Do I need BMW Coolant?

[Newff]

My coolant light is on. I live 4 hours away from the nearest BMW dealer and I am only for a few more days so this is the only chance I get to drive my car this year. I probably won't be going to the place where the dealership is..

Can I use any other coolant that can be found in places like Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire and so on? If, not that means I'll have to look at my car in the driveway for the next few days and not be able to drive it until a year from now.

[seank]

You can use distilled water. Next time you are in town, you can pick more coolant up. Water Wetter and distilled water will cool better than coolant any ways. It just won't prevent freezing which is why you need coolant, rather than water.

I would be concerned about where the coolant went?

[Newff]

I'm not a car person and I thought coolant was something that we needed to keep topping up like windshield wash, oil and so on. I did read that after a certain year the coolant in our cars was supposed to be lifetime? So if that's correct it shouldn't go down at all?

I just took off my cap and there is no liquid to be seen. I'm going to get a flashlight and see if I can see anything. This sucks.

[Newff]

So I used a flashlight and I can barely see any fluid at all, just right at the bottom.

Can I really fill it up with distilled water and fine as long as it's summer?

What about when I get the BMW coolant afterwards, is there a way to drain the water and then fill it up with BMW coolant?

[pungo]

Every car I've ever owned, which has been allot, has lost a little coolant over time. I think it steams/evaporates off. Adding a few ounces a few of times a year would not concern me. Adding a quart several times a year would be a concern. Just add some distilled water, and next time you top it off add some undiluted BMW coolant.

[Newff]

So would it be okay to add a LOT of distilled water seeing as I can barely even see anything in there even with a flashlight.

[seank]

Yes, you can put distilled water. You can drain with any of the tubes, but since you have a leak, you can top off with coolant when you get some. Most coolant is half water any ways, so adding coolant later won't be an issue. You probably have a slow leak somewhere. Just inspect the coolant hoses to make sure it is not leaking bad and inspect daily, until you are sure that it will be fine again. Make sure not to open the cap under pressure, since your not a "car person." Don't drive with the car low on coolant.

[seank]

Originally Posted by Newff

So would it be okay to add a LOT of distilled water seeing as I can barely even see anything in there even with a flashlight.

Yes. It is safe to be 100% distilled water. Just don't have it in there if it gets below freezing.

[seank]

Originally Posted by pungo

Every car I've ever owned, which has been allot, has lost a little coolant over time. I think it steams/evaporates off. Adding a few ounces a few of times a year would not concern me. Adding a quart several times a year would be a concern. Just add some distilled water, and next time you top it off add some undiluted BMW coolant.

Most of the issues I have seen is where the cap isn't tight or malfunctioning. Under high pressure and heat, like racing, the water will come off the blow off tube.

WHS

[Newff]

Thanks SeanK, appreciate it.

I'll try to find some distilled water. I think it should be in a grocery store close to here.

[seank]

Originally Posted by Newff

Thanks SeanK, appreciate it.

I'll try to find some distilled water. I think it should be in a grocery store close to here.

Yes. You can use any water in a crunch but distilled water is less corrosive and is the best option.

[Z4inAZ]

In a pinch I have used regular tap water before but just drain it as soon as you can. As long as you dont use it long-term there is no risk of damage (if you fill it then drive straight to the dealer to get proper coolant then fill with distilled/coolant, it will be fine)

I dont know if your car is the same way, but on my Z4 there is a little red "bobber" that floats to the top of the coolant tank when its full. Snapped some images for you since I remembered my car needed to be topped off

Low


Full


(Your car may not have that bobber)

[Huz-Z]

Hi Lindsay,

I just spoke to Cory, service manager at the dealership here, and he says that you can use distilled water in a pinch. However, he recommends for long term that you should use the proper BMW coolant which he has available for $25 per bottle. If you call him, he can advise you on this and also arrange to put a bottle on one of the local buses or taxis that go back and forth between St. John's and Gander, Grand Falls etc.

[speddmn]

Also - get the car up to temp then check the level again, that tank is not the radiator, it feeds the radiator so once your tstat opens your water pump will pull some of the fluid into the radiator/engine.

DO NOT open the radiator when the car is hot.

BMW's lovely plastic end tank on metal radiator design really sucks if you live in an area where temperatures change frequently. You could have a slow leak and the fluid boils off/evaporates before it ever hits the ground wherever you park the car. Be mindful of that maple syrup smell when you get out of the car after a drive, dead giveaway for burning coolant.

[Huz-Z]

Maple syrup?

This is Canada - EVERYTHING smells like that up here LOL!!

[wolfman1807]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Maple syrup?

This is Canada - EVERYTHING smells like that up here LOL!!

That's funny right there!!!

[Newff]

Thanks guys, appreciate the help as always. Gonna go get some distilled water and arrange to get the BMW coolant sent to me.

[StickMon]

Here in California, leaking coolant smells like teriyaki.

[Vanne]

In oz it smells like burnt Vegimite. : D

[jdoublehcubed]

These guys are the OEM for BMW coolant:

http://www.pentosin.net/f_antifreeze.asp

The nicer chain auto stores carry the BMW mix, its called Pentosin NF, and its blue (just like the BMW coolant).

Its not much cheaper, maybe $18 a bottle, but its a lot easier for me to swing by a NAPA or something similar than go all the way to the dealer.

It comes at full strength, then you're supposed to dillute it to 50/50 with distilled water. If you have to add distilled water directly to your coolant tank, you can just siphon a little off later and then add the coolant to your tank at full strength to make up for the rest of the water in there.

[sipman]

Might find it easier to go to a pharmacy. Distiller water is used in medications and you can always find it there.