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Thread: milky white coolant 525i

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    16

    Default milky white coolant 525i

    So i was just adding some power steering fluid today (it has a horrible leak) when i noticed some milky white substance on top of rad reservoir. Opened it up and suprise suprise! Nice white milky coolant. I haven't had a chance to check anything else today. But I did change the head gasket with a brand new head about a year ago. The car has been running great, no over-heating at all (stays right in the middle when warmed up), and i'm getting about 24mpg. So what gives? If you look at the second pic you see it might have overheated some, I never even noticed it. When I did the swap last time I changed every possible gasket and everything. Oh yeah and this a 1990 525i m20. And its been about 20-40 degrees outside normally, and i'm using the heat everday, so i dunno if that has anything to do with it.

    Here's a couple pics:

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    Last edited by Yakker; 12-24-2007 at 06:37 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    518

    Default

    What does your oil look like? That sure looks a lot like oil in coolant. Just my $.02

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    16

    Default

    oh the oil looks just fine, nice and black

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    267

    Default

    Just did a motor swap in mine for exactly the same reason, except we didn't replace my head when I go the car, just had a burned valve vixed and slapped it back on with new gaskets. Have NO IDEA why, but the cooling system turned to thick, nasty, oatmealy mess and the hoses puffed up and finally blew. (a hose going to the heater core of all hoses, lol!) But it never overheated.

    I looked at the head from the old motor and found nothing unusual looking at the gasket/gasket surface. Really not sure what's up but oh well.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    16

    Default

    Yeah i have no idea how this happened. I leave for the military in 3 weeks so i'm thinking about just doing the head gasket again i guess and hope for the best.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Posts
    2,538

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Yakker
    oh the oil looks just fine, nice and black

    I've gotta change mine soon, its turned a yucky golden color

    But seriously, thats a pretty serious gasket breech. Luckily you haven't got coolant in the oil as well. Good luck with the second gasket change,

    Dave M

    10/90 Build 525im, 630,000+km, Eibach/Sachs, Engine Rebuild
    *RIP Oskar the DOG *

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    16

    Default

    ha, thanks man.. sucks cause i just did an oil change recently (full synth) but i do have like 5 extra un-opened bottles of bmw coolant i just happen to come across for free. So there's on less thing to buy i guess.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Brisbane, Australia
    Posts
    144

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Yakker
    I leave for the military in 3 weeks
    Good on you, mate. Something you'll never forget. Always remember to hold your head up high and never volunteer for anything! (also, dont eat anything thats crumbed or you cant identify straight away)
    Sorry 'bout the head gasket too...

    Who needs a sway bar anyway?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    31

    Default

    Is your car an automatic, or manual? Is it possible that if it's an Automatic that the transmission cooler has failed in the radiator and is leaking tranny fluid into the radiator and vise versa?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bimmerman
    Good on you, mate. Something you'll never forget. Always remember to hold your head up high and never volunteer for anything! (also, dont eat anything thats crumbed or you cant identify straight away)
    Sorry 'bout the head gasket too...
    Hey thanks alot, I definetly wont be volunteering for anything thats for sure. I'll have to remember the not eating anything thats crumbled, thats a good one i havent heard of yet.. haha

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