I have recently purchased a 1989 325i, and when I purchased it it had a large leak from the water pump, and had been overheated. I had it towed home and got to work.
The cylinder head was rebuilt lightly with all new seals and gaskets, and valve guides on the exhaust side. It was checked for cracks and flattened. I reinstalled it back on the car with a fresh head gasket, water pump, accessory belt, timing belt and tensioner, and all of the requisite gaskets.
I had trouble getting it started, but the members here helped me get through that trouble. Now I am having problems bleeding the car, or getting it to stay cool.
I jacked up the front of the car, on an already elevated driveway, while I poured the coolant into the coolant overflow tank. During this pouring I had the heater on and the bleed screw open. When I got a steady stream I closed the bleed screw, and started the car. At this point I periodically bled it until the about half way through the temp gauge.
Half way through the temp gauge, or a little bit higher is when the problem appears. the coolant will come out bubbly, or sometimes even smooth, from the bleed screw, and then it starts to boil. It flows very quickly out of the overflow hose, and at that point, primarily steam comes out of the bleed screw. I always shut the car down at this point so that it does not overheat.I have to refill the coolant after this, in order to try bleeding again, since so much is lost out of the overflow hose.
The bottom left corner of the radiator (looking from the front of the car) does not warm up, and nor does the hose attached to it. This hose never feels like it even has water flowing through through it. I have pressurized the coolant system, and cannot find any audible or visible leaks. I have also tested the thermostat, and it opens when submerged in boiling water. Finally, I have poured water through the radiator, and it seems to flow through without blockage.
The heat comes on strong, until the thermostat get a little over the middle, and the coolant starts to boil.. At this time it cools down.
I'm completely stumped here. I've spent the entire day trying to bleed and troubleshoot this problem, and to no avail. Either I am completely incompetent when it comes to bleeding coolant, or there is some problem I can't even think of. I just hope this isn't because of some mistake I made when installing the head.
The cylinder head was rebuilt lightly with all new seals and gaskets, and valve guides on the exhaust side. It was checked for cracks and flattened. I reinstalled it back on the car with a fresh head gasket, water pump, accessory belt, timing belt and tensioner, and all of the requisite gaskets.
I had trouble getting it started, but the members here helped me get through that trouble. Now I am having problems bleeding the car, or getting it to stay cool.
I jacked up the front of the car, on an already elevated driveway, while I poured the coolant into the coolant overflow tank. During this pouring I had the heater on and the bleed screw open. When I got a steady stream I closed the bleed screw, and started the car. At this point I periodically bled it until the about half way through the temp gauge.
Half way through the temp gauge, or a little bit higher is when the problem appears. the coolant will come out bubbly, or sometimes even smooth, from the bleed screw, and then it starts to boil. It flows very quickly out of the overflow hose, and at that point, primarily steam comes out of the bleed screw. I always shut the car down at this point so that it does not overheat.I have to refill the coolant after this, in order to try bleeding again, since so much is lost out of the overflow hose.
The bottom left corner of the radiator (looking from the front of the car) does not warm up, and nor does the hose attached to it. This hose never feels like it even has water flowing through through it. I have pressurized the coolant system, and cannot find any audible or visible leaks. I have also tested the thermostat, and it opens when submerged in boiling water. Finally, I have poured water through the radiator, and it seems to flow through without blockage.
The heat comes on strong, until the thermostat get a little over the middle, and the coolant starts to boil.. At this time it cools down.
I'm completely stumped here. I've spent the entire day trying to bleed and troubleshoot this problem, and to no avail. Either I am completely incompetent when it comes to bleeding coolant, or there is some problem I can't even think of. I just hope this isn't because of some mistake I made when installing the head.
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