Been there done that (archive)

I will be replacing my radiator and I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to bleed the system after I install the new radiator? If so, what is the procedure?
2. To maintain a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze, how much antifreeze should I refill into the system after installing the new radiator?
3. Redline has a product called Water Wetter which they claim to reduce the water temp. by 20 degrees. Had anyone tried this product and does it really work?

1. If you have the new style waterpump, which it should be since it's been the new kind since about 1990, it bleeds automatically. You can see if your pump is the "new" style by checking if there is a little tube (in addition to the actual radiator hoses) that comes from the top portion of the pump and attaches via a t-piece to the same diameter tube that goes from the radiator to the coolant reservoir on the left (drivers) side of the car. If the pump has a bleeder screw, you have to do it yourself.
While you're at it, it would be a tremendously good idea to either blow that small tube clean with compressed air or at least blow in it to see that it isn't clogged, you see, this is the bleeding "mechanism" here, all the air escapes from your cooling system to the coolant reservoir via this little tube.

2)I use 8 litres of coolant and about the same amount of water. Remember to fill pretty slowly since it takes some time for the system to bleed itself. After you're done, let the car warm up to normal running temperature, then let it lie still for a while and check coolant level (sometimes there can be air bulbs trapped in the system)

3)Personally I haven't used the stuff but I do recall the guys on this board having been happy with it. Somebody please share the experiences okay?

Or you can go search the archives for water wetter and save some time and effort :-)

Good luck. Mind you that while you replace the rad and apparently the fluid it would be a good ida to reach under the car and drain the blocks, 13mm (I think) drain plugs in the block under the exhaust manifolds. Totally impossible to get to, my hands start aching from the mere thought of that operation...

Henkka
1990 750i

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