1989 325i headgasket

beemergrl · 09-20-2005, 04:35 PM

I've been having problems with my coolant system leaking but so far it hasn't been too bad and I've just been topping it off every week until my Dad could look at it. The past few days it has drastically changed and now I have to put a gallon in it before I drive the 5 miles to work and back. It is also rattling and hissing. A friend told me I had a blown head gasket. How do I check and see if this is in fact the problem?

makaio · 09-22-2005, 06:09 AM

If you have to put coolant in, and you can not see it dripping out ( like a broken radiator hose), check you oil. If it is milky or has a white tint to it, then a head gasket and head look to be in your future.

Also, are you the one that contacted me about a head? If so I found a couple other used ones. Contact me if you want the info.

beemergrl · 09-22-2005, 11:09 AM

The coolant is leaking from the head. I can see the stains from where it's leaking out but I didn't see too much in my oil. I checked it 6 times and there was only one little spot in it. Short of taking everything apart and looking at the head is there any way to tell if its a blown gasket or the head itself?

makaio · 09-22-2005, 11:39 AM

I believe you can do a coolant system pressure test to determine if it's one of the two or both.

beemergrl · 09-22-2005, 11:55 AM

Cool, thank you

tanntheman · 09-22-2005, 10:20 PM

With the amount of coolant you lost on a daily(weekly) basis, you should also see lots of white smoke when you first start the engine when you have a blown head gasket. Wonder what is the year of the bimmer! My 20 years old 325e experienced blown head gasket twice.

beemergrl · 09-23-2005, 10:30 AM

Mine's only 16 years old. Did you have other problems as a result of the blown gasket? I've read that the O2 sensor will need to be changed and possibly the water pump if the radiator ever went dry. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth keeping and trying to fix or if it's just going to be a ton of work and lots of parts.

tanntheman · 09-26-2005, 12:00 AM

Yeah, it is going to be a ton of work and lots of parts. Not to mention some expensive tools! Isn't it the fun of it?

If you have better thing to do over the weekend, leave it to the people who make their living on this. If you loving working with cars, crazy enough to skip all the NFL football games. Well, go for it. I did learn ... a great deal. I still rather drive my 20 years old Bimmer than a new Honda that my wife offers to buy me (every time I work on this baby). Well, gotta go to talk to her to give me a upgrade for a new Bimmer instead!!

Take care!

beemergrl · 09-26-2005, 11:19 AM

People and their love of crappy cars. BMW are so much better!!!!! Thanks everyone for all the info, one last ? A couple of people have mentioned using a gasket sealant called Coppertone for a short term fix. I'm not usually big on short term fixes but if I could have a couple more months- even weeks- I would be able to take it to my dad and fix it there. Anybody know anything about this stuff?

makaio · 09-26-2005, 09:02 PM

Beemergrl, I sent you a reply to your e-mail. I'm trying to find the link.

As for the Coppercoat, you would have to do 95% of the labor to use it, that you would have to do to R&R the head. It's not worth it IMHO.