a guy changed thermostat, now has oil in water

Post Tue May 30, 2006 8:50 pm

Saw this question on another site (a general motors forum) and wondered what the answer is (no one has replied)

"I have a 1989 BMW 325i. It has recently had the radiator replaced and a new thermostat installed. After letting the engine idle for several minutes, the temp gage showed hot. Checked the coolant reservoir and it had engine oil in it.Could the thermostat be in backwards and could that cause oil to get into the coolant? What else could be the problem? I know it probably isn't good"

any ideas? we will be replacing the thermostat on the touring soon, didnt realise anything could go wrong

Post Tue May 30, 2006 8:57 pm

sounds like he has cooked it and the head gasket has gone.

ED

Post Tue May 30, 2006 9:02 pm

theres nothing you can do to the thermostat that would allow oil in ,as ed says it sounds more like the head gaskets gone allowing the oil and water to mix.

Post Tue May 30, 2006 9:02 pm

Sounds like a case of shit luck, could be the gasket or the oil cooler? Thermostat in the wrong way round wont do that to my knoledge.

Post Tue May 30, 2006 9:05 pm

As said above the thermostat is nowhere near anything that would allow oil in. When fitted there may have been an airlock which could have caused the head to overheat and crack. Fingers crossed its just the gasket.

Post Tue May 30, 2006 10:03 pm

Adammcf wrote:As said above the thermostat is nowhere near anything that would allow oil in. When fitted there may have been an airlock which could have caused the head to overheat and crack. Fingers crossed its just the gasket.

This is the most likely sequence of events, unless the thermostat was being replaced because of a overheating problem.
Whenever you do anything to a M20 cooling system turn the heater to full hot, the fan to 2, and check that the heater starts producing warm air within a minute or so of start up. Watch the temp gauge as well.

Post Wed May 31, 2006 9:20 am

Brianmoooore wrote:
Adammcf wrote:As said above the thermostat is nowhere near anything that would allow oil in. When fitted there may have been an airlock which could have caused the head to overheat and crack. Fingers crossed its just the gasket.
This is the most likely sequence of events, unless the thermostat was being replaced because of a overheating problem.
Whenever you do anything to a M20 cooling system turn the heater to full hot, the fan to 2, and check that the heater starts producing warm air within a minute or so of start up. Watch the temp gauge as well.

Its that sort of advice that makes Brainmoore a zonehero....