Got a coolant flush and now car is losing major coolant! help

[wikolipr]

I've been having car issues and a friend recommended this site to ask for help.

I went to get an oil change and they also checked the coolant. They said the coolant looks like it's almost water and I should get a flush. I said sure why not so they flushed my coolant and put phosphate free xerox in.

A week later my coolant light comes on. This light has never been on once in the 3 years I've owned the car, never had any coolant issues. I check the coolant and the reservoir is almost empty, about 1mm left.

I brought it back to them, they said it could just be airlock from the flush and topped it off. Again, 1 week later the same thing happened.

Brought it back and said the same thing and filled it up again. Then it happens AGAIN 1 week later.

Bring it back, pissed off this time having to go back 3 times for an issue I've never had before. They tell me to take it to our local European car shop.

He looks the car over, sees no external leaks, thinks it may be internal leaking from a head gasket or something.

Theres no smoke from exhaust, no milky oil, I don't know what it is.

Does anyone have any idea? Also how likely is it something to do with the coolant flush I got done as I've never had issues before this.

Thanks.

Back to the drawing board my friend. This morning the Coolant Light lit up! Found a Pin-sized hole leak in new hose because the Fan is hitting the hose and split the hose a bit! Great!

Hope your issue is solved...

[wikolipr]

Blown Fuse 21. Replaced. Everything works now :)

Yep, don't know what I was thinking.

Fuse 21 pretty much has to be it.

You have downloaded the ETM I assume? If not, go to www.wedophones.com and get it. Look for "MANUALS", you will find it.

I would say this issue is unrelated to the coolant change.

[payney8]

Get a teekay test done to your cooling system this will show up any signs of combustion gases. Ie leaky hg

[StereoInstaller1]

11? Fuel Pump?

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=60297&highlight=fuses

Maybe 10 or 21?

Yep, don't know what I was thinking.

Fuse 21 pretty much has to be it.

You have downloaded the ETM I assume? If not, go to www.wedophones.com and get it. Look for "MANUALS", you will find it.

I would say this issue is unrelated to the coolant change.

[wikolipr]

11. Check it. IF blown, remove shift boot and inspect wires going under car to transmission, typically frayed.

11? Fuel Pump?

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=60297&highlight=fuses

Maybe 10 or 21?

[StereoInstaller1]

But now the tach, interior driver light, door bell and radio doesn't work! Got to love'em E30s.

11. Check it. IF blown, remove shift boot and inspect wires going under car to transmission, typically frayed.

[wikolipr]

The hose is probably the issue. We went over mine verrryy well and found no leaks.

Hope a new hose fixes your issue!

Finished installing the new hoses, bled the system and drove it this morning to work with good temperature, thermostat opening then cooling down and no "low coolant" light. Epic Win! Oh yeah! But now the tach, interior driver light, door bell and radio doesn't work! Got to love'em E30s.

PS: Don't want to hi-jack your thread...

[uber.e30]

ya there should be signs of it. There's none in your oil at all, you're sure?

Nothing that I can see on the dipstick. I'm going to pull the valve cover tomorrow and see if I can see any

[jlevie]

Hm, what the previous shop did as a test was put a dye in the coolant which shows up in Black light. And after running the car for a week and the coolant level dropping we were unable to find any of that dye externally.
So even if it was just leaking under pressure wouldn't there be some residue dye leftover ?

If there is no evidence of the dye on the front of the block (under the pump) or anywhere else, there is the possibility of coolant being vented from the overflow tube. That happens when; the radiator cap is lifting prematurely, or when there is a small head gasket leak that is over pressurizing the cooling system.

[CorvallisBMW]

Hm, what the previous shop did as a test was put a dye in the coolant which shows up in Black light. And after running the car for a week and the coolant level dropping we were unable to find any of that dye externally.
So even if it was just leaking under pressure wouldn't there be some residue dye leftover ?

ya there should be signs of it. There's none in your oil at all, you're sure?

[uber.e30]

From the description of what is happening, I rather doubt that bleeding is the issue. I'm more suspicious of a leak that only occurs while the system is under pressure and the engine is running, like from the pump seal. Have a shop run a pressure test on the cooling system.

Hm, what the previous shop did as a test was put a dye in the coolant which shows up in Black light. And after running the car for a week and the coolant level dropping we were unable to find any of that dye externally.
So even if it was just leaking under pressure wouldn't there be some residue dye leftover ?

[jlevie]

From the description of what is happening, I rather doubt that bleeding is the issue. I'm more suspicious of a leak that only occurs while the system is under pressure and the engine is running, like from the pump seal. Have a shop run a pressure test on the cooling system.

[TrentW]

To properly bleed the system, jack up the corner of the car where the coolant tank is located (higher the better so the tank is at the highest point), open bleeder, start engine, turn heater on hot and high, r3v engine to 2k or so to make sure all air is out and close bleeder. Drive car around a bit and bleed once more.

[wikolipr]

The hose is probably the issue. We went over mine verrryy well and found no leaks.

Hope a new hose fixes your issue!

Yeah, me too!

[uber.e30]

Subscribed. Having a similar issue but I found a hose that had a 1" crack in it.

Good Luck!

The hose is probably the issue. We went over mine verrryy well and found no leaks.

Hope a new hose fixes your issue!