Help! Odd coolant leak!

TheKingSim0n · #1 09-10-2009, 07:14 PM

Gasp, Its raining here in brooklyn and I parked the car, i come back to see antifreeze under the X

The strange part is, 3 weeks ago I had a low coolant on the cluster, there was a hose that ripped and I replaced it, everything is fine, now i come back to the car to see that there was leaking antifreeze again, I started the car and its NOT leaking at all now and I dont even have a low coolant light, I opened up the hood, checked every hose i can check and everything seems fine but I do indeed smell antifreeze under the hood :/ blahh

I drove around the block, parked it again and no leak.... :/ any ideas?

Weasel · #2 09-10-2009, 07:28 PM

Can't remember which engine you have... 3.0i or any of the V8s.

Was the coolant puddle under the front, like it came from the black plastic underbelly pan? Or was it more near the rear of the engine like around where it meets the transmission...?

TheKingSim0n · #3 09-10-2009, 07:33 PM

I have 4.4i bro and Its where the transmission panel is at. Strange part is Im starting it and i SMELL antifreeze but there is no leak..... leak stopped but there still is antifreeze, its just stop leaking :/

Could it have anything to do with the transmission reset thing? Because I did do that earlier but idk how its related? :/

Weasel · #4 09-10-2009, 07:57 PM

Nothing to do with the trans reset. My guess is the coolant valley pan is leaking, which is all but impossible to see as it is under the intake manifold... If you remove the plastic cover over the engine there is one spot towards the rear of the passengers side where you can kinda see down in there with a flashlight and look for coolant. It usually only leaks under pressure like when hot after driving, and has some room to pool up before it drips out the back.

If that is the leak be prepared for some costly labor as the total job pays about 8 hours + the parts cost.

TheKingSim0n · #5 09-11-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

Nothing to do with the trans reset. My guess is the coolant valley pan is leaking, which is all but impossible to see as it is under the intake manifold... If you remove the plastic cover over the engine there is one spot towards the rear of the passengers side where you can kinda see down in there with a flashlight and look for coolant. It usually only leaks under pressure like when hot after driving, and has some room to pool up before it drips out the back.

If that is the leak be prepared for some costly labor as the total job pays about 8 hours + the parts cost.

Weasel I put the car on the lift today and I believe you are 100% right. It looks like its leaking from under the intake manifold. The thing about that is this the diagram below of what I need to order?

Because you keep saying "Valley Pan" while I already ordered parts from the above picture...

TheKingSim0n · #6 09-10-2009, 08:07 PM

I was using my heat today, could that be related to the leak? maybe it got so hot and then it stopped

amacman · #7 09-10-2009, 08:11 PM

dealer tried to take £600 from me for that job
bmw initially refused cover so i had to authorise job at my cost
when i inspected the old vally pan i told dealer i was gonna sue bmw , dealer said wait untill we phone bmw , 2 minutes later and bmw paid cost .
car had bmw extended warranty .

Weasel · #8 09-10-2009, 08:18 PM

The heater hoses are back there too, and there is a coolant cross pipe that goes from head to head. Might be worth your while to get it checked out/get an estimate from the dealer. (I say dealer because not many indys even know BMWs have coolant valley pans)

TheKingSim0n · #9 09-10-2009, 08:36 PM

Okay I just checked and there is no antifreeze AT all in the car, for some reason the cluster is not telling me that its low on coolant but its empty.... It must of went all out while i was driving... maybe it is a hose after all....

dejay · #10 09-10-2009, 09:05 PM

It's the valley plate, my brother had a 4.4 X5 and it had a slight leak. For sure Valley Plate!