Waterpump M6 Bolt Snapped Off During Extraction

[shalang]

Following the tutorial on bmw330ci.net. I took off the pulley and am attempting to remove the water pump from the engine block.

I inserted the two air box bolts (10 mm) on both sides of the pump. I took turns spinning each side. The hole on the drivers side of the pump broke off, whereby the bolt that was in there fell off.

I kept turning the left side and the bolt ended snapping off inside of the hole. There's nothing hanging outside of the hole, everything is inside.

The water pump has no signs of loosening and is still tight.

Any ideas?


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[dhurley34]

If all of the water pump bolts are out, the only thing holding it in is the tension of the o-ring that holds the body of it in to the block. You shouldn't have anywhere near enough tension to snap the bolts off.

[shalang]

If all of the water pump bolts are out, the only thing holding it in is the tension of the o-ring that holds the body of it in to the block. You shouldn't have anywhere near enough tension to snap the bolts off.

It was on extremely tight. Got it off though.

Got it out with a hammer, two different sized pry bars and a medium sized screwdriver. Hit on all sides and pryed alternately. Tons if calcium deposits. Im thinking the calcium was holding it in.


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[legoman67]

I had one that i ending up extracting in several pieces. It happens when the wrong coolant is used in the car and reacts with the aluminium to cause the calcium.

Ones that have used proper coolant their whole lives i rarely even need to use the extracting holes.

[shalang]

I had one that i ending up extracting in several pieces. It happens when the wrong coolant is used in the car and reacts with the aluminium to cause the calcium.

Ones that have used proper coolant their whole lives i rarely even need to use the extracting holes.

Interesting. To my knowledge, the car had BMW coolant. I had to add Prestone 50/50 last week due to the upper radiator hose disconnecting near the bleed screw.

Would one week of running Prestone cause this?

[legoman67]

Interesting. To my knowledge, the car had BMW coolant. I had to add Prestone 50/50 last week due to the upper radiator hose disconnecting near the bleed screw.

Would one week of running Prestone cause this?

Nah a week wouldnt of done it. It may be old, once it forms it doesnt really go away unless its manually cleaned out.

[shalang]

Nah a week wouldnt of done it. It may be old, once it forms it doesnt really go away unless its manually cleaned out.

How can I manually clean it out?

[MarcoZandrini]

You might try vinegar. You can run the engine with vinegar as what is sold in markets is 5% vinegar and 95% water. That should help remove calcium deposits. Also, never use tap water in the cooling system. The result will be calcium deposits. Always use distilled water and BMW coolant.

[shalang]

You might try vinegar. You can run the engine with vinegar as what is sold in markets is 5% vinegar and 95% water. That should help remove calcium deposits. Also, never use tap water in the cooling system. The result will be calcium deposits. Always use distilled water and BMW coolant.

Thats pretty cool. Starter reading up on it. I am installing a new radiator, should I still do this?

Also, do I need to have coolant in the car when I do this procedure or do I just fill two gallons with white distilled vinegar? What is the procedure of running the engine?

Thanks!

[dhurley34]

Use a 30% vinegar, 70% distilled water mix. Bring it up to temperature and idle for 20-30min then drain. No need for coolant. This is an old trick used on boats to clean and neutralize salt water deposits in their cooling systems.

[shalang]

Use a 30% vinegar, 70% distilled water mix. Bring it up to temperature and idle for 20-30min then drain. No need for coolant. This is an old trick used on boats to clean and neutralize salt water in their cooling systems.

Any particular type of vinegar?

So two gallons worth of this mixture, correct? Do I do this with the new thermostat, water pump, radiator, hose, etc installed?

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[dhurley34]

Correct. Yes, have everything installed. Once done, drain the radiator and block. then refill with the coolant/distilled water mix and enjoy.

[shalang]

Correct. Yes, have everything installed. Once done, drain the radiator and block. then refill with the coolant/distilled water mix and enjoy.

Great, I will do that today! Do I have to drive the car or can I just let it get up to temp while idling?

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[dhurley34]

Idling is preferred.

[MarcoZandrini]

Any particular type of vinegar? So two gallons worth of this mixture, correct? Do I do this with the new thermostat, water pump, radiator, hose, etc installed? Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Whatever is sold in the market. As I wrote above, most vinegar is 5% vinegar and 95% water.

I'd run this through after the new cooling system parts have been installed. Also, I'd follow up with a distilled water only flush to get rid of the vinegar and any calcium that's come loose.

[shalang]

Whatever is sold in the market. As I wrote above, most vinegar is 5% vinegar and 95% water.

I'd run this through after the new cooling system parts have been installed. Also, I'd follow up with a distilled water only flush to get rid of the vinegar and any calcium that's come loose.

Great thanks. I got white distilled vinegar.

Another question, do I follow the bleeding procedure as with the regular coolant mix?

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[MarcoZandrini]

Great thanks. I got white distilled vinegar. Another question, do I follow the bleeding procedure as with the regular coolant mix? Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Yes, the bleeding procedure will be the same. Let me change one thing that I wrote: I'd do the vinegar flush with the old parts in the car. Drain that and then install the new parts. Then do a flush with the distilled water. Then use the BMW coolant and DISTILLED WATER refill and bleed.

[shalang]

Yes, the bleeding procedure will be the same. Let me change one thing that I wrote: I'd do the vinegar flush with the old parts in the car. Drain that and then install the new parts. Then do a flush with the distilled water. Then use the BMW coolant and DISTILLED WATER refill and bleed.

I already have all of the new parts on, including the radiator.

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