Engine Overheat

  • Click here to become an Official Member of BMW Club Malaysia Download Form

jarance

Founding Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2004
Messages
14,743
Points
63
Location
KLlang
last week I did a stupid thing. After checking the radiator level,I forgot to put back the radiator cap... Big Mistake.. The car overheatedafter going for about 30 Km..Temperature went to Red zone..(OK I was distracted when I was checking the radiator level) :blink:Open the bonnet and see steam and smoke coming out of the car.. OMG..WTF is going on.. :cry: :cry: Found the radiator cap under the bonnet... I thought since the cap is Off, might as well fill up the radiator with water.. Second Big Mistake... that I did.. Water boiling and steam splashing every where..Engine temperature was still very hot..Now car gasket is gone.. :cry: Might need to do overhaul. Car can restart but temperature goes up very fast. Check water pump and found it is OK.Somebody says that the gasket is gone because can see the water splashing about when the car is started from cold. Could this be the pressure from the engine. Try to bleed the radiator and detect a slight smell of engine oil when air is coming out from the bledder.So need help for the following.1. What to do and confirm damage.2. Need service of the tow truck from Klang to Segambut (any cheap rate)3. Estimate cost of repair for a 316 M40 engine.4. better to upgrade to another engine.Never fill the engine with COLD water when you encounter High Temperature. Let it cool down for at least 3 to 4 hours .
 
"Never feel the engine with COLD water when you encounter High Temperature"

jarance, ur signature got spelling mistake, "never FEEL the engine with cold water..........


willlie
 
Thanks willie for pointing the mistake.

yeah, never feel the engine with your hand when the engine is hot..
 
OMG ... bro sorry to hear what happenned ... shit happens at times ... u take it easy alrite ....
 
Sad to hear ur car overheats. U need to do top overhaul, good time to check on the camshafts, lifters and rocker arms, if needed change them especially hydraulic lifters. Cost, i dont think its that much unless u renew parts like camshaft which is a bit costly.
 
Jarance,

My car engine overheated suddenly 3 months back while I was driving on the NKVE. Upon exiting the Kota Damansara toll, the car came into stall and smoke coming out from the engine compartment.

Later i discovered the water tank burst, because the gasket was leaking hot air into the engine cooling system. Hence I gotta top overhaul the engine. I believe my damage is somehow similiar to yours.

The cost to repair the engine was RM1.6k at a workshop near jln genting klang, and the tow charges cost (from kota damansara - genting klang) was RM150, phew.......

Guys, if you are read this, please have your engine gasket check. My car was clocking 180k at the time of the damage. I dunno a gasket damage can caused so much pain to so many parts to the engine.
 
Originally posted by ersalle@Sep 10 2005, 09:42 AM
Sad to hear ur car overheats. U need to do top overhaul, good time to check on the camshafts, lifters and rocker arms, if needed change them especially hydraulic lifters. Cost, i dont think its that much unless u renew parts like camshaft which is a bit costly.
Thank for the advise. Will ask the mechanic to look into it.
 
Originally posted by Oris318@Sep 10 2005, 10:00 AM
Jarance,

My car engine overheated suddenly 3 months back while I was driving on the NKVE. Upon exiting the Kota Damansara toll, the car came into stall and smoke coming out from the engine compartment.

Later i discovered the water tank burst, because the gasket was leaking hot air into the engine cooling system. Hence I gotta top overhaul the engine. I believe my damage is somehow similiar to yours.

The cost to repair the engine was RM1.6k at a workshop near jln genting klang, and the tow charges cost (from kota damansara - genting klang) was RM150, phew.......

Guys, if you are read this, please have your engine gasket check. My car was clocking 180k at the time of the damage. I dunno a gasket damage can caused so much pain to so many parts to the engine.
Oris, i think your problem is the same as mine as i see air bubble coming out from the radiator. I think this is cause when the gasket is blown hence the air pressure from the engine is escaping from the oil compartment to the water line.

How to check the gasket condition. Do you have to do a engine compression test.
 
Well, I believe only the mechanic knows if the gasket is in good working condition. Now, there are only 2 mechanics whom I can trust in the klang valley to repair my baby. Have been cheated by a few though...
 
Good way is apply pressure into each of chamber room. Water bubble at gap. Other way but not so good ,apply pressure on coolant system and you'll see water coming out between head and block if there is gap. Risk water going inside the chamber room !


I'm not sure for BMW engine but what I normally see is water line and oil line always next to each other around chamber room,if there is a gap then they will mix up and absorb heat from chamber, as well oil will be in the coolant system.

If I were in budget position ,I'll took out head ,apply new gasket ,close back and pray hard this solve the issue.
I did the same before on my RB20DET and I was in luck side.

If you know how much torque need for to tighten the head bolt, then shouldn't be hard to this job. Of course time and right tool need . Hey ,tool last forever and can give to my son later on...

By the way do you have extra car to drive around ?

Good Luck
 
Originally posted by Iqlima@Sep 10 2005, 10:28 AM
Apply pressure on coolant system and you'll see water coming out between head and block if there is gap. Risk water going inside the chamber room !

I'm not sure for BMW engine but what I normally see is water line and oil line always next to each other around chamber room,if there is a gap then they will mix up and absorb heat from chamber, as well oil will be in the coolant system.

If I were in budget position ,I'll took out head ,apply new gasket ,close back and pray hard this solve the issue.
I did the same before on my RB20DET and I was in luck side.

If you know how much torque need for to tighten the head bolt, then shouldn't be hard to this job. Of course time and right tool need . Hey ,tool last forever and can give to my son later on...

By the way do you have extra car to drive around ?

Good Luck
Thank for the advise. I don't think it is advisable to pressure the radiator in case there is a actually leak. Don't want to risk having the water get into the engine compartment and cause further damage.

Don't really have the time to do up the car myself. I think it would be better to leave it to the expert to do it.

Anyway, it is time for me to change the timing belt. Might as well do a top overhaul at the same time and check the condition of the internal part of the engine.

i just hope it is the gasket that is blown. Somebody told me that there is a possibility that the engine block could be distorted due to rapid cooling of the
engine block when cold water is introduced to the radiator. :cry: :cry:
If that is the case, then machining is required and retuning of the car is required.

Now no spare car. Goes to work with my friend. At night get to use my wife car. :wink:
 
Sad to hear about your car problem - yeah sometimes we do forget to check what we just did. Just like the first day I got my car - forgot to put back the petrol cap after refilling. Only realised it the next day. Anyway, look on the bright side - if you open up your cylinder head you can do a top overhaul and check many items that may be due for replacement anyway. At least after that its comforting to know that your top is in good condition and it will go a long way before the next maintenance. Now where's that 645Ci when you need it?
 
Ouch! Jarance - I've gone through an engine overheating and gasket failure before... it's a long process to fix it all properly.. don't rush it. My problem ended with the gasket replacement - cld be worse if the top blockwas warped - then I"d have to replace the top.

What they did was
- take top block out
- do pressure test to make sure no hidden leaks
- skim the block to smoothen the part that joins to the bottom
(prevoius two points - I'm not sure which order it's done)
- if block ok - replace gasket
- then drive the car hard to make sure it doesn't overheat

Whilst at it, it's not unusual to replace parts and everything else (hoses, clips, etc) to bring things back to top shape ;)

Good luck!!
 
Originally posted by Fireblade@Sep 10 2005, 11:47 AM
Sad to hear about your car problem - yeah sometimes we do forget to check what we just did. Just like the first day I got my car - forgot to put back the petrol cap after refilling. Only realised it the next day. Anyway, look on the bright side - if you open up your cylinder head you can do a top overhaul and check many items that may be due for replacement anyway. At least after that its comforting to know that your top is in good condition and it will go a long way before the next maintenance. Now where's that 645Ci when you need it?
he..he 645 ci only available for weekend.. Not enough..

maybe tansfer the engine to my car.. :yahoo: first 345i in malaysia...
 
Originally posted by schone@Sep 10 2005, 12:39 PM
Ouch! Jarance - I've gone through an engine overheating and gasket failure before... it's a long process to fix it all properly.. don't rush it. My problem ended with the gasket replacement - cld be worse if the top blockwas warped - then I"d have to replace the top.

What they did was
- take top block out
- do pressure test to make sure no hidden leaks
- skim the block to smoothen the part that joins to the bottom
(prevoius two points - I'm not sure which order it's done)
- if block ok - replace gasket
- then drive the car hard to make sure it doesn't overheat

Whilst at it, it's not unusual to replace parts and everything else (hoses, clips, etc) to bring things back to top shape ;)

Good luck!!
schone, thank for the advise..

How much did you cost you to get it rectify. and also where..

What you have mentioned is just what I need to do to the car for the moment..
 
bro,sad to hear this.
but,what actually distracted u from putting back the cap?i wonder
 
Jarance dude,

Kinaka here... so sorry to read this post & maybe i was late...
3i6i ?? not big problem... u are lucky...

i just sent my 6 potter head to engineering shop specialist in engine only..

cylinder head skim RM45
* i suggest you don't simply skim ur cylinder head,
use straight edge / long steel ruller (good condition)
to measure the cylinder warpage first then only make conclusion..

in an addition, they charge me cylinder head cracked/leak test RM80...

so i guess urs might be cheaper....
anyway have u do top overhaul yet ???

aiya jarance bro.. pls PM me ur number again, i'll call u & talk...
hopefully my experience can give u guideline.... thankss
 
oh my jarance...
that's bad.

During my two cases of car overheating, I had to replace my cylinder heat TWICE!! In the span of 2 months. So broke....

Better be prepared.

For overheating problems test the following:
1. Air bubbles from radiator. Got bubble? Remove the air bubbles from the bleed valve
2. Pressure test. Should be no problem. When you put on your radiator cap, the pressure is there anyway. Make sure you pressurize within the green zone of the pressure tester
3. Litmus test at the exhaust to see if water is coming out from the tailpipe
4. Any problems cranking?
5. Check individual cylinders from the spark plug hole and spark plug. Whitish? Confirm got water in there
6. If gasket fails, water is there and can be tested with the above test (1-5)
7. Take the head for testing on warping and cracks.

Head can be skimmed but only minimal. Upon installation, make sure you use a thicker gasket. There are two types of gaskets. Can't remember what are the sizes.

Wish you well.
 
Top Bottom