E36 2.8 sport advice needed right now!

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:41 pm

We are actually having a look at a sports right this second and it has severe gunk on the oil filler cap,now iv heard that it us common to have a bit if its been left sitting for awhile but there is a severe amount,what so you reckon??
Tia

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:44 pm

Any signs of oil in the coolant?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:44 pm

Is there any on the dipstick?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:45 pm

if its severe the engine may have been cooked, check the coolant for any oily residue

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:49 pm

Theres no gunk on the dipstick,cant really tell if theres oil in the coolant,theres no excessive smoke qnd tge engine runs fine.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:52 pm

what year car is it?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:53 pm

Its 97 on a P reg,

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:54 pm

How long has it been stood for? Both mine and my GF's cars do good milage but still have shockingly gunked up filled caps. Doesn't always mean doom. Only way to know for sure is to go back with a compression tester.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:55 pm

It has full bmw service history aswell,the last sevice was 3000 miles ago and the engine has done 97000

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:56 pm

nikasil or replaced?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:58 pm

It could be the cyclon valve/oil separator valve is blocked. They are a cheap fix to replace.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:00 pm

The engine Hasnt been replaced,no.
Thanks for help so far

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:03 pm

rix313 wrote:How long has it been stood for? Both mine and my GF's cars do good milage but still have shockingly gunked up filled caps. Doesn't always mean doom. Only way to know for sure is to go back with a compression tester.

The guy said it had stood for about aweek,

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:21 pm

If they stand around or do short journeys then condensation can build up in the cam cover and under the oil filler cap.

If there are no other signs of coolant/oil mixing then don't worry about it.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:28 pm

We have bought it,thanks for the input,now fingers crossed!!

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:40 pm

Is this for your Bro?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:42 pm

My E36 Touring had a bit on the oil filler cap when I bought it - had been stood at the dealers for a couple of weeks.

Cleaned it off and started using it and it never came back.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:46 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:Is this for your Bro?

Haha youv got a good memory!!

No,its for me mate,just gona start the two hour journey home!!

Stay by the keyboards guys!!

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:50 pm

You mean there's no warranty, outrageous

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:58 pm

Still going ???

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:44 pm

The heaters not blowing very warm!!!!uh oh!

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:46 pm

is the temp gauge showing up to temp ?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:48 pm

Temp is half way at the mo

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:50 pm

whats the blower like on full whack ?

If the cabin pollen filter is blocked, it can make the heater seem crap...

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:54 pm

kam-325i wrote:whats the blower like on full whack ?

If the cabin pollen filter is blocked, it can make the heater seem crap...

Very common for the filter to be blocked as its not often changed on E36's.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:54 pm

which is daft as it's a 5 minute job

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:57 pm

In this cold weather, mayo on the oil filler cap is quite common on little-used cars.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:13 pm

The heating is not as warm as it should be on full whack,also top rad hose dosent feel like it has any pressure in it,we can squeeze it quite easily,is this right?

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:23 pm

in this weather it's probably barely having to use the radiator to keep the engine to temperature so it's possible the systems not getting hot enough to fully presurise.

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:25 pm

Could be worth bleeding the system, and checking the thermostat is working as it should or is even fitted - some bodgers remove them altogether!

Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:28 pm

heater valves are known to stick on e36s too, they can be removed and cleaned up.

Post Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:36 am

Got it home safe and sound,the heating did warm up quite alot when we were nearing home,and the engine temp didnt go above halfway, so it sounds like a goodn.

Thanks again for the advice

Post Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:16 am

Check my post about halfway down, when the CCV gets blocked up, it can make the problem a lot worse.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Cleaning it out sorted it out for me.

Post Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:56 am

Thats how much gunk was on the our filler cap last night!

I take yours has cleared itself up and hasnt returned?

Also at idle Its ever so slightly lumpy,not severe but noticable,air leak?

Again thanks for the replys

Post Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:30 pm

macas wrote:Thats how much gunk was on the our filler cap last night!

I take yours has cleared itself up and hasnt returned?

Also at idle Its ever so slightly lumpy,not severe bult noticable,air leak?

Again thanks for the replys

Yes, it cleared up. It was used for a lot of short journeys beforehand, so that probably caused it.

If it's lumpy they yes, more than likely an airleak. CCV is a common fault on these causing airleaks.