91 318is - cooling & fuel system advice

[FredoinSF]

My 318is needs help and I may be in over my head... It's my dialy driver and has close to 195k miles. I have the Bentley manual for the E30, but they don't cover this particular model.

First, the cooling system.
The gauge sticks near the middle when driving, but goes to about 1/8th past when sitting in traffic - sometimes a little more. I have been told it could be either the fan clutch or the radiator. How do I tell which it is?
I just changed the coolant and when I tried to bleed the system, there was virtually nothing coming out from the bleeder crew at the top of the radiator. I removed the fan shroud and felt the radiator and I could not feel any temperature differences when running my hand across the fins. To me, that would indicate the radiator is OK.

Second, I have a fuel leak.
There is a horrendous gas smell when the tank is full. It goes away after driving for about 50 miles. I filled up yesterday and took the rear seat out to have a look at the fueld pump area. Sure enough, the leak is coming right from the gas tank / fuel pump seal area. From what I read in the Bentley manual, there is an O ring that makes the seal. Is that all that needs to be replaced? Also, my fuel pump has one more hose connected to it than depicted on the Bentley manual. Do I need to do anyhting special like clamp one of them or disconnect in a specific order?

Thanks for any advice

[KC Ron Carter]

the fan clutch is temperature controlled so when the engine is warm the clutch tightens and flows more air.

With the engine at normal temperature or higher, insert a rolled up newspaper into the fans blades. If you can stop the fan with a newspaper the clutch is needing replaced.

You will find a rubber vent hose deteriorated on the fuel tank causing the smell of fuel. You need to get that fixed fast.

Later,

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

When you say nothing comes out, do you mean just air? Does coolant come out? If not, you may need a water pump.

As for the fuel smell, I agree with KC, it sounds like the vent hose or it could be the seal that holds the sender in the tank.

[///m42 sport]

what about the thermometer?

I have the same problem, but I just turn on the heater.

[FredoinSF]

Thanks for the tips. I'll rip the backseat out again and look for that vent hose! I know what I'm doing this weekend...

[Rich911E]

The cooling system problem might be the thermostat. Sometimes they can get crudded up and not open when they are supposed to. If the car heats up at a constant speed or when going down the freeway, it isn't the fan because at anything above about 30MPH you really don't need a fan at all. Then I would definitely look at the thermostat and radiator. You can take the radiator out and have a shop flush it for you for fairly cheap. I haven't done a thermostat on this car, but it is a cheap job anyway.

Rich

[rjp325i]

Like was said earlier sometimes the thermostat gets crudded up or whatever and not open but also it may open partially which mine would do and cause higher temps when stopped at a light etc. Changing out the thermostat cured the problem.