Ok so I switched from an M42 rad to a regular rad on my 24V car. My bay was orientated for an M42 rad since not only is it a 318is but I shaved off every bracket in the bay. I put my expansion tank where the windshield washer resevior would be but it could be placed a little bit cleaner. So I'm thinking I can place it "under" the bay, where the AC evap thing used to be, under the windshield washer resevior. I have enough room, but I'm worried about losing self-bleeding feature of the expansion tank because it would basically be the lowest point in the cooling system. Would this affect anything at all ?
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Originally posted by TSIOEM+ -
if the cap is at the lowest point in the system, you will not be able to fill it effectively. you need the cap to be at the highest point in the systemI saved 15% on my Bimmer parts by switching to
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Use a beer bong to fill it :)Comment
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When I filled it I made sure to keep the tank as the highest point, I undid it from the custom bracket I made on its current location now and held it high so my system is fully filled and bled, but I'm just curious that if I put it as the lowest point if it'll still work efficently, even though my system is fully filled.Originally posted by scottinAZ View PostOriginally posted by TSIOEM+Comment
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not sure that the expansion tank will fill its role in an alternate, lower location. Part of its task is to maintain proper fill level and have an air gap at the top. I would think that this task would not be able to be done if the tank is lower than another part in the system. Air is likely to be drawn into the motor and settle at the highest point (probably the head).Originally posted by lolcantturn View Post
Only way to truly know though is to try it and see if it works or not. keep a close eye on it and dont allow it to over heatI saved 15% on my Bimmer parts by switching to...
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Air will go to the highest point. Seen this once before, it will bite back sooner or later.sigpic
Reich und Roll!Comment
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Ah okay, I see what you're saying. Ill try it and find out.Originally posted by scottinAZ View Post
But if I already bled out the system properly by temporarily putting it as the highest point, then put it at the location I want it, then air bubbles shouldn't be an issue anymore? Unless I have a blown HG I guessOriginally posted by cabriodster87 View PostOriginally posted by TSIOEM+Comment
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problem is, as the coolant expands, it will push some out of the bottle if its completely full. Non BMW's use a separate expansion tank that can be nearly anywhere in the engine bay and have no issues because the expansion tank is on the outside of the pressurized system. BMW on the other hand uses the air gap inside the pressurized system, therefore the air (needed expansion space) will rise to the highest point of the systemOriginally posted by lolcantturn View Post
What you may be able to do is add another expansion tank OUTSIDE of the pressurized system (a bottle attached to the overflow pipe on the tank would do this) and as long as when the coolant contracts, it has COOLANT come back inside instead of air, all should be hunky dory. look at the design of an older american car for what you need. coolant system inside the pressure cap full of coolant at all times, with an overflow bottle ready to top it off when the coolant cools and contracts (whole expansion and contraction thing) it gets coolant instead of air.I saved 15% on my Bimmer parts by switching to...
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This bottle would need to be above the expansion tank no? To have gravity assure that coolant returns?Originally posted by scottinAZ View PostComment
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no, as long as the tube that returns the coolant is below the level of the coolant, suction (from the contracting coolant) will take it into the system.Originally posted by ohthejosh View PostI saved 15% on my Bimmer parts by switching to...
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Out of curiosity, what was the reason for changing from the m42 radiator?Comment
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