milky white coolant 525i

[Yakker]

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:
http://images33.fotki.com/v1068/photos/1/112285/421739/Picture5945-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/yakker333/misc/picture5945.html)
Hosted on Fotki (http://www.fotki.com)
http://images32.fotki.com/v1062/photos/1/112285/421739/Picture5948-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/yakker333/misc/picture5948.html)
Hosted on Fotki (http://www.fotki.com)
http://images32.fotki.com/v1064/photos/1/112285/421739/Picture5949-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/yakker333/misc/picture5949.html)
Hosted on Fotki (http://www.fotki.com)

[Rus]

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

[Yakker]

oh the oil looks just fine, nice and black

[AngryPopTart]

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.

[Yakker]

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.

[Dave M]

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

[Yakker]

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.

[Bimmerman]

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...

[clindahl]

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?

[Yakker]

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

[Yakker]

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?

Yes it is an auto. I never even thought of this, maybe someone else could chime in on this? I know this doesn't have to do with either of these but i've have a massive leak coming from the steering reservoir (i think), thats just gotten worse this week alot with this whole coolant situation.