Well I got more bad news.

[Panzer_M]

I got bored of sitting on the couch in front of the TV watching SPEED or the news or staring at the Computer, and i HAD to walk off my huge lunch of a salad, sliced cucumber and lemon water, so I went out to the garage to do man stuff...move things..look at things..still back in the cool air and enjoy being outside for awhile. Plus I feel better today, not tired and sluggish..I went to the market today with a friend since I still don't want to drive durning high traffic hours as I am afraid of something going wrong...but back to the point at hand.

So I decided to play with the Ti, check the fluids etc...checked the oil...checked the P/S...checked the brake/clutch....then the coolent..and saw something weird and my stomach died.....a little black spot like a tumor sticking to the plastic wall...about the size of a pencil eraser....I almost cried at that point cause I though two words..well four...Head Gasket...Tear Down.

So I talked to Dust about it, and he kinda confirmed my fear, talked to my dad and he's like we don't know til we see the shape of the engine...I've yet to go beyond valve work on the M42..so I am kinda worried..I have used the engine, not bouncing redline or heavy launching. but I have done 20-32hr drives in her and trackevents..

So now everyone is predicting doom for the M42..but I am relunctant to go to a Sixer swap, I like the light weight ability of the 2643lb car and I fear I may loose some of the agility with the nose weight.

but I may have a use for something I picked up awhile ago for my Ti themed collection of stuff.

I'd rather keep a stronger M42 than deal with the swapping of a larger heavier engine, which means a beefer Trans(ZF and ditching the Getrag) and getting a 3.46 or 3.73 big diff and ditching the 3.45LS.

[ChItalian1027]

ouch dude sry bout ur bad news!!

[Panzer_M]

Originally Posted by kickass95318ti

ouch dude sry bout ur bad news!!

funny thing, this got out several manuals and I started running parts searches then talking with people and I'm feeling better than I have in weeks, not 100% but in the 85-90% for sure, better than the 40-50% I've been through since the end of August.

I am going to flush the coolant tomorrow and see if that has an effect. Hopefully it's just dirty coolant..I mean it's a small amount of oil, not the exxon-valdese from what I observed today.

When everybody gets back from Road ATL this weekend, I am going to see about enlisting some volunteers.

It sucks..but on the other hand it's going to kick me into gear with dealing with the Ti's HP problem. My goal would be 200whp and keep the weight around 2600-2700lbs.

[Panzer_M]

well I flushed the system today, the old coolant come out clean clear blue, no oil in the drainpan. Dad figured it was sludge from not being flushed in over 12months of my driving.

Temp wise, still on the cool side of the operating temp. So that's a good thing.

[Mad-Machine]

glad to hear man.. much better safe than sorry

[roadrash]

Originally Posted by Panzer_M

Temp wise, still on the cool side of the operating temp. So that's a good thing.

Just HOW cool is it running? That might indicate an issue with the thermostat. If it's running cool (like mine was) it will cause the engine to run rich in an effort to warm it up, and the extra fuel will hasten the demise of the catalytic converter.

But, you should consult an actual mechanic (preferably German) rather than taking my word for it.

[Mad-Machine]

so what is "too cool" my temp guage is usually sits a needle's width BELOW the centre. It also smells like my car is running too rich, even if the plugs say otherwise.

[Panzer_M]

Originally Posted by roadrash

Just HOW cool is it running? That might indicate an issue with the thermostat. If it's running cool (like mine was) it will cause the engine to run rich in an effort to warm it up, and the extra fuel will hasten the demise of the catalytic converter.

But, you should consult an actual mechanic (preferably German) rather than taking my word for it.

yea I got a German shop(Bavarian Auto Center, Inc, 321-690-1233)about 10mins from me, for stuff I don't have the 1st hand knowledge of or just don't have the tools on hand for the task. It's well clear of the blue, but unless I am on a long term drive, it's normal just short of center(11:00 but def not 12:00 position)...on extended trips it might go to TDC(Top Dead Center or 12:00)

[roadrash]

Originally Posted by Panzer_M

yea I got a German shop(Bavarian Auto Center,

But, are the mechanics actually German? That's different from a shop just having a German-sounding name. heh heh

Originally Posted by Panzer_M

It's well clear of the blue, but unless I am on a long term drive, it's normal just short of center(11:00 but def not 12:00 position)...on extended trips it might go to TDC

OK, I am NOT a mechanic (nor am I German, LOL) but I was told that the needle should go to TDC and stay there. Mine wasn't doing that on the first thermostat, or the first replacement. However, it does now. (OK, actually due t the angle at which you view the gauge, the needle appears to be at about a needles width on the warm side. But, if you lean over and view the gauge head-on, it's at TDC.)

As for the question of whether your engine is running too cool... I can't answer that, but I do have a suggestion. PERHAPS your mechanic can use their diagnostic tools to see what the OBD system is reporting from the O2 sensor? That MIGHT indicate whether the engine is running richer than it should be? Then again, that might only provide useful info on an OBDII system.

BTW... I'm not so hard-headed that I'm not open to other opinions on the theory that a faulty thermostat may let the engine run cool... which causes the OBD system to run a rich mixture in order to get the engine to the correct temperature... which in turn causes the catalytic converter to work harder due to extra unburned fuel in the exhaust.

Still... if I had to choose between a thermostat that's running cool and one that's running warm, I'll take cool any day. I'd much rather replace a worn out catalytic converter than an over-heated engine. :-)

JMJ

[jflip2002]

My TI runs a touch above the center, about the needles with above it. But my car has blown now 2 head gaskets. Panzer, if I was you, since youre not driving it much, Id replace the thermostat. Turner has an aluminum housing, with the thermostat in it. That seems less prone to fail than our crappy plastic ones. I wish I would have, rather than blowing another head gasket..

[Panzer_M]

Originally Posted by roadrash

But, are the mechanics actually German? That's different from a shop just having a German-sounding name. heh heh


OK, I am NOT a mechanic (nor am I German, LOL) but I was told that the needle should go to TDC and stay there. Mine wasn't doing that on the first thermostat, or the first replacement. However, it does now. (OK, actually due t the angle at which you view the gauge, the needle appears to be at about a needles width on the warm side. But, if you lean over and view the gauge head-on, it's at TDC.)

As for the question of whether your engine is running too cool... I can't answer that, but I do have a suggestion. PERHAPS your mechanic can use their diagnostic tools to see what the OBD system is reporting from the O2 sensor? That MIGHT indicate whether the engine is running richer than it should be? Then again, that might only provide useful info on an OBDII system.

BTW... I'm not so hard-headed that I'm not open to other opinions on the theory that a faulty thermostat may let the engine run cool... which causes the OBD system to run a rich mixture in order to get the engine to the correct temperature... which in turn causes the catalytic converter to work harder due to extra unburned fuel in the exhaust.

Still... if I had to choose between a thermostat that's running cool and one that's running warm, I'll take cool any day. I'd much rather replace a worn out catalytic converter than an over-heated engine. :-)

JMJ

No, but they've been in the business since the Bavarias were new. good shop in an area, where German cars are rare, and german repair shops are even rarer.

[Panzer_M]

I was running water-wetter too, I haven't added it yet to the Ti with the new coolant. I think a whole bottle was in the system due to a friend who was helping me on a project and didn't measure out a amount, just dumped in the W/W a few months back. Didn't tell me either til I found the empty bottle when I was going to add some to the Frontier. Could that have been effecting the temp to a point.

Jflip is this what your referring to?


M50/M52 Aluminum Thermostat Housing
A COMMON FAILURE ! Replace your brittle plastic factory housing with this rugged aluminum one! A cracked plastic housing can leave you stranded, eliminate that risk with this metal housing. Includes profile gasket. (This is one of TMS's best sellers). Sorry, this does not fit the 1997-2003 E39 6-cyl (525i/528i/530i).
Applications: 1992-2000 525i, 325/328/M3, Z3 2.8/3.2 (E34, E36, Z3)

[Mad-Machine]

would be nice if they made a metal one for the M44

[Panzer_M]

well I am not sure if you can't fab it to a 4 cyl. I'll need to look at a M50 to actaully see the housing.

[jflip2002]

Im not totally sure... maybe it wasnt turner. Im about 80% sure I Saw it for the M44 though. And if you couldnt get an aluminum one, I would replace it yearly, just because. Its worth the $40 a year.