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alanross 
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 01-September-2004
Location: North Lanarkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 958
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 Topic: missing water
Posted: 23-September-2004 at 18:27 |
My car is using about a pint of water per week. No visable signs of leakage but have noticed the electric fan running while normal driving. Thought the viscous fan and the air comin through the radiator would ave been enough. Can't get head gasket checked till next week though. Any thoughts? 
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Webdunk
Moderator Group
M3 GT Register
Joined: 16-October-2002
Location: Central Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 5245
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 03:45 |
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How's about telling us a bit about your car..?
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 04:03 |
As Duncan says, what type of car is it?
Did you have air con on when you heard the electric fan?
Could be (brace yersel!) a knackared CHG or a cracked cylinder head or block.
Check your oil for level and any white gunge under the oil filler cap.
You say you are loosing water but have no external visible leaks, well that could mean thatshe is leaking water into the engine thru a cylinder head gasket, cracked block or head. If you have water in the engine your oil will look like mayonaise. Also look for plumes of white exhaust gasses as you may have a water leak into the combustion chamber which will not emulsify your oil but will consume water and chuff out loads of steam. Low water level will mean your engine temp will rise.
Give us a few more bits of info on the car, engine, model, age etc and we will be able to help a bit more.
Get a compression test done as soon as.
Andrew
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nero
Moderator Group
Just call me Tripod
Joined: 15-October-2002
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 3131
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 05:15 |
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I'm not a mechanic, but would performance drop off if water was leaking into the engine?
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alanross
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 01-September-2004
Location: North Lanarkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 958
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 06:12 |
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E36 M3. 1994 reg. Car has air con but not turned on when fans comin on. Temp guage and oil temp guage sittin normal. No gunge on dip stick and oil lookin clear as normal. Oil level sittin just below max and it is not increasing. Quite baffaling I think but I have to wait till end of next week for ma mechanic to give it the once over.
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 06:21 |
Alan
Whats the exhaust gas look like? Is it white and looking like steam when the throttle is floored?
The water has to be going somewhere and if its not going into the oil it must be going somewhere else.
Get a pressure test done on your cooling system.
Another thought, check your rad/expansion tank cap for signs of overflow. Someone on one of the forums here had a dodgy rad cap which allowed the hot expanded coolant to leak out of the system when the temp got up a bit.
What is your heater performance like? You may have a leak in your heater matrix which will not leave a puddle on the ground under the car but will make the carpets and any insulation behind the dash a tad soggy.
Andrew
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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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alanross
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 01-September-2004
Location: North Lanarkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 958
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 06:33 |
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Has had new rad cap under bmw recall not so long ago. Exhaust gasses are white when cold but no signs of any smoke when engine warms up although speakin to mechanic who says some cars that chuck out white smoke when warm is only the cat working. No water within the car and no smell of any water soakin away. Me puzzeled. Had similar problem with Cossie but instead of any leakin the radiator swelled up and down until it blew apart. Ma rad looks ok too. Might stop into Halfords for diy kit on water test.
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 06:41 |
Hmm
Me puzzeled too. Could be a very fine spray leak that only happens when the engine is running.
Get her fully warmed up, park, get out and look at the ground somewhere nearby to make sure there are no oil puddles or water puddles. Move the car over that piece of ground and leave her there with the engine ticking over while you open the bonnet and have a good look around for any water spray. Check the ground beneath, if there is water on the ground you can then trace it directly upwards to whatever part of the cooling system that resembles a sieve.
Andrew
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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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coupe king
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 23-November-2003
Location: Aber’bloody’deen
Status: Offline
Points: 2295
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 10:07 |
I had this too it turned out to be a cracked rubber pipe, tucked away where i couldnt see it. It was only leaking when it was up to full temp, a fine jet was spraying out all the water. Your car is fairly old, so expect the rubber hoses to be perishing at this age....which mine did too.....
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dave 328
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 835
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 10:31 |
 nero wrote:
I'm not a mechanic, but would performance drop off if water was leaking into the engine? |
Ever heard of water injection? 
Get a coolant pressure test done as this will show any external leaks and will also tell if there is no leaks but the pressure drops, it will be internal. What car is it?
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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
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coupe king
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 23-November-2003
Location: Aber’bloody’deen
Status: Offline
Points: 2295
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Posted: 24-September-2004 at 11:14 |
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Its a 94 M3...as above! LOL!
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missing water
