Help Coolant!!

akuliest · 11-07-2012, 07:37 AM

Hey guys, I just added coolant to my car. Everytime I start the car it says its low, so I checked the reservoir and it looked bone dry. I bought some coolant from 7-11, it was a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and coolant...should I have bought BMW OEM coolant?? Did i just screw up my cooling system?!?

W.WCherry · 11-07-2012, 07:47 AM

I've read that approved alternate coolants are hard to find (meaning not something you'll see at 7-11).

Zerex G-05 is one of the few that is supposedly approved.

You might want to call an indy shop or the dealership

akuliest · 11-07-2012, 07:59 AM

its not going to terribly damage my car in the meantime right? I just put a little in for now while I get some OEM stuff

W.WCherry · 11-07-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akuliest

its not going to terribly damage my car in the meantime right? I just put a little in for now while I get some OEM stuff

In the short term, you should be fine, but I would flush the coolant as soon as possible.

akuliest · 11-07-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.Corso

In the short term, you should be fine, but I would flush the coolant as soon as possible.

Thanks a lot, on my way to the dealership now. Is it easy to flush the coolant? Is there an easy to access drain?

haskindm · 11-07-2012, 02:06 PM

Here is a good article on the new type coolants and the concerns with mixing them:

http://donsnotes.com/home_garden/auto/antifreeze.html

CombatNinja · 11-07-2012, 06:00 PM

This is why you should just use plain distilled water in a pinch. Mixing coolant can be disastrous, water wont hurt nothin'. As long as the weather is not too cold you can run pure water with no issues.

bumere90 · 11-07-2012, 09:20 PM

oem coolant ONLY

Efthreeoh · 11-08-2012, 05:19 AM

Okay, I'll try to settle your nerves a bit. So it's a well known fact that most knowledgeable BMW owners emphatically state to use only BMW coolant and a mix of 50% distilled water. I'm one too, but it's not as necessary as you think. The reason use of BMW-branded coolant is recommended is because in earlier models of BMWs, use of mixing non-BMW coolant with European tap water could in some cases lead to mineral-build up in the cooling system, and over a long time period clog the radiator and other coolant passages in the engine. BMW coolant is formulated to deal with European tap water mineral content, which is why it is recommended.

This phenomenon is not as prevalent in tap water sourced in the USA. The best way to avoid the mineral build-up issue in the first place is to just use distilled water in the coolant mix. Distilled water is pure water with no minerals present in it.

In your case you've added such a small amount of coolant in the system that holds about 2 gallons total, it not a large change in the overall coolant mix, so it's not too much to worry about. I'll assume that the coolant you bought at 7-11 is regular green (non-long life) coolant, which is compatible with BMW coolant.

My bigger concern is why is your car "bone dry" of coolant. The low coolant warning should come on long before the system reservoir is "bone dry". Was the level indicator stick bottomed out and not floating at all? How much coolant did you add?

And if you can DIY, changing out the coolant is very easy on the E90. There is a DIY for it in the DIY section.

11-07-2012, 07:37 AM	#1
akuliest Private First Class 11 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 335i Black, Coral red interior Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NOVA iTrader: (2)	Help Coolant!! Hey guys, I just added coolant to my car. Everytime I start the car it says its low, so I checked the reservoir and it looked bone dry. I bought some coolant from 7-11, it was a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and coolant...should I have bought BMW OEM coolant?? Did i just screw up my cooling system?!? __________________ Car for sale: Black saphire 335i coupe, coral red interior, BMW performance kidney grill, 6 speed manual and 35% all around tints
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11-07-2012, 07:47 AM	#2
W.WCherry Lieutenant 35 Rep 419 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (3)	I've read that approved alternate coolants are hard to find (meaning not something you'll see at 7-11). Zerex G-05 is one of the few that is supposedly approved. You might want to call an indy shop or the dealership __________________ Performance \|Dinan Stage 3 Software\|Dinan IC\|Dinan OC\|UUC/Corsa Exhaust\|Koni FSD Shocks and Struts\|Eibach Spings\|Hotchkis Anti Sway Bars\|6MT\|Style \|Aero Lip\|Aero Rear\|M3 Spoiler\|BMW Gloss Black Kidney Grills\|BMW Aluminum Pedals\|BMW LCI Tail Lights\|HID Fog Lights\|25%Tint\|Advan AVS Model F7 19" Rims\|Lux V3 AEs\|Premium\|Sport\|Comfort Access\|
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11-07-2012, 07:59 AM	#3
akuliest Private First Class 11 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 335i Black, Coral red interior Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NOVA iTrader: (2)	its not going to terribly damage my car in the meantime right? I just put a little in for now while I get some OEM stuff __________________ Car for sale: Black saphire 335i coupe, coral red interior, BMW performance kidney grill, 6 speed manual and 35% all around tints
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11-07-2012, 02:06 PM	#6
haskindm New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2009 E93 335i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Here is a good article on the new type coolants and the concerns with mixing them: http://donsnotes.com/home_garden/auto/antifreeze.html
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11-07-2012, 06:00 PM	#7
CombatNinja Banned 46 Rep 1,556 Posts Drives: e91 328i, e90 328i, e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	This is why you should just use plain distilled water in a pinch. Mixing coolant can be disastrous, water wont hurt nothin'. As long as the weather is not too cold you can run pure water with no issues.
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11-07-2012, 09:20 PM	#8
bumere90 Grozniy 177 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: Carless Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL iTrader: (12)	oem coolant ONLY __________________ -fatman
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11-08-2012, 05:19 AM	#9
Efthreeoh General 17309 Rep 18,733 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Okay, I'll try to settle your nerves a bit. So it's a well known fact that most knowledgeable BMW owners emphatically state to use only BMW coolant and a mix of 50% distilled water. I'm one too, but it's not as necessary as you think. The reason use of BMW-branded coolant is recommended is because in earlier models of BMWs, use of mixing non-BMW coolant with European tap water could in some cases lead to mineral-build up in the cooling system, and over a long time period clog the radiator and other coolant passages in the engine. BMW coolant is formulated to deal with European tap water mineral content, which is why it is recommended. This phenomenon is not as prevalent in tap water sourced in the USA. The best way to avoid the mineral build-up issue in the first place is to just use distilled water in the coolant mix. Distilled water is pure water with no minerals present in it. In your case you've added such a small amount of coolant in the system that holds about 2 gallons total, it not a large change in the overall coolant mix, so it's not too much to worry about. I'll assume that the coolant you bought at 7-11 is regular green (non-long life) coolant, which is compatible with BMW coolant. My bigger concern is why is your car "bone dry" of coolant. The low coolant warning should come on long before the system reservoir is "bone dry". Was the level indicator stick bottomed out and not floating at all? How much coolant did you add? And if you can DIY, changing out the coolant is very easy on the E90. There is a DIY for it in the DIY section.
	Appreciate 0 Quote