First Post for me and its HOT!!!

[325i_Pilot]

Hi, I am new to this forum with a 1989 325i 4-door luxury sports sedan , and she is the one thats hot... She wont stop trying to overheat!!! List of things I have fixed to stop it:
1. Replaced the Fan Clutch ({Picture 2} Radiator hose clamp popped and the top hose rested on the fan blades stopping it from turning and burned out the clutch)
2. Replaced the thermostat with a stock temp rating
3. Put in a t-connect in the waterline {Picture 3} between the thermostat housing and the firewall/ heater box and connected a water hose full blast while the car was running at normal temp until all the water ran out clear.
4. Refilled the coolant 50/50 but forgot to release the bleeder on top the thermostat housing while I filled it up. (Does that mean is has air in the lines?)
5. Checked the forward aux cooling fan... It's fine
I am out of Ideas and I drive in stop and go traffic in the blistering heat of Charleston, South Carolina.. I am afraid that if I keep this up I am going to severely damage the engine (it already has a little ticking? Valve Adjustment?)... Also I have owned the car for 3 years and I for one have not changed the water pump or timming belts on it... I have a list of other problems but this is the most important at the moment.... Any Ideas?

 

[Big Daddy]

You need to bleed the air from the lines or she will continue to overheat, see this Tech Article from Pelican Parts: http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Coolant_Flush/E36-Coolant-Flush.htm

 

[325i_Pilot]

Going outside to do that right now and let it idle for a bit, I'll be right back when it overheats...

 

[325i_Pilot]

My instrument cluster is out but ran the engine anyways without the temp gauge connected and released the bleeder valve... No real stream of pressurized water but there was a constant tickle with no intermittent air bubbles or anything.. but being that I didn't have the temp gauge in I didn't want it to overheat... Wouldn't there be a pressurized stream of water from the water pump ejecting the fluid out of that screw hole with some force, mine just tickled down the side of the thermostat housing??

 

[Big Daddy]

Should just trickle, you want no air. Follow the directions in the link I sent you.

 

[Doughnut]

Well, seeing as you flushed the system clean and replaced the thermostat it narrows it down to a couple of things : blocked radiator, rooted coolant pump.
In the real world replacing the water pump the next day is not possible, take the thermostat out again and run the engine without one (to get maximum coolant flow) Untill you get a new timing belt, tensioner and water pump. Or untill you get a workshop to do the work.
Check your coolant mix too, perfect 50/50 coolant to water for max benefit of the anti freeze.
Peace.

 

[echothreezero]

Well, seeing as you flushed the system clean and replaced the thermostat it narrows it down to a couple of things : blocked radiator, rooted coolant pump.
In the real world replacing the water pump the next day is not possible, take the thermostat out again and run the engine without one (to get maximum coolant flow) Untill you get a new timing belt, tensioner and water pump. Or untill you get a workshop to do the work.
Check your coolant mix too, perfect 50/50 coolant to water for max benefit of the anti freeze.
Peace.

There's a school of thought that says the m20 cooling system works more efficiently with the thermostat in than out as long as its actually working correctly as it directs the flow in a better direction than if there was no thermostat. This is what I've been lead to believe but never tested it myself. Test the thermostat. If its working correctly I'd leave it in.

Check you havn't a blown head gasket. Are you losing coolant, and then it overheats due to lack of coolant, or does it overheat causing the coolant to evaporate? Answering this question will help isolate the cause.

 

[325i_Pilot]

There aren't any radiator fluid leaks, I never have to refill it and never smell radiator fluid boiling over ( I wont let it get that hot), and I am almost certain that the head gasket is not busted.. I am going to the pressure washer with about 10 cans of GUNK and going to clean her to a shine in the engine bay and start hunting for leaks.. Will update later..

 

[Doughnut]

There's a school of thought that says the m20 cooling system works more efficiently with the thermostat in than out as long as its actually working correctly as it directs the flow in a better direction than if there was no thermostat.

Meh, has always worked for the countless shit box holden and fords ive worked on.
cheers for the insight Graham, I learned another thing about the m20 today. [slap]