Changing Coolant on e30 316
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 3 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 3 Series (E21, E30, E36, E46, E90, E91 & E92)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=24043
Printed Date: 27-April-2024 at 18:56
Topic: Changing Coolant on e30 316
Posted By: Pete330
Subject: Changing Coolant on e30 316
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:38
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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 |
Replies:
Posted By: LuxAuto
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:49
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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. |
Posted By: Pete330
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:56
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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?
------------- 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 |
LuxAuto wrote:Posted By: LuxAuto
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 16:11
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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. |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 17:04
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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 |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 17:34
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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... |
Posted By: Pete330
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 06:06
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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 |
Posted By: JoeP
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 06:29
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I got mine premixed from the BMW dealer. I think it was 11 quid for 1.5 litres which I thought was quite reasonable.
------------- '89 Alpine White 325i touring Saying 'No' to saloon and cabriolet wrongness :-) |
Posted By: Madrab
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 08:53
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 |
Posted By: LuxAuto
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 13:55
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. |
Posted By: LuxAuto
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 13:57
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. |
Posted By: Pete330
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 14:20
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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 |
Posted By: LuxAuto
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 14:30
| sorry, getting confused with the ther cooling thread! |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 10-November-2005 at 14:55
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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... |