How much coolant?

[richie535]

Hi

I have a 1989 535 ise 140k
i wanted to replace the coolant today, i had to refill and the flush the system 8 times, because i kept getting brown sludge seeping back into the fresh water.

I bought a HAYNES service manual, and it stated 12 litre capacity, so i bought three 2 litre bottles of coolant and i was going to make a 50/50 mix, i put the six litres of coolant into the expansion tank and it started overflowing once i started the engine, does anyone know the correct level of coolant, as my service manual seems to be wrong!

Thanks

[Flamin'Cow]

Dear Richie,

Your not getting any coolant in your oil are you by any chance?

I know from having read other posts on here that it is EXTREEMLY important to change your coolant regularly as the coolant can dissolve the headgasket, causing oil/coolant mixing....

Maybe your 'flushing' has dislodged little particles of crap that were bloking these holes and now you have a 'blown' haedgasket - better check your oil for any 'creaming'.

P>S> - Nice car - **** service manual.

[Zackb911]

Mine took just under 3 gallons yesterday you have to bleed it several times too so make sure the heat is on full blast and keep working the air out the bleed screw... Did you drain the block and radiator?

[richie535]

Hi f cow

Thanks for that, i will check that in the morning.
i have only just had the car, so i am working my way through my own service list oil,fluids etc etc. smoothest car ive had!

im keeping this car till next year, then swapping it for another e34 like the last one made, this shape was made untill 1996 so there should still be some good ones out there, which need little work, i will then focus my attention on getting it looking as good as the one in your picture.

Thanks

[richie535]

Hi

I took the bottom hose off, and drained the system, i think that would have drained the block as well, then i reconnected the bottom hose filled with fresh water ran engine for 5 mins or so, and repeated that process about 7 or 8 times. i did undo the bleed screw but, it didn't seem to make any difference.

[632 Regal]

you really need to bleed it correctly, very very important or you will crack the head. Do a search on bleeding.

[Flamin'Cow]

Dear Richie,

I was quite lucky with this one, all I have done since buying it is to stick on an 'M5' badge (which really pissed off some members of this forum - but hey ****'em) and to tint the front indicators.

She has her share of electrical issues (which one hans't) but hey - I'm not complaining for less than a grand!

[Zackb911]

There is a 19mm nt on the side of the block below the #6 cylinder on the exhaust side. Drain that as well, then take a garden hose and keep running water in the expansion tank till the drain hole runs clear.... I also unclamped the top radiator hose and flushed that with water till the bottom ran clear. Then plug the drains and fill with 50/50 bmw blue coolant and distilled h20 and bleed bleed bleed all the air out.

Zack