally as the water cools it sucks the water in the tank back in. Inspect your expansion tank every time you change your oil. Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank 19982006 3 series all. I have a 325 e46 at the moment and that doesnt pump out much air at all. Ok, jacob fielding has already answered the general question about coolant and oil leaks.
What causes engine oil on bmw e46 engines to spill into. As the bmw e46 expansion tank ages, the prolonged heat and pressure it is subjected to causes the plastic to weaken. What causes engine oil on bmw e46 engines to spill into coolant and not vice versa. Shipped to your door or now offering curbside pickup in wadsworth, ohio. They can be replaced or repaired using a type patching material, such as jb weld. The coolant temp sensor oring seems to not get mention in the cooling system overhauls. A few days later, with no signs of overheating, the the expansion tank exploded splitting horizontally, three inches from the top spilling the coolant.
Bmw coolant radiator expansion tank cracking, splitting, leaking exploding. Genuine bmw coolant expansion tank 177542986 e6061. Belt driven coolant pump bolted to the front of the engine block. Bmw cracked coolant tank, bmw cracked expansion tank, bmw exploding expansion tank, bmw faulty expansion tank. The engine coolant reservoir is a storage tank for excess engine coolant, and allows engine coolant to flow in and out per the needs of the engine cooling system. However, when i filled it back up with coolant my original top and bottom hoses leaked, it seems the orings. How to bleed the cooling system on bmw x3 e83 e46 325i 330i. When i opened the radiator cap, noticed that the water coolant was thick and creamy. I lift the bonnet and unscrew the expansion cap to discover an empty header tank. As the engine coolant temperature rises, the coolant expands, and the radiator cap allows excess pressure to bleed off. Bmw 17117573781 coolant reservoir expansion tank for e46. When you remove the hose on the bottom, you will lose the majority of coolant inside the tank.