Proper flush technique for coolant?

[o. l. t.]

Originally Posted by Weasel

If you really want to get as many shavings out as possible I'd probably pull the t-stat off (just 3 10mm bolts) and shove a hose in that bitch with the block drain bolts out. And the same with the radiator, maybe with the lower hose off in addition to the drain plug. As for the expansion tank, might have to just pull it out and hose it out separately.

For bleeding, just remove the plastic bleeder screw when you fill it and don't stop till coolant comes from both holes. (BMW was smart enough to put bleed screws at the highest point in the system on most modern engines)

I have not looked at any of this yet so questions are just off the top of my head...... It's dark and I can get an answer here faster than I can go look in the morning.

(1) will I need another t-gasket?

(2) I assume radiator drain screw is gonna be obvious, but for giggles is it left, right or in the middle at the bottom?

(2.5) where is the bleeder screw? The screw on the expansion tank?

[Weasel]

The thermostat housing has an o-ring style seal, should be good enough to reuse if the thermostat was replaced with the pump.

The radiator drain should be either a blue screw aiming down or a red screw aiming towards the engine on the drivers side of the radiator... I work on so many BMWs daily I can't recall the specifics.

The bleeder screw is a black plastic screw on the expansion tank right by the cap for your model, just be careful not to overtighten it, and if it looks like the plastic is degrading on the bottom (turning brown like cardboard) I'd replace it soon. There is even an anodized aluminum replacement screw available in the aftermarket.

[o. l. t.]

Thank you! the expansion tank is "brand new" (with label) so several things got replaced at once related to the cooling system.

..........so why do I have so many shavings..... sigh.

[Weasel]

Most likely the bearings failed on the old pump letting the impeller shave a bit on the sides of it's home on the block. It happens, and it is very hard to flush all that out as it gets stuck all throughout the system... You seem like someone who likes to invent things and create fail-safes... how about the idea of installing a basic high flow low restriction filter in line on one of the radiator hoses? (temporarily of course)

[o. l. t.]

I'm not much a wizard with mechanical as far as creating. I'm more an electrical. I founded LEXTECH LIGHTING SYSTEMS 8 years ago and that's pretty much kept me busy ever since I designed all the products and we build them.

[o. l. t.]

Here's the tank, see this thing is brand new.

[Weasel]

Is the LEXTECH ordeal custom cluster modifications/lighting? If so you can most likely extend the same to the BMW clusters. And if you are really good with tedious electrical stuff you can likely repair fragmented displays in the cluster and MID as they are just caused by bad ribbon cable connections.

[1stE53]

Originally Posted by o. l. t.

The only thing I can think of that actually has moving parts is the water pump so that's really all it could be IMO and the truck does have a new pump and TB on it. It's shiny and pretty.

So remove three bolts and flood the engine like a river with a hose. Are the coolant lines a straight shot through? It has to stop at the thermostat somewhere, which case it won't clean on the other side of it.

Maybe do the cleaning, do 100% water and just get the engine warm enough to open the thermostat, shut it off and let it cool then re-flood everything?

Run the heater full blast also. Lets more coolant through

[o. l. t.]

@Weasel Yes I definitely could, but have not even looked inside the cluster yet. I'd like to find a cheap cluster to fiddle with, but haven't bothered with it. Not touching mine, it's perfect and I don't wanna agg on any issues.

Fun with raw LED's all day.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...1/IMG_8606.jpg

@1stE35 good idea too.

[o. l. t.]

Hoping my luck changes soon..... having no luck so far getting the thermostat to open. heat is hot as hell in the truck, lower hose is ice cold.

Originally Posted by Weasel

If you really want to get as many shavings out as possible I'd probably pull the t-stat off (just 3 10mm bolts)

PS- it was 4 bolts and after taking all that apart I couldn't get the 4th bolt