 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  06-02-2005, 06:14 AM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bellevue, WA, USA Posts: 26 |  Coolant Change Interval
I am getting conflicting information about coolant change/flush intervals. Some say that the ethylene/glycol mix does not really need to be replaced unless there has been a problem with the coolant system and the stuff has gotten contaminated. Some say that the coolant should be replaced every 3 years no matter what; this is probably what also BMW manuals say. Sub-zero temps are not an issue where I live but I am concerned about corrosion inhibitor performance over time - my ti is a low mile car and sits idle a lot. Then again, aren't the radiator, engine block, cylincer head, etc. all aluminum, so what is there to corrode? Can anyone help me out here..... |  |  | | 06-02-2005, 12:36 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Great White North! Posts: 701 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by Turo I am getting conflicting information about coolant change/flush intervals. Some say that the ethylene/glycol mix does not really need to be replaced unless there has been a problem with the coolant system and the stuff has gotten contaminated. Some say that the coolant should be replaced every 3 years no matter what; this is probably what also BMW manuals say. Sub-zero temps are not an issue where I live but I am concerned about corrosion inhibitor performance over time - my ti is a low mile car and sits idle a lot. Then again, aren't the radiator, engine block, cylincer head, etc. all aluminum, so what is there to corrode? Can anyone help me out here..... | Change the coolant every two years as preventive maintenance. It's not hard and certainly not expensive if you do it yourself. Cheers, __________________ 
Engine: 2.1L Hartge conversion (bored to 86X91mm, ported & polished head, new valves, new crank, & upgraded ECU), Supersprint SS headers, Hartge exhaust, custom cat bypass (track), KV85 wires, Bosch platinum plugs, Vitesse cf spark plug cover, Vitesse cf CAI, Samco hoses, Fiamm air horns. Drivetrain: custom ssk, Vitesse adj. clutch stop, Redline D4 ATF & 75W90. Chassis: 18x8.5 Hartge Classics on 225/40/ZR18 Direzza DZ101s, 17x8 Hartge 7 spokes on 235/40/17 Direzza Z1 *specs and 17x9 Enkei MT1-R on 235/40/17 Direzza Z1 *specs(track), Vitesse 10mm spacers with cf/billet hub extenders, Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, Hartge sway bars & strut brace, urethane offset LCABs, Vitesse rsb, billet/urethane RSMs, X-brace, ATE BBK, ATE slotted rr. rotors, Goodridge ss. lines, ATE Superblue. Exterior: Violettschwarz, Hartge lip spoiler, window spoiler, hatch spoiler & mirrors, Vitesse cf door pillars, Vitesse cf fog light blanks (track), ZKW ellipsoids, HIDs in headlights, highbeams and foglights, and much more... Performance BMW Magazine feature car March 2003 www.vitessetuning.com | | | | | 06-05-2005, 02:23 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 290 |
Yeah the corrosion inhibitors arent good forever. Usually it's about every 3 years but 2 is even better. There is some 5 year coolant out there, but I dont think it's compatible with regular green coolant. __________________
Vince Carknard
1995 318ti Active
Hellrot, 16" 5 spoke, "Fogged" airbox mod, Stromung exhaust, Bilstein Sports, BMW sport springs, 3.73lsd,
others... | | | | | 06-05-2005, 03:31 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 |
change the coolant every two.
flush every third time (every six years). | | | | | 06-05-2005, 03:21 PM | #5 | | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Warwick, RI Posts: 26 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by aceyx change the coolant every two.
flush every third time (every six years). | BMW has changed their requirements quite a bit over the past few years. I change the brake fluid and coolant every two years on my 318. On newer cars, the interval has gone from 3 years to 4 years, and more recently they have started to use "lifetime" fluid in the new models. One of these days, they're going to place the engine in a totally sealed compartment that you won't be able to gain access to, and they're going to tell you to just drive the car until it explodes, and then buy a new one. __________________
1997 318ti Sport,
Alaska Blue w/ Black & Grey Interior, | | | | | 07-23-2005, 07:32 PM | #6 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26 |
I'm a newbie thus i have to ask a quick question so that I don't have to start a new tread. What coolant is used for ours cars? I know that my previous car, 1997 VW Golf, used an orange one and some other cars use green. Thanks | | | | | 07-23-2005, 11:58 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 |
green, but everywhere i've read says it's best to get the stuff from BMW. | | | | | 05-05-2012, 02:41 PM | #8 | | Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: lima Posts: 2 |
| | | | |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | |
 Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|
Linear Mode
