coolant level problem

[JCL]

Originally Posted by hopz

JCL and others are absolutely correct... black oil is not a problem. The service interval indicator is the single most important indicator of oil service life.

Happy Now? I know oil, and I know engines... when my oil gets dirty- I change it.
You do what you want.

Is that sarcasm? If not, you are twisting things around a little.

For my part, I was happy before, and I still am. That was why I used the word 'polite' in my response.

I think the proposition was that the oil being black is not an indicator of a coolant leak, which was the subject of the post after all. You were on a different track, based on a misreading of the earlier post. No harm. Carry on.

[hopz]

I'm not looking for a fight- but just to set the record straight...

I did not mis read his post. In fact I was the first to give him some useful info. In response, along the way, he said his oil was tarry black. (Thus not likely a coolant leak) But as a friend and an experienced BMW guy I suggested that tarry black oil needs to be changed.

You might disagree about the oil, but I would never fail to counsel a friend who said he had tarry black oil in his car- heck even his lawn mower deserves better...

FYI: My list of owned BMWs:
1974 2002 Alpine White
1976 2002ti Green
1979 320i Chamonix
1983 530i Ascot Silver
1988 633i Alpine White
1991 735i Black
1995 740i Black
1997 540i Titanium Silver
2002 X5 Black
1989 H-D FXR-SP Black
1989 H-D FLH Black
1995 H-D FLHRi Red
2002 H-D FLHRCi Black
2002 H-D FLTRi Silver
Cessna 172 Red/White 7821X


I may have missed one or two- I'll have to check my database...

Incidentially BMW CCA member 1979- 1995

[JCL]

Originally Posted by hopz

I'm not looking for a fight- but just to set the record straight...

I did not mis read his post. In fact I was the first to give him some useful info. In response, along the way, he said his oil was tarry black. (Thus not likely a coolant leak) But as a friend and an experienced BMW guy I suggested that tarry black oil needs to be changed.

You might disagree about the oil, but I would never fail to counsel a friend who said he had tarry black oil in his car- heck even his lawn mower deserves better...

FYI: My list of owned BMWs:
1974 2002 Alpine White
1976 2002ti Green
1979 320i Chamonix
1983 530i Ascot Silver
1988 633i Alpine White
1991 735i Black
1995 740i Black
1997 540i Titanium Silver
2002 X5 Black
1989 H-D FXR-SP Black
1989 H-D FLH Black
1995 H-D FLHRi Red
2002 H-D FLHRCi Black
2002 H-D FLTRi Silver
Cessna 172 Red/White 7821X


I may have missed one or two- I'll have to check my database...

Incidentially BMW CCA member 1979- 1995

I'm not looking for a fight either, honest.

Yes, you gave the first good info in response to the post. This went south when the colour of the oil was described as tarry black, which was interpreted as 'tar-like' (my read of your response when you used the phrase tarry oil) or 'gooey' (your second response, when you suggested an immediate oil change). The consistency was never a point of debate, it was a discussion of colour. That is the only misread.

I agree completely that oil that is thick, with the viscosity of tar, should be changed (but it is probably too late anyway).

Congratulations on your string of fine BMW vehicles. You certainly have me on BMW owners regs, but not likely on number of different BMW vehicles maintained. Although, according to the standard points system, we have to subtract one for every HD bike, so 9-5 = 4. We're even. Not sure how to score the plane, since I don't have any aero engine training. If you do, then you win!

Have a great day!

[X5Sport]

When I first had my 'X' I had to add coolant a couple of times in the first 6 months, but never again since. Same with oil until it had about 7k on it, and again nothing since

Just had its first service at 20,500 miles (33,300km).

[LVR]

Your opening post said that you have had a significant change over a short period of time in your coolant level.

Prudent course of action would be to get the system pressure tested for any leaks. Even better would be to put preessure in the system and let it sit for a long period.

If no leaks then monitor for the same period with regular checks. If still losing coolant then it must be going somewhere.

Combustion can and does consume coolant if there is a gasket leak.

As an aside, I have just had my 4.8 opened up after 25,000kms whilst looking for a reason that it is detonating (pinging). They found that the head gasket was showing signs of coolant leak, of an area approx 1-2 inches near the cylinder. One can only imagine what it would have been like after 100,00kms..... (blown gasket??)

[hopz]

JCL... ok, no problem.
Subtract for Harleys? Heck, I thought they earned bonus points ?

Drive on friends, nothing to see here, move along....
OBTW- I never maintained the airplane- even I know enough to leave that to the experts, but my oil was never "tarry black" either.... hey maybe that ought to be a new paint color descriptor...

[prism]

Originally Posted by LVR

Your opening post said that you have had a significant change over a short period of time in your coolant level.

Well I dont know if the floating rod dropping from max to a bit more than min in 3 months amounts to a significant change! I read somewhere that even if the rod is at min, there is still plenty of coolant and the moment to really start worrying is if the OBD starts ringing! One question I have though that has not yet been answered is at what point the OBD activates? Is it when the min level is reached with the rod, or way below that level?

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by prism

Well I dont know if the floating rod dropping from max to a bit more than min in 3 months amounts to a significant change! I read somewhere that even if the rod is at min, there is still plenty of coolant and the moment to really start worrying is if the OBD starts ringing! One question I have though that has not yet been answered is at what point the OBD activates? Is it when the min level is reached with the rod, or way below that level?

Late to this debate, but imo,
-the low coolant warning does not show up when coolant "bobber" is
at "Min" mark; at least mine never has and, it's been at the low coolant
mark several times. I suspect the warning light comes on at some
"level"/volume below that mark's capacity.
-"Max to Min in 3 months"...well, it depends upon miles, driving style,
etc. Could be something, could be nothing.
-My '01 has consumed coolant with regularity, over its near 5 year and 54K mile life. The consumption has slowed, in the past 15k miles, though I have no reason or guess "why"; it still consumes coolant, however, espc. on high speed, long drives.
-If you check "coolant", "coolant consumption" , et al, in the Search box, you will find pages of posts, opins, etc., on this topic.

Some posters report very little consumption, others report steady consumption. The $64G question is "where"...no one has the final or
only answer. And, the "conventional wisdom", (which may not be wise),
reports that many models of BMW, over the years, consume coolant.
GL,mD

[prism]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Late to this debate, but imo,
-the low coolant warning does not show up when coolant "bobber" is
at "Min" mark; at least mine never has and, it's been at the low coolant
mark several times. I suspect the warning light comes on at some
"level"/volume below that mark's capacity.
-"Max to Min in 3 months"...well, it depends upon miles, driving style,
etc. Could be something, could be nothing.
-My '01 has consumed coolant with regularity, over its near 5 year and 54K mile life. The consumption has slowed, in the past 15k miles, though I have no reason or guess "why"; it still consumes coolant, however, espc. on high speed, long drives.
-If you check "coolant", "coolant consumption" , et al, in the Search box, you will find pages of posts, opins, etc., on this topic.

Some posters report very little consumption, others report steady consumption. The $64G question is "where"...no one has the final or
only answer. And, the "conventional wisdom", (which may not be wise),
reports that many models of BMW, over the years, consume coolant.
GL,mD

Thanks for the insight!

[omodos]

Originally Posted by prism

Well I dont know if the floating rod dropping from max to a bit more than min in 3 months amounts to, can't see nay a significant change! I read somewhere that even if the rod is at min, there is still plenty of coolant and the moment to really start worrying is if the OBD starts ringing! One question I have though that has not yet been answered is at what point the OBD activates? Is it when the min level is reached with the rod, or way below that level?

Prism did you ever get to the bottom of the loss of coolant, I go the same thing on my 2004 3.0d, it drops from max to min after a 800miles of driving, cant see any leaks at all,and the annoying thing is the obd does not display when it reaches min level, so what os the truth ???does the obd come on when you reach danger levels?basically from min to max it only takes like a small cup of coolant to top up surely such a smalll amount in a high capacity system is not dangerous to have lost