Clarity of Expansion tank

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While I was tinkering about under the bonnet of my E39 523i SE at the weekend I'd thought I'd just give a look see as to what the coolant was like and I got a wee bit of a suprise.
From the outside the tank looks fairly full so I thought 'great no worries there then' but when I finally unscrewed the cap and peered in I was suprised to see that the level was about 2 cm below the cold fill mark.
My tank is stained blue/green on the inside so badly that I can't tell the level of the coolant unless I open the lid of the tank.
Has anyone else got a stained on the inside expansion tank?
Can it be removed from the rad and cleaned out?  If so how do you remove it?
There car has never had its cooling system flushed or changed in its puff cos I don't have a receipt for this but have a receipt for every penny spent on the car.

Andrew

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Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Topic: Clarity of Expansion tank Posted: 10-September-2004 at 03:06
	All While I was tinkering about under the bonnet of my E39 523i SE at the weekend I'd thought I'd just give a look see as to what the coolant was like and I got a wee bit of a suprise. From the outside the tank looks fairly full so I thought 'great no worries there then' but when I finally unscrewed the cap and peered in I was suprised to see that the level was about 2 cm below the cold fill mark. My tank is stained blue/green on the inside so badly that I can't tell the level of the coolant unless I open the lid of the tank. Has anyone else got a stained on the inside expansion tank? Can it be removed from the rad and cleaned out? If so how do you remove it? There car has never had its cooling system flushed or changed in its puff cos I don't have a receipt for this but have a receipt for every penny spent on the car. Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

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Jimbo540i Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 05-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 80	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 04:02
	If I remember from my service records the Coolant was changed during and inspection I at about 70k+ miles. I'll check later...
	Jimbo 540i Auto

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 07:08
	Should it not be done every 4 years or summat like that so mine should have had it done but it aint. Somehow I don't think BMW would remove the expansion tank to clean it out though. Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

dave 328 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 835	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 08:08
	I thought it was every 2 years with the brake fluid (when the clock symbol appears above service lights). I'm sure this is true of most alloy engines as after time the alloy corrodes and pits even with a good strength anti-freeze, and its not good in small water ways like in the head (wears around the edges and causes head/gasket failures- obviously this is in extreme cases but not to be ignored. most changes will be every 2 or 3 years regardless of mileage. There are anti-freezes that give longer intervals between changes like the red organic stuff - OAT. My expansion tank is also stained and difficult to see the level. If its messy taking it off or impossible, could try one of those scrubbing brushes, the one which has a twisted wire handle that pokes into holes and the brisles expand again to clean inside - sure you still can get them. Or if you can the tank off, I have used a method on other cars with a seperate tank by filling it with small stones, washing powder and water and using it as a maraca until the stones clean the inside. rinse out and refit! Edited by dave 328
	328 Coupe Sport, Digital climate, full leather, OBD computer, De-restricted with M50 manifold, big bore throttle, chippeduk remap, custom cold cone intake and X-brace

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 08:15
	Dave Thanks for that. I did wonder about using a bottle cleaner as you described. I think I'd like to take it off to clean it properly, might try your idea! Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

dave 328 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 835	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 09:21
	Make sure you get all the stones out and use clean ones with no grit, probably a good idea to give the stones a wash first! small pebbles are good as they are not as sharp and should scratch the inside.
	328 Coupe Sport, Digital climate, full leather, OBD computer, De-restricted with M50 manifold, big bore throttle, chippeduk remap, custom cold cone intake and X-brace

studyolic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 09-July-2004 Location: Inchture, Dundee, Scotland. Status: Offline Points: 427	Posted: 10-September-2004 at 15:21
	Brake fluid should be renewed every two years, and coolant every three years. It was almost certainly done at your car's recent Inspection II service (assuming this carried out in 2004).
	Richard. Current; 2000 316i Compact 1.9 previous; 1999 535i V8, 1995 316i Compact 1.6