n54 2e81 coolant all over front of engine bay

2blackbimma · 01-06-2023, 08:50 PM

2008 Bmw 335i e92 n54 131k miles
Fbo stage 2+ mhd
Was driving the car to work and got a 2e81 code(electric coolant pump speed deviation). This was the only code that I got and I didn’t get any overheating symptoms so I continued the drive which was 60 miles and I arrived with no problems… yet. So I start my drive back home(60 miles) luckily I was able to take an Old highway but about 4 times I had to pull over because my coolant temp would go from about 196f to 235f+ within seconds. Once I pulled over, keeping the car on, the temp would even out and I would clear the 2e81 code and continue driving. Once I got home I check the car and there’s white spots all over the oil cooler, coolant reservoir and those surrounding areas. I looked into and was sure it’s a failing water pump so I ordered a new tstat and WP. Now one day before the parts arrive I turn on the car drive it around my house for about 10 minutes and no codes whatsoever or overheating.
Is it not the waterpump and I just have a coolant leak somewhere?(all hoses I can see look good with no obvious leaking)
Or it is the waterpump and for some reason when I checked to see if the code would pop up it didn’t show because I only drove for about 10 minutes? And when all the issues and codes popped up I was doing a 120 miles round trip? Did I just not drive enough for the code and issues to happen? Dc
Any help is greatly appreciated

Serf27 · 01-08-2023, 02:53 AM

Water pump issue may be intermittent.
White spots are indications of a coolant leak.
Notorious area for hidden leaks can be the radiator where the plastic sides are clipped to the aluminum part or a hidden crack in the reservoir.

I say hidden because my e70 would leak coolant some days, and some days be dry.

The reservoir was cracked in the back, where it wasn’t visible and only leaked sometimes.

2blackbimma · 01-08-2023, 12:40 PM

Checked around couldn’t find anything might be reservoir or hopefully it was just the coolant spraying that was coming out of the reservoir because it was going to start overheating? Anyways going to throw on waterpump right now and hopefully I can see other components of cooling system better for leaks.

01-06-2023, 08:50 PM	#1
2blackbimma New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2008 Bmw 335i, 2008 Bmw 328i Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (0)	n54 2e81 coolant all over front of engine bay 2008 Bmw 335i e92 n54 131k miles Fbo stage 2+ mhd Was driving the car to work and got a 2e81 code(electric coolant pump speed deviation). This was the only code that I got and I didn’t get any overheating symptoms so I continued the drive which was 60 miles and I arrived with no problems… yet. So I start my drive back home(60 miles) luckily I was able to take an Old highway but about 4 times I had to pull over because my coolant temp would go from about 196f to 235f+ within seconds. Once I pulled over, keeping the car on, the temp would even out and I would clear the 2e81 code and continue driving. Once I got home I check the car and there’s white spots all over the oil cooler, coolant reservoir and those surrounding areas. I looked into and was sure it’s a failing water pump so I ordered a new tstat and WP. Now one day before the parts arrive I turn on the car drive it around my house for about 10 minutes and no codes whatsoever or overheating. Is it not the waterpump and I just have a coolant leak somewhere?(all hoses I can see look good with no obvious leaking) Or it is the waterpump and for some reason when I checked to see if the code would pop up it didn’t show because I only drove for about 10 minutes? And when all the issues and codes popped up I was doing a 120 miles round trip? Did I just not drive enough for the code and issues to happen? Dc Any help is greatly appreciated
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01-08-2023, 02:53 AM	#2
Serf27 Brigadier General 2891 Rep 4,333 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Sitting in a BMW. iTrader: (-1)	Water pump issue may be intermittent. White spots are indications of a coolant leak. Notorious area for hidden leaks can be the radiator where the plastic sides are clipped to the aluminum part or a hidden crack in the reservoir. I say hidden because my e70 would leak coolant some days, and some days be dry. The reservoir was cracked in the back, where it wasn’t visible and only leaked sometimes.
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01-08-2023, 12:40 PM	#3
2blackbimma New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2008 Bmw 335i, 2008 Bmw 328i Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (0)	Checked around couldn’t find anything might be reservoir or hopefully it was just the coolant spraying that was coming out of the reservoir because it was going to start overheating? Anyways going to throw on waterpump right now and hopefully I can see other components of cooling system better for leaks.
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