Coolant system rebuild/restart HELP!

[rmbmiller]

So the water pipe on the backside of my '96 Z3 goes kaput. Coolant and white smoke everywhere.

Tow home, replace all hoses and water pipes, for good measure replace thermostat, water pump, belts etc... Refill and radiator is leaking... Replace radiator... Now refill coolant according to "procedure" (Front end jacked, Heater on, Fan On, engine off, Bleed screw off, etc...). Filled coolant until it appeared in the bleed screw area.

Try to start the car (doesn't fire up) and a Geyser of coolant comes out of the bleed screw. Shut off, curse, debate what happened and try again. Same result. Mop up coolant (some more cursing) and wonder if somehow I overfilled. Start a third time and this time it kicks over and runs, but now it's "chugging" white smoke out of the bleed screw(Increases with RPM's).

Any ideas. Just too much air in system or is head gasket shot? Seemed to hold temp OK while it was running.

Any tips would be appreciated.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by rmbmiller

So the water pipe on the backside of my '96 Z3 goes kaput. Coolant and white smoke everywhere.

Tow home, replace all hoses and water pipes, for good measure replace thermostat, water pump, belts etc... Refill and radiator is leaking... Replace radiator... Now refill coolant according to "procedure" (Front end jacked, Heater on, Fan On, engine off, Bleed screw off, etc...). Filled coolant until it appeared in the bleed screw area.

Try to start the car (doesn't fire up) and a Geyser of coolant comes out of the bleed screw. Shut off, curse, debate what happened and try again. Same result. Mop up coolant (some more cursing) and wonder if somehow I overfilled. Start a third time and this time it kicks over and runs, but now it's "chugging" white smoke out of the bleed screw(Increases with RPM's).

Any ideas. Just too much air in system or is head gasket shot? Seemed to hold temp OK while it was running.

Any tips would be appreciated.

What does oil look like? White smoke out of tail pipe too?