Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Technical & Model Specific Forums > BMW 3 Series
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Changing Coolant on e30 316
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Forum LockedChanging Coolant on e30 316

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Pete330 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II
Avatar

Joined: 26-November-2003
Location: Aberdeen
Status: Offline
Points: 8969
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Changing Coolant on e30 316
    Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:38

Ok few simple Questions

I am going to drain out my coolant at weekend and change the Anti Freeze

How do i drain the coolant on a e30 316?

How much Coolant (Anti Freeze)should i add ?

What coolant should be used? (Its a 1990,but its only a 1600cc Carb) (Import)

How do i add the coolant and bleed the system?

Any links to pics etc would be great

Previous:

E36 318is coupe, E36 323i coupe, E30 316 saloon, E30 318 saloon, E46 330ci Sport Conv
E92 325d M Sport(3.0),With Loads of gadgets

Current:
116i Sport F20
Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
LuxAuto View Drop Down
Senior Member II
Senior Member II


Joined: 10-April-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 225
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:49
1) Remove expansion cap

2) Disconnect bottom radiator hose and drain out fluids.

3) Flush the system with a garden hose in both directions, if you want to do a thorough flush, disconnect some of the other hoses and flush each section at a time.

4) Your engine should need more than 5-6 litres of anti-freeze.  Mix it 50/50.  half water, half anti-freeze.  Most anti-freeze is the same although the more expensive stuff will require less frequent changing.

5) Reconnect all the hoses and pour in the mixture slowly via the expansion bottle.  Doing it slowly will prevent airlocks. 

6) When you have filled to the max indicator, start engine and let it warm up.  Leave the expansion cap bottle cap off to allow air bubbles to disperse.

7) Engine should take 10-15 mins to warm up.  Check lower an d top hoses to see if they are both getting warm.  If they are, you have no air lock.  Turn on the heater and see oif you get heat, if so, you have just confirmed this.  Run engine till the cooling fan comes on and if it does, everything should be fine.  Top up if required and replace cap.  Check for leaks.

8) If after running the engine for a long time there is no warm air from the heater and the top and bottom hoses are at odds with each other, you have an airlock.  If you have bleed valves, open thse and blled the air.  Do this by opening the valve and once you see water come though,  tighten it. 

If you don;t have bleed nipples, just disconnect the cold hoses and release the seal slightly so that any trapped air can escape.  Once water runs, reconnect.  Be careful though, water might be hot. 
Back to Top
Pete330 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II
Avatar

Joined: 26-November-2003
Location: Aberdeen
Status: Offline
Points: 8969
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:56

Thanks for that

Just 2 Questions though to answers below

4- Surely all Anti Freeze is not the same? Different types for different engines etc:

5- I dont have an expansion tank on my e30

Only a Radiator with cap.So does it get filled to top of Radiator?

 

Originally posted by LuxAuto LuxAuto wrote:

1) Remove expansion cap

 4) Most anti-freeze is the same although the more expensive stuff will require less frequent changing.

5) Reconnect all the hoses and pour in the mixture slowly via the expansion bottle.  Doing it slowly will prevent airlocks. 



Edited by pete323
Previous:

E36 318is coupe, E36 323i coupe, E30 316 saloon, E30 318 saloon, E46 330ci Sport Conv
E92 325d M Sport(3.0),With Loads of gadgets

Current:
116i Sport F20
Back to Top
LuxAuto View Drop Down
Senior Member II
Senior Member II


Joined: 10-April-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 225
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-November-2005 at 16:11
Maybe a few years ago there were different types of anti-freeze, but nowadays I think all anti-freeze is based on the same base formula, ethanol glycol????? 

I think the main difference was that some formulas were not compatible with aluminium engines, but I doubt you will find a anti-freeze like that now.

I'm not sure but each time I've purchased anti-freeze, be it expensive or cheap, the base chmical has always been the same.

I think Mobil do a premixed one for about 15 but I couldn;t see what the difference was.  More additives perhaps???

Radiator cap/expansion cap - wherever you top up, it's the same really.


Edited by LuxAuto
Back to Top
kbannon View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
E39 525i Sport Individual

Joined: 09-October-2002
Location: 64 Zoo Lane
Status: Offline
Points: 15508
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-November-2005 at 17:04
and don't forget that its a pollutant so don't put it down the drain!
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
Back to Top
Rhys View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Coffee addict...

Joined: 02-February-2003
Location: from the Latin locātiō
Status: Offline
Points: 10053
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-November-2005 at 17:34
Just checking up some figures for the M10 engine, the coolant system takes 7 litres and a ratio of 40% ethylene-glycol-based antifreeze/60% water is advised, this will prevent freezing down to -27 deg C and also raises the boiling point of the coolant. All depends on where you live I guess as to what ratio you use.

You can check to see if the rad cap thermostat works as well by putting in a pan of boiling water, if it opens - it works

The owners manual also says to change the coolant every 2 years.

I have a soft spot for the 316 as this model was my first car
V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate
J Reg Saab 900i 16v
'63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe
R reg Honda PC50 moped..

No BMW as yet...
Back to Top
Pete330 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II
Avatar

Joined: 26-November-2003
Location: Aberdeen
Status: Offline
Points: 8969
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 06:06

Originally posted by Rhys Rhys wrote:

Just checking up some figures for the M10 engine, the coolant system takes 7 litres and a ratio of 40% ethylene-glycol-based antifreeze/60% water is advised, this will prevent freezing down to -27 deg C and also raises the boiling point of the coolant. All depends on where you live I guess as to what ratio you use.

You can check to see if the rad cap thermostat works as well by putting in a pan of boiling water, if it opens - it works

The owners manual also says to change the coolant every 2 years.

I have a soft spot for the 316 as this model was my first car

 

You da man

so the thermostat is on cap?

Previous:

E36 318is coupe, E36 323i coupe, E30 316 saloon, E30 318 saloon, E46 330ci Sport Conv
E92 325d M Sport(3.0),With Loads of gadgets

Current:
116i Sport F20
Back to Top
JoeP View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 15-September-2004
Location: Bungay, Norfolk/Suffolk Border
Status: Offline
Points: 56
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 06:29
I got mine premixed from the BMW dealer. I think it was 11 quid for 1.5 litres which I thought was quite reasonable.

Edited by JoeP
'89 Alpine White 325i touring
Saying 'No' to saloon and cabriolet wrongness :-)
Back to Top
Madrab View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II
Avatar

Joined: 21-November-2003
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 569
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 08:53
Originally posted by pete323 pete323 wrote:

You da man

so the thermostat is on cap?

Hope it isn't, if it is I've been testing something totally different for years then   

Only thing I would add is have your heater at hot and the fan on before you first start the car, this will ensure the water pump circulates the new coolant through the heater matrix before it gets hot and traps air.

Rob

1990 E3o 325i Touring and she's definately a she! Pain in the ass sometimes but goes like a bunny :oD
Back to Top
LuxAuto View Drop Down
Senior Member II
Senior Member II


Joined: 10-April-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 225
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 13:55
Originally posted by Madrab Madrab wrote:

Originally posted by pete323 pete323 wrote:

You da man

so the thermostat is on cap?

Hope it isn't, if it is I've been testing something totally different for years then   

Only thing I would add is have your heater at hot and the fan on before you first start the car, this will ensure the water pump circulates the new coolant through the heater matrix before it gets hot and traps air.

Rob



Are you sure?

Unless BMW heater matrixs are different to other vehicles, this shouldn;t make any difference.  To my knowledge, whether heat is pumped into the cabin is determined by a flap which directs the air through the matrix (hot) rather than around it (cold).

In fact, turning the fan on should make it harder for the car to warm up.

In addition, until the thermostat opens,the water won;t circulate at all.
Back to Top
LuxAuto View Drop Down
Senior Member II
Senior Member II


Joined: 10-April-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 225
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 13:57
Originally posted by pete323 pete323 wrote:

Originally posted by Rhys Rhys wrote:

Just checking up some figures for the M10 engine, the coolant system takes 7 litres and a ratio of 40% ethylene-glycol-based antifreeze/60% water is advised, this will prevent freezing down to -27 deg C and also raises the boiling point of the coolant. All depends on where you live I guess as to what ratio you use.

You can check to see if the rad cap thermostat works as well by putting in a pan of boiling water, if it opens - it works

The owners manual also says to change the coolant every 2 years.

I have a soft spot for the 316 as this model was my first car

 

You da man

so the thermostat is on cap?




I've never worked on a 318i before but I'm sure this can't be right.  The only thing that should be in the cap is the presure relief valve.
Back to Top
Pete330 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II
Avatar

Joined: 26-November-2003
Location: Aberdeen
Status: Offline
Points: 8969
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 14:20

Originally posted by LuxAuto LuxAuto wrote:


I've never worked on a 318i before but I'm sure this can't be right. 

 

Thats cool as it`s a 316 1600cc

Previous:

E36 318is coupe, E36 323i coupe, E30 316 saloon, E30 318 saloon, E46 330ci Sport Conv
E92 325d M Sport(3.0),With Loads of gadgets

Current:
116i Sport F20
Back to Top
LuxAuto View Drop Down
Senior Member II
Senior Member II


Joined: 10-April-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 225
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 14:30
sorry, getting confused with the ther cooling thread!
Back to Top
Rhys View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Coffee addict...

Joined: 02-February-2003
Location: from the Latin locātiō
Status: Offline
Points: 10053
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-November-2005 at 14:55
did I say thermostat? meant to say pressure relief valve. (noticed a few people saw my deliberate mistake.. oops was a long day)

The thermostat is situated in-line on the bottom hose (wax-pellet-type) so it prevents coolant going into the rad during warm up, then allows it to circulate once temp is reached. Thermostat opens at 80 deg C +/- 1.5 deg C.

Apologies for the confusion
V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate
J Reg Saab 900i 16v
'63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe
R reg Honda PC50 moped..

No BMW as yet...
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.188 seconds.