Losing Coolant

[MSUSaul]

I am losing coolant and have no idea why. Not sure where to start here. Thanks.

[RichiRich]

Waterpump....hoses......follow the leak up from the ground.....

i'm sure others will weigh in here..

Rich

[01 BMW_X5]

You can start by:
Looking for visible/tell-tale signs of a leak.
Pressure testing the cooling system and the cap.

Find the "search this forum" option and use it.
Lot faster than waiting for a reply.

[motordavid]

"losing coolant" as in adding a pint of 50-50 mix every couple
of weeks/month or, losing coolant as in adding a bunch every week?

Good advice above...I'll add that you may not see coolant really
leaking or dripping; you may have to chase a "salty" looking trail.
I would look first at coolant reservoir and those hoses, then go
on as suggested above. A pressure test must be done by a tech
that knows what he's doing, imo, as pinholes may not show up
with a quick & dirty pressure test.
GL,mD

[FSETH]

I agree with all the advice above. Look for puddles or visual coolant leaks as well as salty/white looking residue in the engine bay and on the hood insualtion and so on.

I had a leak with no visible signs and it turned out to be the water pump and valley pan gasket.

Common areas are expansion tanks, radiator connections, hose connections and so on.

Good luck!

[flyingmachine]

possible places that you would see the leak if you're lucky: all hoses and hose connections(also take splash guard off as there is a lower hose under radiator that you can't see from above), expansion tank, plastic drain plug underneath the radiator, seal/o-ring(radiator to ATF heat exchanger, temperature sensor(T shape) above ATF heat exchanger

if you're not so lucky: waterpump(failed gasket), radiator, valley pan(failed gasket), coolant manifold on the rear side of engine (failed gasket or o-ring)

if you're in bad luck: milky engine oil(failed header gasket), transmission fluid (ATF heat exchanger-internal failure)

[mgweir21]

Yeah I need to post the same thing... I just bought a 05 4.8is and noticed a little drops under mid engine passenger side... I'm assuming a waterpump, leaking pretty bad, have to fill it up every couple of days... I just bought an extended warranty through BMW so i'm waiting for the paperwork to go through before I bring it in...

Does that sound right... is the water pump in that general location?

[daway]

Year, miles, V6 or V8....


Depending on the amount of coolant your losing in a day, wk, or month it could be some of the area(s) that are talked about above.

I have talked to bimmer techs and they state that all bimmers will lose a little coolant (topping it off) and not un-common. Also in the winter it will drop a little too.

I check my fluids every couple of weeks (i am a long time Land Rover owner...lol) and in a month or so time (so far not much this winter, last time in Oct/Nov and depending on how much miles i have gone) i have to add a little (maybe 1/4 of a cup or less) were the full mark is a little below the edge of the filler opening.

good luck!

[flyingmachine]

Originally Posted by mgweir21

Yeah I need to post the same thing... I just bought a 05 4.8is and noticed a little drops under mid engine passenger side... I'm assuming a waterpump, leaking pretty bad, have to fill it up every couple of days... I just bought an extended warranty through BMW so i'm waiting for the paperwork to go through before I bring it in...

Does that sound right... is the water pump in that general location?

you saw the drop on the floor or you traced the leak back on the engine? if it's the first, the coolant might leak from somewhere else and travel on the lower splash guard and then drip out on the place where you found. normally the fluid that leaks in the front drips from the spots right under the tension strut bushings(either driver or passenger side). because those 2 spots are the lowest positions on splash guard.

[fjacksonsr]

I had the same issue today. My coolant reservoir hose needs replacing. It is literally split.