535i (N55) oil temp lower than normal
Discussion
steve_n said:
Get yourself signed up here, lots of good tutorial content from Andrew.
https://www.forum5.co.uk/topic/2145-f10-535i-n55-d...
https://www.forum5.co.uk/topic/15-f10-535i-diy-aux...
Fantastic. Thank you. https://www.forum5.co.uk/topic/2145-f10-535i-n55-d...
https://www.forum5.co.uk/topic/15-f10-535i-diy-aux...
Just to update for anyone it may help in future.
The short version is that I replaced the thermostat and the car is behaving again.
But, man what a pain!!
The correct way to do this job is to remove the front cross member which then allows access to remove the fan and create some space. I was also going to do the belt and tensioner while in there.
To remove the front cross member there is one particular bolt at the front centre that is a T40 torx head with almost no space in front of it. Videos online showed people removing this with a stubby ratchet but maybe mine has been overtightened in the past as there was no way that was coming off without some proper torque. To get better access to it, the front bumper has to come off. Not an awful job on an F10/11 but still a pain. And with the bumper off I could move onto impact tools but only 1/4" stuff as my only larger T40 driver was far too wide to fit in the narrow access hole. I snapped three 1/4" extensions before giving up on that plan! I have ordered a long reach T40 driver for the 1/2" impact driver but I'm actually not convinced that wont' snap too. You can't use heat as it's surrounded by plastic. I've been soaking it in penetrating fluid and will try again once the longer tool arrives.
So I set about changing the thermostat with the fan still in the car. Access for this is utterly terrible! It really is properly buried and has 4 hoses and a electrical connection to remove as well as near invisible bolt. No access at all from underneath, everything from above. Removing the intake pipe helped a tiny bit. I eventually got it out but it was one of those jobs that has you bringing out every swear word you know and somehow making your entire body ache for a day after. Reinstalling the new one wasn't quite as bad and the filling procedure with an electric water pump is a breeze.
Unfortunately I cannot do the tensioner with the fan in place but I did do the OFHG and cooler gaskets and an oil and filter change. My intention was to do the gearbox oil and filter at the same time but I'd fully run out of enthusiasm by that point so that is going to have to wait a week or two.
The operating temperatures do seem to be a fair bit warmer now with gearbox oil getting up to about 110 deg C on a couple of local drives I've used it for. I'll keep an eye on it but seems to be back to normal.
The short version is that I replaced the thermostat and the car is behaving again.
But, man what a pain!!
The correct way to do this job is to remove the front cross member which then allows access to remove the fan and create some space. I was also going to do the belt and tensioner while in there.
To remove the front cross member there is one particular bolt at the front centre that is a T40 torx head with almost no space in front of it. Videos online showed people removing this with a stubby ratchet but maybe mine has been overtightened in the past as there was no way that was coming off without some proper torque. To get better access to it, the front bumper has to come off. Not an awful job on an F10/11 but still a pain. And with the bumper off I could move onto impact tools but only 1/4" stuff as my only larger T40 driver was far too wide to fit in the narrow access hole. I snapped three 1/4" extensions before giving up on that plan! I have ordered a long reach T40 driver for the 1/2" impact driver but I'm actually not convinced that wont' snap too. You can't use heat as it's surrounded by plastic. I've been soaking it in penetrating fluid and will try again once the longer tool arrives.
So I set about changing the thermostat with the fan still in the car. Access for this is utterly terrible! It really is properly buried and has 4 hoses and a electrical connection to remove as well as near invisible bolt. No access at all from underneath, everything from above. Removing the intake pipe helped a tiny bit. I eventually got it out but it was one of those jobs that has you bringing out every swear word you know and somehow making your entire body ache for a day after. Reinstalling the new one wasn't quite as bad and the filling procedure with an electric water pump is a breeze.
Unfortunately I cannot do the tensioner with the fan in place but I did do the OFHG and cooler gaskets and an oil and filter change. My intention was to do the gearbox oil and filter at the same time but I'd fully run out of enthusiasm by that point so that is going to have to wait a week or two.
The operating temperatures do seem to be a fair bit warmer now with gearbox oil getting up to about 110 deg C on a couple of local drives I've used it for. I'll keep an eye on it but seems to be back to normal.
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