What's all this then? Radiator (image)

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PaulyV
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:15 pm

http://www.webspear.com/26.jpg

Seems there quite often however the fluid in the rad appears not to be going down. Seems to be dropping from the seam between the metal and the plastic.

Is this a common place for this to happen?

Is it something I should deal with right away?

Can you tell I'm a newbie?

best

Pauly
1990 318i LUX, Alpine White, 80,000 miles, as close to mint as I'll ever get.
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tonyppe
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:24 pm

is it definatly water?
Widge
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:57 pm

Well the plastic thing it's sitting on is the undertray, so it seems logical that if the road is wet water will come up through those two big holes??? Or have I missed the point? If the Rads not going down I wouldn't worry. Do you have air conditioning??
Sooty
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:04 pm

Had this recently on the g/f's 318i.

Thought it was a slight leak from the edge of the fins going into the side section, but the fluid level seemed to remain constant.

Turned out that the top hose stub tube on the rad, was cracked around it's circumference and coolant was being forced out when hot, running down & dripping from the bottom corner.

Time for a new rad :cry:
bmpaul
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:50 pm

looks like coolant to me mate. new rad time.
PaulyV
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:03 pm

Oh well, something for the coming warmer weeks then and not too bad a first job.

It appears to be only 'one spanner' out of a possible 5 in my Haynes manual, so should not prove too difficult, even for me.

Thanks for your help.

Pauly
1990 318i LUX, Alpine White, 80,000 miles, as close to mint as I'll ever get.
Widge
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:05 pm

It's a really easy job mate, two bolts undo the hoses and the rads out.