How to get air out of coolant system?

PapaSmurff82 · 09-15-2018, 03:16 PM

Not sure what to do at this point. Every once in a while I’ll drive my car and coolant will spray all throughout the engine bay. Sometimes I can see the coolant smoke coming from out of the hood. What should I do?

Poiseuille · 09-15-2018, 03:48 PM

well, tbh one thing you shouldn't do is continue to drive the car like that.
seriously, if this were an E36/39/46 I'd say expansion tank. but this is an F80 so it could be any of a half dozen points. whatever, the car needs to be at the dealer, or at an Indie if you're no longer on warranty. these cars really REALLY DO NOT LIKE to be overheated.

Edit: Your title to this thread seems to be asking about air in the cooling system. Unclear what that has to do with coolant spraying all over your engine bay?

PapaSmurff82 · 09-15-2018, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

well, tbh one thing you shouldn't do is continue to drive the car like that.
seriously, if this were an E36/39/46 I'd say expansion tank. but this is an F80 so it could be any of a half dozen points. whatever, the car needs to be at the dealer, or at an Indie if you're no longer on warranty. these cars really REALLY DO NOT LIKE to be overheated.

Edit: Your title to this thread seems to be asking about air in the cooling system. Unclear what that has to do with coolant spraying all over your engine bay?

The coolant spraying over the engine is because of the air in the coolant system. The resovoir tank bubbles.

Poiseuille · 09-15-2018, 06:03 PM

maybe so, but a shot water pump bearing will also do that, among other possibilities. if it's really spraying from the e-tank (and you're certain the tank isn't cracked) then the system is probably overfilled. so how do you think air got in there anyway? did you just flush the system? if so then run the car with the heater on full blast. sometimes people jack the front of the car.

Edit: regarding cracked expansion tanks, these cracks are often very hard if not impossible to see. I had one once that was leaking profusely but I could only see it with a strobe light.

PapaSmurff82 · 09-15-2018, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

maybe so, but a shot water pump bearing will also do that, among other possibilities. if it's really spraying from the e-tank (and you're certain the tank isn't cracked) then the system is probably overfilled. so how do you think air got in there anyway? did you just flush the system? if so then run the car with the heater on full blast. sometimes people jack the front of the car.

Edit: regarding cracked expansion tanks, these cracks are often very hard if not impossible to see. I had one once that was leaking profusely but I could only see it with a strobe light.

How long should I leave the car running with the heat on full blast? Also should I open the reservoir lid?

Poiseuille · 09-15-2018, 07:46 PM

cap off, until the bubbles stop. if there's a lot of air in there you'll likely have to add more coolant. better have some handy. DO NOT let the car overheat. if no results after 20 minutes, discontinue and consult a pro.
did the dealer give you the routine nonsense about lifetime-fill, and that's why you did this yourself?

PapaSmurff82 · 09-16-2018, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

cap off, until the bubbles stop. if there's a lot of air in there you'll likely have to add more coolant. better have some handy. DO NOT let the car overheat. if no results after 20 minutes, discontinue and consult a pro.
did the dealer give you the routine nonsense about lifetime-fill, and that's why you did this yourself?

Car is out of warranty due to a crank hub failure. Had to take it to an indie shop

jmciver · 09-17-2018, 04:13 AM

I recommend you take a look at this site here:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

It has all of the BMW maintenance procedures from ISTA. Based on what I remember reading, what was mentioned above is part of the procedure, but there are other nuances to the procedure as well. These engines are more complex than previous ones when it comes to basic procedures like bleeding the coolant system.

Poiseuille · 09-22-2018, 04:31 PM

Go to subforum titled engine/drivetrain/exhaust/bolt-ons/etc., look for the post entitled "S55 electric coolant pump", read that.

09-15-2018, 03:16 PM	#1
PapaSmurff82 Private 28 Rep 59 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	How to get air out of coolant system? Not sure what to do at this point. Every once in a while I’ll drive my car and coolant will spray all throughout the engine bay. Sometimes I can see the coolant smoke coming from out of the hood. What should I do?
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09-15-2018, 03:48 PM	#2
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5394 Rep 3,738 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	well, tbh one thing you shouldn't do is continue to drive the car like that. seriously, if this were an E36/39/46 I'd say expansion tank. but this is an F80 so it could be any of a half dozen points. whatever, the car needs to be at the dealer, or at an Indie if you're no longer on warranty. these cars really REALLY DO NOT LIKE to be overheated. Edit: Your title to this thread seems to be asking about air in the cooling system. Unclear what that has to do with coolant spraying all over your engine bay?
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09-15-2018, 06:03 PM	#4
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5394 Rep 3,738 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	maybe so, but a shot water pump bearing will also do that, among other possibilities. if it's really spraying from the e-tank (and you're certain the tank isn't cracked) then the system is probably overfilled. so how do you think air got in there anyway? did you just flush the system? if so then run the car with the heater on full blast. sometimes people jack the front of the car. Edit: regarding cracked expansion tanks, these cracks are often very hard if not impossible to see. I had one once that was leaking profusely but I could only see it with a strobe light.
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09-15-2018, 07:46 PM	#6
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5394 Rep 3,738 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	cap off, until the bubbles stop. if there's a lot of air in there you'll likely have to add more coolant. better have some handy. DO NOT let the car overheat. if no results after 20 minutes, discontinue and consult a pro. did the dealer give you the routine nonsense about lifetime-fill, and that's why you did this yourself?
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09-17-2018, 04:13 AM	#8
jmciver ///M SubDriver 1846 Rep 2,787 Posts Drives: 2017 M3, 2020 X7 40i Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: DMV iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 [10.00] 2020 BMW X7 [0.00] 2019 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 BMW 128i [0.00]	I recommend you take a look at this site here: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/ It has all of the BMW maintenance procedures from ISTA. Based on what I remember reading, what was mentioned above is part of the procedure, but there are other nuances to the procedure as well. These engines are more complex than previous ones when it comes to basic procedures like bleeding the coolant system. __________________ ///M3 *COMPETITION 6MT* - 2017 F80 Smoked Topaz Metallic BM3 / MP-HAS / GC Camber Plates / Carbonstructure Interior X7 XDrive 40i ///M-SPORT - 2020 G07 Arctic Grey Metallic X3 XDrive 30i - 2019 G01 Mineral White (wife's) / 128i 6MT - 2009 E82 Jet Black (son's)
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09-22-2018, 04:31 PM	#9
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5394 Rep 3,738 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	Go to subforum titled engine/drivetrain/exhaust/bolt-ons/etc., look for the post entitled "S55 electric coolant pump", read that.
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