Rus
11-13-2006, 05:32 PM
Hello everyone!
When I opened the expansion tank cap today I was greeted with this view:
http://zakm.hotbox.ru/BMW/IMG_0193.jpg
Could this be oil? I sincerely hope not and the car gives no indication of a faulty head gasket. The coolant color is actually the BMW blue as it should be, but the small little specks floating on top, and throughout the reservoir, are bothering me. Now the fact that these particles are not contained to just the surface of the liquid makes me suspect that they aren't oil-based. Furthermore, when I removed some of them with my finger they literarly disappear on touch and leave no oily residue of any sort. The oil in the engine is new and shows no coolant contamination. Old oil was in the car for about three thousand miles and also showed no coolant contamination. The coolant is nearly new and in proper mix ratio. Thermostat, all hoses, clamps, expansion tank cap, and thermostat are all new. The engine was flushed with water twice before receiving the blue coolant. Previously the cooling system was filled with generic green coolant. The plugs showed no steam-cleaning on last removal (~2K miles ago) and the exhaust has no white smoke or antifreeze smell to it. I have also noted that my coolant level seems to drop to just below the arrow on the reservoir if I fill it to the mark. There is evidence of coolant in the external drain channel around the reservoir cap which I suspect may be draining off excess coolant during operation. When the engine is hot, the coolant level occupies the entire reservoir, again leading me to believe that any excess that is dumped in is discharged through the bottom tube in the picture (goes to the passenger side firewall).
So, question 1:
What can these particles in the coolant be?
Question 2:
Does my coolant drain theory hold up to the wisdom of the collective mind?
Thanks in advance!
When I opened the expansion tank cap today I was greeted with this view:
http://zakm.hotbox.ru/BMW/IMG_0193.jpg
Could this be oil? I sincerely hope not and the car gives no indication of a faulty head gasket. The coolant color is actually the BMW blue as it should be, but the small little specks floating on top, and throughout the reservoir, are bothering me. Now the fact that these particles are not contained to just the surface of the liquid makes me suspect that they aren't oil-based. Furthermore, when I removed some of them with my finger they literarly disappear on touch and leave no oily residue of any sort. The oil in the engine is new and shows no coolant contamination. Old oil was in the car for about three thousand miles and also showed no coolant contamination. The coolant is nearly new and in proper mix ratio. Thermostat, all hoses, clamps, expansion tank cap, and thermostat are all new. The engine was flushed with water twice before receiving the blue coolant. Previously the cooling system was filled with generic green coolant. The plugs showed no steam-cleaning on last removal (~2K miles ago) and the exhaust has no white smoke or antifreeze smell to it. I have also noted that my coolant level seems to drop to just below the arrow on the reservoir if I fill it to the mark. There is evidence of coolant in the external drain channel around the reservoir cap which I suspect may be draining off excess coolant during operation. When the engine is hot, the coolant level occupies the entire reservoir, again leading me to believe that any excess that is dumped in is discharged through the bottom tube in the picture (goes to the passenger side firewall).
So, question 1:
What can these particles in the coolant be?
Question 2:
Does my coolant drain theory hold up to the wisdom of the collective mind?
Thanks in advance!