Someone help me

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:18 pm

I have an E30 316 i with the M40 engine.

The problem I have is water leaking from out of the back of the mechanical fan shaft.(the shaft with the fan on)
With the engine off if I wiggle the fan blades dirt black water poors out from here, is this the WATER PUMP ? Or IS IT THE OIL PUMP ?

The water is black so oil must be getting into it.
The dip stick oil looks runnier as thow water may be getting into it.

HELP

As I know little about this engine.

This happen today during a 200 mile trip.

Gary

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:20 pm

that will be your water pump matey. if it overheated today its possible that it threw ur head gasket or worse- but 1 things for sure ur water pumps had it

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:34 pm

No sign of over heating.
The thing I don't undrstand is the oil in the water.

I stopped serveral time to check water level only went down slightly when I got home and allowed the engine to cool down I looked more closely and wiggle fan them move the car into the garage it started pissing out

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:39 pm

Firstly, from what you've described, the water pump (the bit with the fan on) has definately had it so a new one is needed.

The fact that the water is black is NOT a definate indicator of oil in the water.
Water & oil do not mix readily but when they eventually do, the resultant mixture tends to be a creamy brown colour with the consistency of mayonnaisse.
The black colour of the water would suggest that the water pump bearing seals have failed and minute particles of these are the culprit.

Secondly, when did you check the oil level and come to the conclusion that water was thinning it down?
When oil gets hot, it's viscosity changes so it will appear to be thinner in consistency. This is a normal condition with oil and is nothing to worry about.
On top of that, if something (water or whatever) was getting into your oil, would'nt the oil level rise? Think about it calmly.

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:47 pm

Many thanks.

What got me worried was the oil coloured water but your right if water was getting into the sump the level would rise.
This helps all I need now is a Hayne workshop manual but there not as good as they used to be.

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:54 pm

Best advice from the majority of the zone is, if you intend to keep the car for a while, spend an extra few quid and invest in a Bentley Manual.
You can get them through a link on the home page of the site and, even though they are American, they make the Haynes look like a Janet & John book.

If you need any further help, just ask m8

HTH

Iain S

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:07 pm

Iain S

Do you know if the service manual from the BMW car club at Ãƒ”šÃ‚£39.95 + Ãƒ”šÃ‚£4.75 pp are any good

Gary

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:30 pm

I've not come across this one before so I can't comment.
If it's a copy of the genuine BMW Manual, then it should be a good one although the Bentley does contain some info gained through practical experience rather than a Technical Author's idea of what should happen.

Perhaps someone else knows about it?

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:42 pm

I have the ETM from BMW and it's pretty unreadable tbh, and I do have a lot of background in electronics and stuff like that. Pitched a long way above most people really and you would probably never need it...

Think the one on the BMWCC is the Bentley one.. don't waste the money on the Haynes one, I have it and don't use it, makes more sense to actually go take something off than it does to read it and figure out wtf it's on about.