Temperature guage sits on blue all the time

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
Gimmethat
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Omagh N.Ireland

Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:58 pm

Hi My 318i temp guage sits on the top edge of the blue all the time. I have also noticed that the heater never really blows hot air even on full,. Could this be a head gasket problem?

Cheers
Rav335uk
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
Posts: 27985
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Mad mad mad
Contact:

Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:02 pm

What's the water level in the header tank???
Does the needle move at all??
Have you tried to bleed the system or bled and refilled it????

Sounds like an air lock or blockage.
Get the car up to temp and check the bottom hose from the red to the engine block, car switched off!!
Also your stat could be open permanently, faulty.
Last edited by Rav335uk on Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
User avatar
Gimmethat
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Omagh N.Ireland

Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:28 pm

Hi yes the needle does move from the bottom of the blue to the top. I checked the waterlevel before starting the car this am and it took less than 1/4 of a pint to bring it to the cold mark. Done approx 60 miles since and level has not dropped at all. Again I checked when the car was cold.

How do I bleed the system? Where is the stat located and is it easily replaced?

Thanks for the help.
Rav335uk
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
Posts: 27985
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Mad mad mad
Contact:

Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:06 pm

Theres a Bleed screw on the top of the thermostat housing which is located at the front of the engine.
Loosen it, and let any air out through there.
Image
If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
capri_rob
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 9681
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: South Staffordshire

Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:27 pm

Be careful with the bleed screw as they are well known for busting off - soak it with WD40 for a couple of days before attempting to undo it.

Also make sure the heater is on hot and ideally raise the front of the car up to aid with any air locks making their way out of the system.

M40 engines may also have a bleed screw built into the Rad I think
Image

e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
dickster
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 341
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Jersey

Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:28 pm

This sounds like the thermostat has stuck open, my 318is had exactly the same problem, easy to replace and now it sits exactly half-way on the temp gauge.

Which engine do you have? M10 or M40? if you're not sure then the M10 was in the chrome bumpered E30s and the M40 in the plastic bumper cars as a general rule.
My I.S has a slightly different set-up but I'm sure if its an M40 then it'll be in the same place i.e on the end of the head above the water pump, if its the M10 then it has an in-line canister thermostat. As well as the usual steps when bleeding it make sure the heater control is on hot and the ignition is on so that the heater valve can open, having the front raised higher than the rear will help and make sure you bleed the system properly-do a search on here as there are plenty of posts on the subject :thumb:
1988 325i Sport
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:58 pm

Genuine BMW thermostats are notorious for breaking one arm of the bridge that supports the centre part (the capsule and the valve disc). When this happens the disc tends to sit in its seat off centre, allowing plenty of coolant past even when it's closed.
Sounds like yours might be in this condition.
User avatar
Gimmethat
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Omagh N.Ireland

Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:05 pm

Many thanks people for all the info. There does not seem to be any air in the system so I will change the stat at the weekend and let you know how I get on.
Post Reply