Coolant fill. - BMW Forum

kohlers · 10-03-2009, 09:46 PM

The manual says to keep the red tip of the coolant float level with the edge of the filler opening. On my last oil-change the mechanic filled COOLANT all the way up to the edge. I just looked at the coolant and it had gone down to the right level but there was coolant on top of the expansion chamber. I could not see where it came from. Not from the upper hose that I first suspected. Can an over fill cause damage?

johnnyBgood · 10-03-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kohlers

The manual says to keep the red tip of the coolant float level with the edge of the filler opening. On my last oil-change the mechanic filled COOLANT all the way up to the edge. I just looked at the coolant and it had gone down to the right level but there was coolant on top of the expansion chamber. I could not see where it came from. Not from the upper hose that I first suspected. Can an over fill cause damage?

No......there is a overflow hose......when the engine reaches operating temp. it will flow out......or you can get a turkey baster & remove some of it!

jb

kohlers · 10-05-2009, 10:30 AM

There is no over-flow hose on my 200 323i. The expansion tank is all sealed and has to contain air allowing the coolant to expand. If not sufficient air the pressure builds up and that I believe is what caused the seal where the radiator hose attaches to the expansion to blow. The mechanic filled the tank all they way up, which he should have known is not correct. The manual says to fill so that the red tip of the float is level with the top or max 2cm up. I checked on this with my local BMW dealer service dept. I did not make the oil-change there but at another BMW shop. Now how can I prove that the mechanic caused my problem?? I have no hopes there. So I am probably having to replace the hose myself. Any suggestions from any of you guys?? There must be a drain at the bottom of the radiator or somewhere!!!

marti5 · 10-05-2009, 10:41 AM

Just replace the hose yourself.....and you are correct the tip should be level with the top of the tank, there should be a drain plug on the rad normally down one of the sides, if not just pull the bottom hose off....when you refill do it very slowly (not with the engine running) have air con on max heat but with the fan on lowest setting and just keep adding coolant and bleeding the system until the tip is at the correct place, mine took 2 weeks to get spot on,only do it when the engine is stone cold and only check it when its stone cold and add coolant as required.

FCPGroton · 10-06-2009, 08:21 AM

Did you take your car to a jiffy lube or something like that? I would not go back to them again.

kohlers · 10-06-2009, 10:58 AM

For the first oil-change in my "new' 2000 323i I had planned to go to the local BMW dealer but they had a long waiting-list, so I went to a shop that does Mercedes and BMW. Jiffy-lube might have done a better job. I have taken other cars there. Checking with other shops they tell me that an overfill would not harm anything because any overpressure is released through the cap, but.....

kohlers · 10-06-2009, 08:44 PM

To follow up on this story. I wentback to the same shop and complained about the leak. Of course they said that an overfill would not hurt anything. They agreed to pressure test the system and it leaked where I thought. I showed them my spare hose and they replaced it on the spot. No charge. Now, does it still leak? Remains to be seen.

witeshark · 10-06-2009, 09:17 PM

Good luck, I hope that works!

FCPGroton · 10-07-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kohlers

To follow up on this story. I wentback to the same shop and complained about the leak. Of course they said that an overfill would not hurt anything. They agreed to pressure test the system and it leaked where I thought. I showed them my spare hose and they replaced it on the spot. No charge. Now, does it still leak? Remains to be seen.

You should have charged them for the hose.