Engine coolant question

[bccwu]

Hi, I would like to get some opinions on this small issue. Recently the LCD indicator started giving me the warning about "checking coolant level". So I checked and it's almost empy. So I called the service dept. of the local BMW dealership. The guy told me I need to bring it in and do a total coolant flush. This car has really really low mileage : about 20K KM or 13K Miles. I hardly drove it for the last 10 months. My question is : Can I simply do a coolant refill or the guy just wanted my money?

Thanks, Bill

 

[Tom]

Yes, you can just do a refill. If you would like to stick with what you have in there currently, just go down to the dealer and pickup some coolant.

You also probably want to check if you have a leak some where. After you fill it up, drive it for a while and slide some newspaper underneath your car when you get back. Let it sit overnight and check to see if there are any leaks in the morning.

 

[Average Jae]

good point on checking for a leak. it's weird for a low milage car to lose most of it's coolant, but yea just filling it up should be good. you should flush it if your car over heated or something, (altho i dont' really know, my common sense answer here) but i think you should be ok

i'm interested tho, when should you do a total coolant flush?

 

[SoonerE39]

Too early to have to do a radiator flush.

 

[bccwu]

Thanks for these helpful advices. Yesterday after work, after reading your advices, I went to the dealership trying to get some genuine BMW coolant, but the guy told me it was just generic aluminum compatible antifreeze they sold. So I bought some from a local Canadian Tire (like Kmart in the States) instead. I tested the colour of the remaining coolant in my car and it was very green so there was no dirt in it.

I then mixed 2 L (1/2 GAL) of the bottled coolant 50:50 with some spring water (the purest I could get from a grocery store). I proceeded to fill it up in the car. The coolant indicator popped up after less than 300ML (0.08 Gal) or so of the mixture added! I put the cap back and start the engine. The warning disappeared!

questions :
1) Could I have a faulty coolant level sensor?
2) can I store away the remaining 1/2 GAL non-mixed coolant and the already mixed (with water) coolant for future use? I put them in the unheated garage, but it's like -15C (5 F) outside)


Thanks again, Bill