Coolant tank fill line?

[daforce007]

Hi, the coolant light came on in the car, and indeed the coolant level seems a bit low (it's chillin right below the bottom square indicated in the pic. Now, I bought some BMW coolant, and was wondering where the fill line was on the reservoir? I have an 88 325is, so do the "squares" represent a stopping point? or is it the actual flanged section (yellow arrow) on the reservoir?



Thanks y'all!

[Matto]

I believe its on the top, its a flat spot that wraps up from the front end to the top.

[AdamF 88iS]

Its that big fat seam, inditcated by your yellow arrow. If you look on the front (as in front of car) of the bottle you'll see the arrow pointing to it.

[daforce007]

Thanks for the info! I was lookin inside the reservoir today and I noticed the PO had green coolant in there.. is it OK to mix the two?

[DaN]

I wouldn't

[Brew]

Thanks for the info! I was lookin inside the reservoir today and I noticed the PO had green coolant in there.. is it OK to mix the two?

If you don't know for sure that the coolant system was flushed in the last two years, you should do it. 50/50 BMW Coolant and distilled water.

[daforce007]

It was just flushed before I got it in august of 04... :| should I just get it done again and get bmw coolant back in? I read on bimmerforums that green stuff had phosphates and was pure evil.. is that so? or is the color totally irrelavent and just dependant on how the company wanted to make it?

[M-technik-3]

Not all green ones have phosphates. I have seen a free say that they are phosphate free and were green.

[finch]

what is phosphates, and why is it bd for our engines?

[nando]

because it's bad for the aluminum components in your engine, including the head and radiator.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl815h.htm

[AdamF 88iS]

Phosphates corrode aluminum.

For the most part, coolant color is just dye that they put in there. Read the lable to know whats in there.