FIXED and RUNNING!!! Sudden loss of Coolant, steam coming from engine bay!

[pwvarley]

Let me preface this post by saying I absolutely love my X5 and I appreciate all the invaluable information I have received from this forum, it has made owning this car a lot less expensive! I am currently in a 2001 x5 4.4l but after work for the summer am going to look for a 2005 or 06 4.8is

But

Just took the X on a cross country drive from Arizona to Indianapolis and it performed extremely well. However, today as I was driving around I started smelling coolant and then got the Check Coolant Level notification on the dash, pulled over immediately and turned off the car, steam starting coming up from the left side of engine (as you looked at it from outside the car)

I got out and popped the hood and coolant was sprayed primarily around the AIRBOX and MAF area and steam coming from under the Engine Cover.

The car did not overheat at all during this process and I have never had a problem with the car overheating....

The Expansion Tank and one of the hoses was replaced last week actually (lost the damn clip and you have to buy the hose to replace the clip).

No coolant was spilling out of the expansion tank or anywhere on that side of the motor.

Is it bad to fill the expansion tank with distilled water, turn the car on and wait to see where the leak is coming from? Or is there a better way to determine the cause of the leak.


Any help would be appreciated, and a shout out to everyone who gave input on the Emission monitor problem I over came last week, I actually decided to become a premier member because of all the help I have received from the people on here

[upallnight]

If it's coming up from the engine cover it could be the coolant pipe in the valley pan. Remove the engine cover and see if you see any coolant leaks. There's a way to repair the coolant pipe without removing the intake manifold. It does require removing the water pump and installing a stent .

[pwvarley]

Originally Posted by upallnight

If it's coming up from the engine cover it could be the coolant pipe in the valley pan. Remove the engine cover and see if you see any coolant leaks. There's a way to repair the coolant pipe without removing the intake manifold. It does require removing the water pump and installing a stent .

Thanks for responding! I had the car towed back to my apartment complex (finally got some use out of AAA)

By now everything is probably dried off, maybe able to see some residual coolant that has dried. If what you're saying is the cause would it put coolant on top of the air box?

[Helihover]

Originally Posted by upallnight

If it's coming up from the engine cover it could be the coolant pipe in the valley pan. Remove the engine cover and see if you see any coolant leaks. There's a way to repair the coolant pipe without removing the intake manifold. It does require removing the water pump and installing a stent .

I believe the "stents" are made for the n62?

On the op m62 the coolant pipes are a slam dunk and only require 4 new orings. You can either remove the water pump or removed the collector/manifold that ties the heads together at the back of the engine. I prefer to remove the manifold at the back.

Op, check the lower radiator hose too.

[pwvarley]

Originally Posted by Helihover

I believe the "stents" are made for the n62?

On the op m62 the coolant pipes are a slam dunk and only require 4 new orings. You can either remove the water pump or removed the collector/manifold that ties the heads together at the back of the engine. I prefer to remove the manifold at the back.

Op, check the lower radiator hose too.

I will check all that. I appreciate all the help. I am just thankful this didn't happen on the cross country drive.

not sure what you're referring to with removing a collector on the back side of the motor....I am gonna have to look at some parts diagrams to see what you're referring to

[Helihover]

Originally Posted by pwvarley

I will check all that. I appreciate all the help. I am just thankful this didn't happen on the cross country drive.

not sure what you're referring to with removing a collector on the back side of the motor....I am gonna have to look at some parts diagrams to see what you're referring to

Here's a pic. Much easier to remove this piece imo than removing the water pump. The orings are 5&7 and the gaskets which need to be replaced are 2. It's 6 bolts and it's off.

[pwvarley]

Originally Posted by Helihover

Here's a pic. Much easier to remove this piece imo than removing the water pump. The orings are 5&7 and the gaskets which need to be replaced are 2. It's 6 bolts and it's off.

Ok that makes more sense with what you were talking about. Those metal pipes don't go bad it's the orings that go bad and if I remove that rear piece I can just replace the o rings that way.

Thanks for the help.

And sounds good on the BMW hoses and it's what I figured the response would be to that question!

[electricalserv x5]

Originally Posted by pwvarley

I will check all that. I appreciate all the help. I am just thankful this didn't happen on the cross country drive.

not sure what you're referring to with removing a collector on the back side of the motor....I am gonna have to look at some parts diagrams to see what you're referring to

honestly You are brave to drive a 15 year old car cross country that hasn't been gone through from head to toe.................count your blessings

[pwvarley]

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

honestly You are brave to drive a 15 year old car cross country that hasn't been gone through from head to toe.................count your blessings

Drove it to Richmond Virginia last year, there and back no issues or problems, before that it towed a pair of Motorcycles to hollywood from phoenix for a week of riding!

People can talk bad about these vehicles all they want but I have the utmost respect for mine, it has definitely taken care of me.

[pwvarley]

Originally Posted by Helihover

I believe the "stents" are made for the n62?

On the op m62 the coolant pipes are a slam dunk and only require 4 new orings. You can either remove the water pump or removed the collector/manifold that ties the heads together at the back of the engine. I prefer to remove the manifold at the back.

Op, check the lower radiator hose too.

I think you are correct with that being the problem. Is there ever any issues with that accumulator breaking?