Running without coolant ?

Running without coolant ?

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Pica-Pica

13,793 posts

84 months

Friday 18th January 2019
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Within 8 miles from home I got a red oil can sign on my E36. I staggered home with stops until the light disappeared after each stop. Took the car to my local friendly indy. It was (as I later found out) the infamous BMW plastic water pump impeller. That was changed to a metal replacement, thermostat changed for good measure. All OK after that. I don’t know when on my journey it had failed, but it staggered on for that 8 miles, with cooling down periods. So there was coolant, but not circulating, in my case.

Cambs_Stuart

2,870 posts

84 months

Friday 18th January 2019
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IanCress said:
The rubber thermostat housing perished on my Mk1 Focus 2.0, and started leaking coolant very quickly. The first I knew about it was when I couldn't get any heat out of the heater.

The engine was still running fine but on opening the bonnet it 'smelled' very hot. I imagine if i'd carried on much longer things would start to melt.
I had the same. First I knew was the fans kicked in a bit early on the commute home. Noticed coolant was a bit low, went to top it up and it gushed straight through and onto the driveway.