[AlterZgo]

My 335is intermittently gives me a low coolant warning. I checked the manual and it does not indicate what type of coolant the car uses. Does anyone know if a 335 needs a certain type of coolant? Or could I top it off with any regular coolant?

Yes. I know I can just take it to the dealer to have it done for free, but I don't want to hassle with driving there and waiting around if I can just buy some coolant and add it myself. Thanks.

[tibra1]

BMW OEM only

[JunkStory]

Yes BMW coolant + distilled water only.

Is coolant leaking somewhere? Your car seems brand new, shouldn't have low coolant already. I never had to top off my coolant in 5 years.

[Glim]

Never had to add coolant in six years, the manual says 'have the reason for the coolant loss eliminated as soon as possible.'

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by Glim

Never had to add coolant in six years, the manual says 'have the reason for the coolant loss eliminated as soon as possible.'

+1..u should not be losing coolant intermitently for any reason.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

Yes BMW coolant + distilled water only.

Is coolant leaking somewhere? Your car seems brand new, shouldn't have low coolant already. I never had to top off my coolant in 5 years.

+1 oem is cheap.

[ceb]

While coolant loss is bad, there is generally no reason to freak this time of year.

Unless you absolutely, positively , without question know that your coolant was filled to the right amount previously and none evaporated, then your coolsnt "loss" is probably due to temperature variations.

Go to the drug store and buy a jug of distilled water. Add a cup full or so to your resevoir and you'll be fine. The extra water will not affect your coolant/water ratio to any extent.

If, after that, you get another low coolant warning then you may have a problem.

[AlterZgo]

Thanks everyone. I figured it may have something to do with the seasonal change in temperatures. No leaking fluids in the driveway or engine compartment, radiator, etc. and, although I've had my car for about a year, it only has about 5,600 miles. I'll try the distilled water and see what happens.

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by ceb

While coolant loss is bad, there is generally no reason to freak this time of year.

Unless you absolutely, positively , without question know that your coolant was filled to the right amount previously and none evaporated, then your coolsnt "loss" is probably due to temperature variations.

Please explain how temperature variation would cause a disappearance of 1+ quart of coolant in a closed system. Really, I'm interested.

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by AlterZgo

Thanks everyone. I figured it may have something to do with the seasonal change in temperatures. No leaking fluids in the driveway or engine compartment, radiator, etc. and, although I've had my car for about a year, it only has about 5,600 miles. I'll try the distilled water and see what happens.

Temperature here varies from 10F to 90F and my coolant level never changed. If you are sure there's no leaking, then you could have a bad sensor or blocked radiator. Low coolant is not normal under any circumstances.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

Please explain how temperature variation would cause a disappearance of 1+ quart of coolant in a closed system. Really, I'm interested.

I happend on this too but really didnt want to dig into it..coolant will not be lost at this rate unless there is an issue

[ceb]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

Please explain how temperature variation would cause a disappearance of 1+ quart of coolant in a closed system. Really, I'm interested.

Who said one quart? I suspect the dealer never topped it off properly, a bit evaporated (from the expansion tank) and a drop in trmps was just enough to trigger the intermittent warning.

It could be something serious but given the timing it may well be nothing.

[mike3000fl]

our expansion tanks are under pressure (while hot), it is a completely closed system, not like the expansion tanks on other cars that have a spring loaded radiator cap feeding them.

on many cars you can open the expansion tank while the car is hot. on ours you cant. it is under pressure. completely closed system, nowhere for coolant to evaporate from.

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by ceb

Who said one quart? I suspect the dealer never topped it off properly, a bit evaporated (from the expansion tank) and a drop in trmps was just enough to trigger the intermittent warning.

It could be something serious but given the timing it may well be nothing.

From what I read it takes at least a missing quart to trigger the sensor to send the low coolant warning. Some people got the low coolant light and then topped off with more than 1 quart. Besides, temperature shouldn't be that low in CA right now and his car is brand new, dealer shouldn't have touched the coolant.

Like mike3000fl said, there's no radiator cap. Coolant cannot evaporate. Likely there's a leak, blocked radiator, bad sensor, or worst case scenario: getting into the oil through the exchange.

[ceb]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

From what I read it takes at least a missing quart to trigger the sensor to send the low coolant warning. Some people got the low coolant light and then topped off with more than 1 quart. Besides, temperature shouldn't be that low in CA right now. Telling OP that receiving intermittent low coolant warning "is nothing" could be the worst advice to give.



Exactly. Anyone who's opened the hood will immediately see there's no radiator cap!

The OP is getting an intermittent warning which would mean that the level isn't that low.

If he knew that the coolant level was correct when he bought the car, then there is no way to know how much he "lost."

Going to the dealer at this stage will get him a top-off and - maybe - a quick once over.

He can, and should, do what he thinks best, but I'd just add a bit of water and watch it.

I'd caution folks here from going overboard and expecting the worst all the time. You are also a bit naive if you believe that our coolant can't evaporate.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

From what I read it takes at least a missing quart to trigger the sensor to send the low coolant warning. Some people got the low coolant light and then topped off with more than 1 quart. Besides, temperature shouldn't be that low in CA right now and his car is brand new, dealer shouldn't have touched the coolant.

Like mike3000fl said, there's no radiator cap. Coolant cannot evaporate. Likely there's a leak, blocked radiator, bad sensor, or worst case scenario: getting into the oil through the exchange.

There is a radiator cap. It works just like any other radiator cap. The coolent reservoir is not an "expansion" tank; it is a reservoir to hold the cooling system coolant. Wait until your car overheats and you will understand that the radiator cap works as a pressure relief valve. It can allow coolant to evaporate.

[akuliest]

I just added coolant to my car, just picked some up from the drug store. It was an antifreeze/coolant mixture...did I just screw up my cooling system???

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by akuliest

I just added coolant to my car, just picked some up from the drug store. It was an antifreeze/coolant mixture...did I just screw up my cooling system???

You're joking about the type of coolant right?

[bimmerJP]

Wait, BMW OEM only? Why is that? What is so special about OEM coolant?

[cisach]

OEM coolant is alcohol based I believe and it's noy the same as any ol' collant found at auto stores.

I remember seeing a write up where two different types of coolants were mixed it the mixture had strings of "gummed up substance" simlar to jello.

[Chriztofor]

I have been using Peak long life for years on my e46 and e90. It is silicate and phosphate free. No gum-ups, no problems, 98,000 miles, original water pump. http://images.peakauto.com/long_life_5050_specs.pdf

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Chriztofor

I have been using Peak long life for years on my e46 and e90. It is silicate and phosphate free. No gum-ups, no problems, 98,000 miles, original water pump. http://images.peakauto.com/long_life_5050_specs.pdf

Of course you wouldn't top off with anything you had handy. As you kmow Mixing coolants can be bad if you don't know what you're doing.