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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 09:28:10

Title: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 09:28:10
Hey guys,

I noticed on my way to work this morning that my temp gauge was a lot higher than normal so I monitored it for a mile or so in which time it steadily increased so I threw caution to the wind by shutting her down and waiting for assistance.

A number of scenarios where running through my head whilst I was sat there with my hazards on wincing as numerous other commuters obviously wheren't looking all that far ahead and thus taking evasive action to avoid rear ending my car.

That's drivers in Corby for you, useless gits.

So I've just had a look under the bonnet and noticed that the coolant reservoir is as it should be and I didn't notice anything like white plumes of smoke behind me so I can rule out the HG.

What are the water pumps like on these? Can they fail and not give the classic leak from the bottom of the pump?

My money is on either the Thermostat or maybe a blocked Rad?

Edit - Oh I also couldn't get any heat from the vents so that could be heater matrix. right?

What do you guys think?
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 09:32:05
The waterpumps are utter crap. rather useless. The idiot at BMW who designed it should be shot dead.

Did the temp go over 100C on the gauge?  100C on the gauge is about 110C in reality, which is the safe point of the engine - beyond this, and you run a significant risk of the age old BMW problem of cracked heads.

Start by popping the pump out, see if its lost its vanes.  Easy job, but the pumps ain't cheap (£60 for pattern, £100 for OEM)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: philglasgow on 02 February 2009, 09:33:27
hi mate   ive got same problem , but no heat would be due to fact its probably nearly empty so no water to heat  maybe , is your mpg the same?
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 09:35:24
Quote
hi mate   ive got same problem , but no heat would be due to fact its probably nearly empty so no water to heat  maybe , is your mpg the same?
Lack of heat will be because the pump spindle is spinning, but the vanes are scattered around the block, thus coolant doesn't flow.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 09:38:45
Phil, reservoir is full so I can rule out lack of coolant.

Which is the easier fix? Water pump or Thermostat?

Any how to threads?
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 09:42:55
Oh and I didn't let the temp go above 100'c. So hopefully I have caught it in time.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 09:44:40
Quote
Phil, reservoir is full so I can rule out lack of coolant.

Which is the easier fix? Water pump or Thermostat?

Any how to threads?
Both as easy as each other, and assuming you have already done the decent thing a thrown that pointless, stupid viscous fan in the garage (god only knows why the retarded stupid designer smoked that big spliff before drawing on a viscous fan), only take 15mins :)

It WILL be the waterpump (if it was stat, you would have had a shit load of hot air from vents ;))
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 09:47:14
Good point on the Thermostat, cheers.

So waterpump, where abouts, what, why, when, how, who?
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 09:49:13
As to guide, feel free to write one when you do it, with pics  :P


Remove 'Turbo Diesel' plastics

Remove that stupid viscous fan (left hand thread), and plastic rad cowling

Remove aux belt (find spring/damper, see it attaches to black metal plate via bolt - undo OTHER bolt that secures black metal plate, and then loosen bolt through damper). Do NOT use a pry bar on tensioner.

Remove waterpump pulley, then remove pump.

If you what to play with stat, thats easily accessible now - remove bottom hose, then 3 bolts to remove stat.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 09:52:25
Ah right so looking into the engine bay it's on the left hand side? I'm sure I'll work it out once I have the covers off.

Pics on a separate thread to follow.  ;)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 09:59:08
Quote
Ah right so looking into the engine bay it's on the left hand side? I'm sure I'll work it out once I have the covers off.

Pics on a separate thread to follow.  ;)
Nope, waterpump is the pulley that that stupid, pointless, gay viscous fan bolts to :)

(In case you didn't realise, I'm not a huge fan of viscous fans)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 10:00:02
Just rang CAS in Corby.

No pumps on the shelf but they can order me one in.

Apparently it's a Mirrortech item or something, 30GBP all in. Anygood?
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 10:02:32
Quote
Just rang CAS in Corby.

No pumps on the shelf but they can order me one in.

Apparently it's a Mirrortech item or something, 30GBP all in. Anygood?
No idea, but guess its better than the one you have.  I put a make I'd heard of in mine, think it was QH (was a couple of years ago though).

Worth popping old one out first to confirm? 30mins tops if that stupid bloody fan comes off easy.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Seth on 02 February 2009, 10:37:18
I changed my water pump - got a QH one for 38 quid.

Straightforward enough job, but make a note of the routeing of the belt before you start. When you remove the pump, have a good look in the recess behind, (where the impeller sits). I found bits of the impeller vanes sitting in there.

I also changed the 'stat at the same time.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: osealy on 02 February 2009, 10:46:04
Why not use pry bar, I'm afraid I did.
Quote
As to guide, feel free to write one when you do it, with pics  :P


Remove 'Turbo Diesel' plastics

Remove that stupid viscous fan (left hand thread), and plastic rad cowling

Remove aux belt (find spring/damper, see it attaches to black metal plate via bolt - undo OTHER bolt that secures black metal plate, and then loosen bolt through damper). Do NOT use a pry bar on tensioner.

Remove waterpump pulley, then remove pump.

If you what to play with stat, thats easily accessible now - remove bottom hose, then 3 bolts to remove stat.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2009, 12:08:15
Quote
Why not use pry bar, I'm afraid I did.
Quote
As to guide, feel free to write one when you do it, with pics  :P


Remove 'Turbo Diesel' plastics

Remove that stupid viscous fan (left hand thread), and plastic rad cowling

Remove aux belt (find spring/damper, see it attaches to black metal plate via bolt - undo OTHER bolt that secures black metal plate, and then loosen bolt through damper). Do NOT use a pry bar on tensioner.

Remove waterpump pulley, then remove pump.

If you what to play with stat, thats easily accessible now - remove bottom hose, then 3 bolts to remove stat.
About 50% of the time you will end up with 2 smaller tensioner rather than 1 larger one, and superglue won't hold ;D
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: platty on 02 February 2009, 16:27:33
I didn't ever touch my tensioner - it decided to snap in half all by itself, makes you wince when you got to buy a new one too  :(
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 02 February 2009, 17:06:28
Cheers,

I'll have a blast at this tomorrow if I can't get the other car out of the garage.

Bloody snow.  >:(
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Turk on 02 February 2009, 23:19:55
Quote
Quote
Phil, reservoir is full so I can rule out lack of coolant.

Which is the easier fix? Water pump or Thermostat?

Any how to threads?
Both as easy as each other, and assuming you have already done the decent thing a thrown that pointless, stupid viscous fan in the garage (god only knows why the retarded stupid designer smoked that big spliff before drawing on a viscous fan), only take 15mins :)

It WILL be the waterpump (if it was stat, you would have had a shit load of hot air from vents ;))

Ok, so what draws the air thru the rad if the viscous fan goes ? I know there are two smaller fans mounted in front but I thought they were for the A/C.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Omegatoy on 03 February 2009, 08:11:35
Quote
Quote
Quote
Phil, reservoir is full so I can rule out lack of coolant.

Which is the easier fix? Water pump or Thermostat?

Any how to threads?
Both as easy as each other, and assuming you have already done the decent thing a thrown that pointless, stupid viscous fan in the garage (god only knows why the retarded stupid designer smoked that big spliff before drawing on a viscous fan), only take 15mins :)

It WILL be the waterpump (if it was stat, you would have had a shit load of hot air from vents ;))

Ok, so what draws the air thru the rad if the viscous fan goes ? I know there are two smaller fans mounted in front but I thought they were for the A/C.

on your rad are three plugs one for ac using the fans and the other 2 are for the fans to be used for engine cooling, one brings them in at 95half or low power and the other sends them into a full bodied get the engine temp down quick mode full power!!! unless of course the sensors oon the rad are goosed or not connected!!!
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 03 February 2009, 17:14:35
Had a crack at this today and I cannot for the life of me shift that rather huge 32mm bolt on the viscous fan.

Left handed thread so I would like to assume I am trying to undo it the right way by working the spanner clockwise (As you look at the engine from the front)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: charlie on 03 February 2009, 18:06:56
i used a 18inch adjustable then hit it with a hammer not to hard then unscrewed it with my hands
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 03 February 2009, 20:11:19
Quote
Quote
Quote
Phil, reservoir is full so I can rule out lack of coolant.

Which is the easier fix? Water pump or Thermostat?

Any how to threads?
Both as easy as each other, and assuming you have already done the decent thing a thrown that pointless, stupid viscous fan in the garage (god only knows why the retarded stupid designer smoked that big spliff before drawing on a viscous fan), only take 15mins :)

It WILL be the waterpump (if it was stat, you would have had a shit load of hot air from vents ;))

Ok, so what draws the air thru the rad if the viscous fan goes ? I know there are two smaller fans mounted in front but I thought they were for the A/C.
Your forward motion draws air through!  If you are staionary, the electric cooling fans pop on.

If your intercooler has a fan (some do, some don't), no viscous has the added advantage that this intercooler fan comes on more often.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 03 February 2009, 20:11:42
Quote
Had a crack at this today and I cannot for the life of me shift that rather huge 32mm bolt on the viscous fan.

Left handed thread so I would like to assume I am trying to undo it the right way by working the spanner clockwise (As you look at the engine from the front)
yup, undo it clockwise.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 03 February 2009, 20:19:26
Hindsight is always 20/20.

I undid the pulley first which slackened the belt off and thus gave me nothing to work against when undoing the viscous fan.

Of course on realising what a thingy I was being I started to reverse engineer it and ran out of light.

Putting a days holiday in so I'll have it sorted tomorrow.

Edit - loving the censor work as I definitely did not call myself a thingy! :D
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 04 February 2009, 15:24:37

Withdrew the water pump and found there isn't anything wrong with it!

 >:( >:( >:(Grrrrrrr.......

So my next guess is a poor anti freeze mix as what came pouring out was I can only describe as brown in colour.

Where is the block coolant drain? I not only want to drain it all off and use a fresh mix but also test the remains so as to be sure it is just that.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: MickAP on 04 February 2009, 17:59:18
Quote
Withdrew the water pump and found there isn't anything wrong with it!

 >:( >:( >:(Grrrrrrr.......

So my next guess is a poor anti freeze mix as what came pouring out was I can only describe as brown in colour.

Where is the block coolant drain? I not only want to drain it all off and use a fresh mix but also test the remains so as to be sure it is just that.

Silted up rad maybe?

Mick
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 04 February 2009, 18:13:22
block drain is on passsenger side of block, towards the back, 15mm iirc
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: osealy on 04 February 2009, 21:02:07
I changed the pump & stat first as they were cheaper but it turned out to be the rad .180 . To undo the viscous I had to jam the pump pulley with a bit of angle before hitting the stilson on the viscous,

I put the viscous back on but the clutch doesn't engage.

stays at 95 except grades not been neer 100 since.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 04 February 2009, 21:04:47
Finished it, took it out for a run and topped the coolant up. Temp was bob on as usual so fingers crossed! :)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 05 February 2009, 10:36:32
Coolant system had a good old baptism of fire this morning due to having to negotiate inclines with the nose of the car at 30' just to go forwards. So hence the engine was working hard but without the nice cold air to flow over the rad.

Car behaved as advertised so I'm happy. :)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 February 2009, 16:14:01
:y

Might be worth considering some forte coolant flush in the summer
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Seth on 05 February 2009, 17:42:01
Quote
:y

Might be worth considering some forte coolant flush in the summer

Exactly my plan Jamie!
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 06 February 2009, 15:41:49
Yep, planning that when I get back in 4 months from the land of sheep and penguins.
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Entwood on 06 February 2009, 20:44:09
Quote
Yep, planning that when I get back in 4 months from the land of sheep and penguins.


Say "Hello" to the Upland Goose for me .. :) .. the Sunday "brunches" there used to be rather excellent .. :)
Title: Re: Overheating 2.5TD (BMW Engine)
Post by: Spearmint on 07 February 2009, 10:21:36
Will do mate! :)