Re: Heater problems - head gasket implicated?


"Terry Pinnell" <terrypingm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4lhdi6hj6toirhc2fm8nuou6pnmbjf0quh@xxxxxxxxxx
"ducatiman" <ducatiman@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Yes, a leaking head gasket is a possibility but you can do a few simple
checks yourself on the driveway.

Thanks.

Is the cooling system pressurising excessively into the top up bottle
after
a run. eg does the coolant shoot sky high when the filler is opened?
(careful here of scalding youself!!)

No.

Is there oil in the coolant or water in the oil? (remember this could also
be an oil cooler problem)

No.

Check or change the thermostat (if it's stuck shut you may have a cold
bottom rad hose)

OK, thanks, I'll ask them about that.

The older beemas did have a reputation for eroding cylinder heads
requiring
welding and machining if you were lucky enough to be able to reclaim them.
(more often on v high mileage units)

Get a reputable garage to do a coolant check. ie test for co2 emissions in
the coolant.

£15k will get you a nearly new beema! My favourite and one which I run is
the 3 series diesel. With todays silly fuel prices it makes sense with 60
to
the gallon on a run at 70mph. And 150hp is adequate for average driving.

I've always had fast cars and not sure that I'd be happy with anything
significantly slower than my present model (which I think has 192 bhp,
modest by today's standards for 2800cc.) My wife is pressing me to 'get
something smaller and more economical', and I can't produce any rational
arguments in my support, but...

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK


Mick
Suffolk, GB

"Terry Pinnell" <terrypingm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:9hjbi69e774i61du9ou8qcllb4o9jo6mbq@xxxxxxxxxx
This concerns the same Jan 1996 BMW 328SE Auto whose ABS problem we're
discussing in the other thread.

While they had the car for the ABS scan this morning, I asked them to
look
at my poor heating. They reported that "...the upper hose was hot but
the
lower one cool. And there's high pressure throughout, strongly
indicating
the possibility of a leaking head gasket," or something along those
lines.

I'd appreciate advice on the seriousness of this please. It sounds
potentially expensive and if so is another factor I need to consider
carefully before spending £300 or so to get the ABS fixed. This comes on
top of quite high repair and servicing in 2010.

Not an easy decision therefore lies ahead. More repairs now, or withdraw
(say) £15 K from savings for a replacement second-hand 3-series (or
Merc,
or Lexus - I've done zero research so far).

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK


The results of your checks would not indicate you have an 'obvious' head
gasket problem. Take into consideration too, with these sub zero
temperatures and plenty of airflow thro the radiator, it wouldn't be unusual
to have a cool bottom hose. If your coolant temperature gauge registers
normal, then I would suggest that your garage is after your cheque book and
you should entrust someone better to look at your heater problem.

If the headgasket does need changing , then go for it as it's not a megga
job and any 'decent' garage who knows beema's shouldn't be ripping you off.
Consider though, extra expense should any maching work be required on the
head and you won't know this until it's on the bench.


I've always had fast cars and not sure that I'd be happy with anything
significantly slower than my present model (which I think has 192 bhp,
modest by today's standards for 2800cc.) My wife is pressing me to 'get
something smaller and more economical', and I can't produce any rational
arguments in my support, but...


My sentiments entirely..... the 2.8 is a lovely motor so why not keep the
savings and spend a grand on her!

Mick
Suffolk, GB


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Head Gasket replacement on Vectra 2.5 V6
    ... engine management will have cut the engine out before any damage ... using some coolant ever few months. ... needed a new head gasket and the valve seats had come out so they had ... only one head and it was done at a local garage, ...
    (uk.rec.cars.maintenance)
  • Re: Heater problems - head gasket implicated?
    ... (careful here of scalding youself!!) ... Get a reputable garage to do a coolant check. ... I've always had fast cars and not sure that I'd be happy with anything ... top of quite high repair and servicing in 2010. ...
    (alt.autos.bmw)
  • Re: Overheating - Fiero GT
    ... head gasket or cracked cylinder head. ... that there is just some air trapped in the cooling system. ... procedure until no more coolant can be added and replace the thermostat. ...
    (rec.autos.tech)
  • Re: 93 XLT Overheating?
    ... I understand that you raised the front end when the coolant was topped off but after looking at the microfiche it seems that air could possibly have be trapped in the line that connects the runningboard heat exchangers. ... I have a piece of plate glass I use for a lapping surface, but an XLT head is bigger than a standard sheet of wet/dry. ... Stopped and opened the hood - engine was definitely hotter than it should be, and the coolant overflow tank was almost full. ...
    (rec.sport.snowmobiles)