The BMW brand is known for its power, efficiency, and sleek design. If you’re a BMW owner, you know that high performance is one of your biggest priorities. You want your car to last and continue functioning at the same level it was when you bought it for years to come. This means routine maintenance and service checks are important to you, so that you can prevent anything from going wrong with your vehicle. That doesn’t mean that you won’t face problems. Coolant issues are a problem that can seem manageable at first but they quickly devolve into a dangerous situation. It’s important to stay on top of changes in your car that may affect the performance and its overall longevity.

Symptoms of Coolant Issues

Issues with the coolant and cooling system in your car can come on quickly, but thankfully for you, they can be easy to spot. It is hard to second guess what the problem is when it’s been made obvious by your vehicle.

Visible Leakage

If you see a pool of coolant under your car, that is the most obvious sign of coolant issues. If you’re not sure what coolant looks like, it can take on varying shades and have a sweet aroma. Coolant can be blue, green, pink, even orange, so it should be easy to diagnose from visual inspection.

Overheating

Coolant is the fluid that keeps the components of your car from overheating. So if your coolant has begun to leak, the temperature of your engine will steadily begin rising as the fluid is replaced with air.

Drop in Coolant Levels

If your coolant has begun to leak because of an underlying problem, you may notice that even after it has been filled up, the levels will begin to drop.

Smoke

If something has malfunctioned with your cooling system, you will likely see smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. This will signal that the coolant has been forced into the wrong part of the system, creating steam where it shouldn’t be.

Causes of Coolant Issues

Typically, the cause of a coolant leak has something to do with either what is housing the coolant or a part that is connected has broken. It is important if you are noticing any of the symptoms mentioned above that you seek the advice of a professional mechanic as soon as you can. Coolant leaks and broken parts can wear down other components of your car and cause worse damage.

Blown Head Gasket

The head gasket keeps the engine oil and the coolant from mixing. So if the head gasket is blown, that means it cannot keep them separate. This can cause engine failure, and if the coolant level begins to drop the engine will not be able to cool itself.

Radiator Cap Leak

This may seem like a small issue, but when it comes to keeping the coolant where it should be in such a high pressure system, make sure the cap is tight. If the cap has come loose or is damaged, it will allow for the pressure to bring coolant to seep out into other parts of the system.

Radiator Holes

Being in such a high-pressure and high-temperature environment, the radiator can be prone to corrosion. Corrosion will eat holes into the metal and make it prone to leakage.

Failed Water Pump

The water pump circulates the coolant through the cooling system. If it has failed, the coolant cannot reach where the areas it needs to cool. This will lead to overheating.

Broken Expansion Tank

The expansion tank holds the coolant. If this part is broken or damaged, you are absolutely going to suffer from a coolant leak.

Best Garage in Spring for Coolant Problems in Your BMW

Das European Autohaus is Spring’s leading specialist in European auto repair. We are a certified Bosch repair center with years of experience serving the Spring and Houston, TX areas.

We specialize in BMW, Audi, VW, Mercedes, and more. You know you’re getting quality repair from experienced technicians. We maintain high standards for service and repair while giving gold standard customer service with a smile. So if you’re noticing signs of coolant issues with your BMW, call us today for an appointment.