Car over heating
Moderator: martauto
Please i need help i changed the radiator and bleed it. When driving the temperature gauge stayed below the mid bar, but when stop with the engine running the temperature went above the three quarter point.
Can anyone help me.
Many thank.
Can anyone help me.
Many thank.
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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Viscous fan coupling is the prime suspect.
Hi chur,
Use the "search" facitily on the toolbar above. You'll more than likely find a fair few people have had the same problem, and all your questions will be answered in one easy step. It works like magic !!
Use the "search" facitily on the toolbar above. You'll more than likely find a fair few people have had the same problem, and all your questions will be answered in one easy step. It works like magic !!
01' 330ci Sport
02' 530i Sport Saloon
52' 330i Individual Touring
02' 530i Sport Saloon
52' 330i Individual Touring
Many Thank for your help.georgen wrote:Hi chur,
Use the "search" facitily on the toolbar above. You'll more than likely find a fair few people have had the same problem, and all your questions will be answered in one easy step. It works like magic !!
same problem like mine,,
i changed the viscous van and it's getting better
well you must bleed it, every 3 days,,
i changed the viscous van and it's getting better
well you must bleed it, every 3 days,,
I will be changing the viscous fan. I have been bleeding the car every day.tigalima wrote:same problem like mine,,
i changed the viscous van and it's getting better
well you must bleed it, every 3 days,,
I will let you know when it sorted.
Cheers.
I have changed the coupling fan and bled the radiator today. Yes the heater is working perfectly.spp320i wrote:my money would be on the viscous coupling.
are you getting heat from the heaters?
I have run the car for a while but still heating up. I think i still need to bleed the radiator.
I thank everyone for their kind support. i will let u know by 2morrow.
If the car is bled properly and heat is coming from the heaters then that's not the problem. Is the viscous cutting in as it heats up? Is the bottom hose warm or cold?
It could be the thermostat needs changing.
It could be the thermostat needs changing.
Car is doing well so far. Many thank.spp320i wrote:If the car is bled properly and heat is coming from the heaters then that's not the problem. Is the viscous cutting in as it heats up? Is the bottom hose warm or cold?
It could be the thermostat needs changing.
The bottom hose is warm.chur wrote:Car is doing well so far. Many thank.spp320i wrote:If the car is bled properly and heat is coming from the heaters then that's not the problem. Is the viscous cutting in as it heats up? Is the bottom hose warm or cold?
It could be the thermostat needs changing.
.chur wrote:The bottom hose is warm.chur wrote:Car is doing well so far. Many thank.spp320i wrote:If the car is bled properly and heat is coming from the heaters then that's not the problem. Is the viscous cutting in as it heats up? Is the bottom hose warm or cold?
It could be the thermostat needs changing.
Well i spoke to soon. The viscous fan do not cut in when car is heating 3/4 mark.
Next thing when car is cold the fan rotate very fast but when car is well heated the fan run normal and would not turn any faster and when accelerate the fan react normal.
- insertnamehere
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Is the water pump working OK? Try removing the pressure cap (carefully) & see if there's any water being thrown out of the return in the top of the rad with the engine running.
I've always noticed that with the viscous fan on every BMW I've owned but none have ever overheated even if it did seem strange for the fan to be less effective when warm...
I've always noticed that with the viscous fan on every BMW I've owned but none have ever overheated even if it did seem strange for the fan to be less effective when warm...
1977 Austin Allegro 1300
1992 FIAT Tipo 1600 (SOLD!!!
)
1977 MZ TS250/1 "supa-5"
1993 Cagiva Mito 125
1987 E30 318i (Daily driver for????)
1988 E30 325i (Not anymore, let down by seller...)
1992 FIAT Tipo 1600 (SOLD!!!
1977 MZ TS250/1 "supa-5"
1993 Cagiva Mito 125
1987 E30 318i (Daily driver for????)
1988 E30 325i (Not anymore, let down by seller...)
Will check. Thank.insertnamehere wrote:Is the water pump working OK? Try removing the pressure cap (carefully) & see if there's any water being thrown out of the return in the top of the rad with the engine running.
I've always noticed that with the viscous fan on every BMW I've owned but none have ever overheated even if it did seem strange for the fan to be less effective when warm...
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march109
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Remove the thermostat from its housing and pop it in some boiling water after a few moments it should start to open.leee111 wrote:hey how do you check your thermo stat i took it off the engine there now is there any way i can check it
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march109
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What does this mean?leee111 wrote:i my car is doin the same the fan seams to be workin fine what if i lift all the insides out of the thermostat housing what would this mean towards the heating of the car
I assume you mean "how would the car run with no thermostat in it?"
Well this is probably a stupid idea for medium to long term running and I think you should probably fix the problem first! Withought a thermostat the constant flow of coolant through the thermostat housing will prevent the engine from reaching normal operating temperature. This can cause poor driveability in cold weather, a sharp increase in fuel consumption, little or no heater output, and accelerated blowby and ring and cylinder wear.
Does your heater work and give hot air after a few minutes of running?
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march109
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so when your stationary the heater needle goes up past the halfway mark? and then when moving comes back down again? Does it come down randomly? or any other strange behaviour?
And I meant the heater in the cabin, when you turn it on does it blow hot air after just a few miles of driving from stone cold?
And I meant the heater in the cabin, when you turn it on does it blow hot air after just a few miles of driving from stone cold?
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march109
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Are you sure the temperature gauge is correct then?
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
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march109
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Well you said you've checked the fan, and the fan would be my number one suspect for the symptoms you describe, so first how did you check the fan? How do you know it works when the engine is hot?
If you sit in the car and don't drive anywhere how does the temperature gauge react? does it go up then down then up then down. Is it completely random? what happens EXACTLY if you don't drive anywhere? And is the car parked level?
If you sit in the car and don't drive anywhere how does the temperature gauge react? does it go up then down then up then down. Is it completely random? what happens EXACTLY if you don't drive anywhere? And is the car parked level?
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march109
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Just because it was spinning doesn't mean it was working properly, The usual test is to take a rolled up newspaper and pop it between the fan blades when the engine is warm. The fan if operating properly will have the power to shred the paper into tiny pieces with no trouble, if the paper stops the fan then your viscous coupling is not working or is not engaging properly.
The test MUST be performed when the engine is hot/warm, since the fan won't be engaged at lower temps but may still spin.
I would do this before anything else, as I said it is the most likely cause IMO of the symptoms you described.
Obviously half a newpaper rolled up or your local rag type is perfect, apparently yellow pages and broadsheets don't work so well.
The test MUST be performed when the engine is hot/warm, since the fan won't be engaged at lower temps but may still spin.
I would do this before anything else, as I said it is the most likely cause IMO of the symptoms you described.
Obviously half a newpaper rolled up or your local rag type is perfect, apparently yellow pages and broadsheets don't work so well.
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
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march109
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Yes, there is a chancey you can boil the coolant but with adequete coolant mix and the pressure of the system the temperature of the coolant would boil at a temperature higher than water.leee111 wrote:is there a chance i could boil it by over heating it
And honestly if it gets that hot your endanger of ruining your head.
What engine does your car have fitted btw? and why do you think your at risk of the coolant boiling? If the needle goes that high (near top) you should shut the engine off ASAP.
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
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march109
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How do you know this? Its the viscous coupling that engages the fan!leee111 wrote:i also need a new fan
You not helping very much your not giving enough information!leee111 wrote:hey it keeps going up and up the tempature gauge
How quickly does it go up? And when does it keep going up and up?
Turn the engine off before it hits the top for gods sake![/quote]
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
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i did the news paper trick and it stoped the fan so im guessin its broke i was sitting talking to a random man who stoped me and the gauge went very high in the gauge just over the thre quarter way mark do you think i need a new fan
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march109
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You still haven't told me what engine you have!?!?!
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.


