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Thread: Spotted Coolant Leak, Has Too Much?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Dallas, tx, USA
    Posts
    45
    My Cars
    2000 BMW z3

    Spotted Coolant Leak, Has Too Much?

    2000 Z3 86k miles

    Car is rarely driven but may be once a month, for short distances. I noticed these leaks around the radiator and on the tubing, nothing on the floor. They have always been there since buying it January last year. I also noticed that the expansion tanks are black plastics. Not a very helpful color but they are dry of leaks. Nevertheless, I plan on doing a cooling system redo, including expansion tanks sometime this summer.

    I read recently that coolant needs to be at, and not above minimum level, strictly.
    My questions are, Looking at the red indicator is this coolant level aok or it a little high?
    If it is high, could be the cause for the leaks?
    Or perhaps bad clamps?
    Or is this a telltale sign of something else, and if so what?




  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    1,170
    My Cars
    2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Auto
    Clean it and check it again after sometime. How old is the coolant?

    May be some parts are already replaced. Any service history?

    I replaced the radiator when its neck(the part where it connects to the upper hose) broke and started leaking. The reservoir, it started leaking around the edges. There is a joint.

    Coolant level looks ok for me. I recently had to replace the thermostat the level is like yours now. No leaks. Is the heater working properly and no overheating? If so i guess it is ok.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    SW Florida
    Posts
    12,681
    My Cars
    99-01 M Cpe & Rdts, X5M
    That nipple in the radiator (small diameter one) is fragile, and usually the cause of many replaced radiators; ideally you'd replace it before it gets the chance to fail completely.

    The composite hose__rubber at the ends and plastic in the middle is__TREMENDOUSLY__fragile! I've had them fail__crumble, really__just by clipping them back in their holders.

    Your level is fine.

    Historically, once the coolant starts festering up like that, failure is imminent; how long until then just depends on how lucky you are...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Dallas, tx, USA
    Posts
    45
    My Cars
    2000 BMW z3
    The "failure is imminent" you are referring to is the infamous cooling system fail?
    The heater works great, car does not over heating issues.
    Last edited by Jay11; 03-22-2018 at 04:11 PM.

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