Recently bought a 1992 bmw 318is in vg condition, gave it a coolant flush and found a bad lower hose leak, fixed hose leak and when refilling was finished, found a new leak in the 1 14 nut on bottom of expansion tank, my questions are these. The reason it goes up and down is because after it gets to a certain temp, your fan kicks on. The video above shows you where the coolant reservoir, hoses and connections on your 2004 x3. It provides the extra coolant the radiator and cooling system need in the event of a leak and prevents overheating. It would read low while still looking full when id check and then sometime later it dumped all of the coolant on the garage floor without warning or reason.
Symptoms of a failing coolant expansion tank repairpal. 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. The cooling system is responsible for keeping your engine at the correct operating temperature. Turns out the expansion tank had a hairline crack in it and gave up the ghost overnight while it was depressurizing when the car was off. What the expansion tank does is collect and return coolant to and from the engine. While this issue does apply to practically all bmw models with plastic expansion tanks, this particular tank model applies to all x5 and x6 models from 2007 to current. With the expansion tank being exposed to high pressures and temperatures on both the e46 318i and x5 3. Because it is subjected to such drastic changes on a regular basis, it can often crack or break. Pull locks 1 and 2 upwards and detach coolant hose from radiatorcoolant expansion tank. Bmw expansion tank troubleshooting questions answered. These tanks are made of plastic and over time may leak causing the engine to overheat.
Coolant can leak from the reservoir or from the hoses, in 2004 x3s with the 2. This is your ultimate e46 m3 maintenance guide, so bookmark it. Factory bmw tanks are made of plastic, and will eventually crack, leak and fail. This is a vessel that allows the water and air inside the sealed system to expand due to an increase in temperature. A ruptured expansion tank can range from a small, slow dripping crack, to a large. The expanding coolant flows out but when it contracts as it cools, air gets sucked back into the radiator instead of coolant. Allow the product to cure for the recommended amount of time before continuing. For those unfamiliar with bmws, the radiator expansion tank on the bmw. Drain tank or reduce fluid level at least 2 inches below damaged area. When a cooling system component fails the entire cooling system should be inspected. The junction of the e36 radiator and expansion tank still will leak.
It is not uncommon to find additional component have failed or are leaking. Aftermath of coolant expansion tank replacement archive. It might be better to replace the leaky radiator expansion tank with a newer tank. When the engine warms up the coolant gets hot, builds up pressure and opens up the radiator cap. Without the correct amount of fluid in your bmws cooling system, your vehicle can overheat, leading to a catastrophic engine failure. I first replaced the tank, still leaked, albeit only when at operating temp and under pressure, then the hose, still leaked, then finally the. Bmw e46 330 325 coolant expansion tank reservoir removal duration. Bmw 323i coolant recovery tank best coolant recovery. Suitable for the e46 3 series, e83 x3, and e53 x5 3. Hoses then leaked resulting in replacing all of the radiator hoses.
Now, before i try to fix anything, i am trying to understand. We have found that the expansion tanks should be replaced based on age as well as condition. Behr hella service 376755111 engine coolant reservoir bmw. Bmw x3 coolant expansion tank leak and replacement fix e83. At one point, the liquid in the radiator is boiling and the engine began to overheat. I have a 2001 ford taurus with a leaking coolant expansion tank. On the top of the radiator is a small plastic connection of which a hose connecting the radiator with the coolant expansion tank. Start by disconnecting the mass air flow maf sensors electrical connection.
Now before i dive into the e46 m3 maintenance schedule, you should know how the bmw onboard computer obc operates and calculates the numbers. As you can see in my video, i had a small leak that didnt even puddle water in the garage, at first. Some bmw models are notorious with getting cracked coolant reservoirs. Buy a 2003 bmw z4 expansion tank at discount prices. When replacing the e46 expansion tank, you will have to swap the coolant. Monitors the coolant level in the expansion tank brand. Cracked coolant expansion tank on ford taurus bob is the. No big deal, at around 100k miles this is one of the things to be replaced.
Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank replacement bmw 325i 2001. Ive probably seen most failures, and have experienced many firsthand. E46 expansion tank change diy or just get the garage to do. Replaced the sensor twice, then the expansion tank. If you are looking for more technical articles to diagnose or repair cooling issues. If these are cracked or broken, they will allow coolant to leak out. Your cars bmw 325xi expansion tank is a vital element of your cars cooling system, which stops your engine from overheating and allows the vehicle to uphold a. Last night i discovered the leak and used epoxy to try and fix it. If your car still has the original radiator, i would encourage you to go ahead and replace it with the tank. Usually filled to onethird of its capacity, the coolant reservoir provides storage for coolant when the radiator purges coolant as it heats up. Yours is not the only mark \ model that has this type of issue.
The bmw e60 cooling system is filled through the plastic coolant expansion tank or coolant reservoir at the right front of the engine compartment. I shall now describe a specific situation with my car. Sand the affected area to at least 1 inch beyond the damage. If your car has over 80k miles and hasnt had one of these replaced, we highly. A bmw expansion tank ensures that your radiator is always full, even when. The tank is cracked and there are 2 pinhole sized holes in the corner. How to fix coolant reservoir tank leaks it still runs. Would just like some data regarding radiator failures on the e46. 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. I chased a check coolant level light on my 2002 540i for two years. Check out free battery charging and engine diagnostic testing while you are in store.
Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank replacement 19982006 3 series. Bmw e46 e53 x5 coolant expansion tank removal and fix 320i. For cracks that may continue to expand, drill a small hole at each end of the crack. Yesterday i did a uv dye test to locate my leak and it appears that in my case coolant reservoir has one of these small hairline cracks as well. Electric cooling fan attached to rear of radiator the cooling fan is controlled by the engine control module ecm via an output final stage. The water coolant in the expansion tank will rise and fall with the engine temperature. The fix is a risky and costly top end engine rebuild or a complete engine replacement. Bmw coolant radiator expansion tank cracking, splitting. In the video, 1a auto shows how to remove and replace a cracked, leaking, broken, or clogged coolant reservoir. Make, acura, audi, bmw, buick, cadillac, chevrolet, chrysler. After inspection found the problem the junction of the radiator and expansion tank.
General e46 forum cracked expansion tank new cooling. This tank has a 100% failure rate and fails on every single e46, usually around or before 90,000 miles. Pull coolant expansion tank a little out of retaining plate and lower connection piece. Its with the garage now getting pressure tested to make sure its only the expansion tank thats sprung a leak. The coolant expansion tank in your vehicle gives additional fluid a place to go after expansion and contraction from temperature change.
Use a flat blade screwdriver to loosen the hose clamp securing the intake boot to the intake muffler. Bmw e46 e53 x5 coolant expansion tank removal and fix oil catch can drain 320i 323i 325i 328i 330i. A few weeks after i replaced the expansion tank the radiator sprung a leak at a not particularly good time. E46fanatics view single post e46 cooling system guide. Thoroughly work the plastic weld or epoxy into the crack to ensure a complete seal. So about 4 months ago, the expansion tank that sits next to the radiator developed a small hairline crack on the top surface causing the vehicle to overheat due to low antifreeze.
In the video below i explain how to diagnose a bmw x3 coolant expansion tank leak and how to replace the tank. How do you repair the expansion tank on a 2005 bmw 325i. The coolant expansion tank provides additional room when coolant heats up. Prepare plastic welding product or epoxy according to the manufacturers instructions, and then carefully apply it to the coolant reservoir as directed. The bmw repair guide used this 2003 325ci for the following article. A bmw expansion tank ensures that your radiator is always full, even when cold, and provides a way for hot fluid to expand without releasing fluid on the road below you. Coolant expansion tank for bmw e46 3 series, e83 x3, and. How to replace a coolant expansion tank on an e39 six.
It just sits there quietly for years until one day its plastic body just gives way under the pressurized coolant. Prepare damaged area by removing any oil, grease, tar or dirt, etc. The number one cause of cooling failure for the e46 3series is the expansion tank. You probably have some sort of air leak on the coolant overflow hose. Also, make sure the coolant overflow tube actually reaches the bottom of the coolant overflow tank. Pull lock 1 upwards and detach coolant hose from coolant expansion tank. When questions arise in owners minds, the best recourse would be to turn to experts for reliable answers. Determining root cause for cracked bmw coolant reservoir. Coolant expansion tank leaks an engine coolant leak may develop from the expansion tank. Mine developed a tiny crack on the top near the expansion tank.
An engine coolant leak may develop from the expansion tank resulting in engine overheating. Unfortunately, the problem with the coolant system expansion tanks cracking andor splitting is a somewhat common problem on many bmw models. Many coolant expansion tanks of first generation ls400 have small cracks at the top around temperature connector. The radiator expansion tank is an important part of your cars cooling system. This is your main guide to follow to make sure your car is in safe driving conditions and has full functionality. Choose top quality brands apauro parts, behr, dorman, febi, genuine, vaico. Going to replace the thermostat and water pump which will hopefully stop my overheating and leaking problems. Its a quick and dirty video, but it shows you some good places to look for. Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank 19982006 3 series all models. In this video i will show you how to replace the coolant reservoir expansion tank in a 2008 bmw x3. This radiator coolant reservoirexpansion tank for e46 m3 is a common failure item as the plastic weakens over time and stress crack will lead to coolant leaks.
Bmw e46 coolant expansion tank replacement bmw 325i. I think pressurized coolant expansion tank is a bad idea, coolant reservoir is safer and more reliable. Without a bmw 325xi expansion tank on a car, the coolant or antifreeze that is typically released by the pressure would likely leak out of the car which can be harmful to the planet. Now the coolant expansion tank has a slight crack and is leaking. Overheating 01 325i, expansion tank changed need help. In this video you see some of the common problem areas as far as coolant leaks.
This is a bmw genuine coolant expansion tank that has been repackaged by nrf, allowing us to offer it at a fraction of the dealership price. How to replace coolant reservoir 0105 bmw 325xi youtube. To gain full access to the bmw e46 coolant expansion tank, the vehicles intake muffler will need to be removed. How to replace a coolant expansion tank on an e39 six cylinder bmw the coolant expansion tank aka reservoir is one of those parts that you hear stories about. Without the correct amount of fluid in your bmws cooling system, your vehicle can overheat, leading to a. Replace just expansion tank or do cooling system overhaul. But the leak quickly became worse and i found myself topping off the coolant tank every day or two toward the end before repairing it. Jsd 177787039 radiator coolant overflow expansion tank. It could be a hairline crack around the neck of the expansion tank or it could be the hose itself thats leaking. You want to keep all the coolant in your vehicle in the cooling system. When a component in the cooling system fails it is important to inspect the entire cooling system. Bmw cooling systems always need bleeding after any cooling system repair.
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