Overheated: What Should I Replace?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I spent hours going through all the threads on leak-down testing and finally figured out the method and and where to get components for a DIY tester (I could now write my own thread on that), but then I found one for $60 on Amazon (http://amzn.com/B005Z2BZ9S) from Aircraft Tool Supply. It seems like a quality tool and I was starting to get discouraged by the prospect of spending all that time to build something that I would then use to spend time testing something that would lead me to more time fixing something else.

I'll update you all on whether the optimists or pessimists (realists?) were right in this case. I'm pulling for the former.

And I'll keep the wife. She may cause overheating sometimes, require finessing, etc. but the ride is worth the trouble.

When you start it (cold) do you get white smoke out the tail pipe? do you have oil in your coolant and vise versa? misfires? SES light? check the easy way first. if yes to any of those, no need to test anything. you'll need a new engine.

Originally Posted by e46mango

when you start it (cold) do you get white smoke out the tail pipe? Do you have oil in your coolant and vise versa? Misfires? Ses light? Check the easy way first. If yes to any of those, no need to test anything. You'll need a new engine.

+1^

Originally Posted by ckberry

Thanks for the advice everyone. I spent hours going through all the threads on leak-down testing and finally figured out the method and and where to get components for a DIY tester (I could now write my own thread on that), but then I found one for $60 on Amazon (http://amzn.com/B005Z2BZ9S) from Aircraft Tool Supply. It seems like a quality tool and I was starting to get discouraged by the prospect of spending all that time to build something that I would then use to spend time testing something that would lead me to more time fixing something else.

I'll update you all on whether the optimists or pessimists (realists?) were right in this case. I'm pulling for the former.

And I'll keep the wife. She may cause overheating sometimes, require finessing, etc. but the ride is worth the trouble.

+1 hahaha

No smoke. No oil in the coolant. No coolant in the oil that I can tell. Would the fully synthetic turn milky like the old stuff? Didn't smell any fuel in the oil either. No misfires.

I did get a P0117 code (Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Low). I'll see if that drops off, but I'm assuming that's the temp sensor in the lower radiator hose?? I'll replace that anyway.

BTW, this forum is great. You all reply so quickly.

Originally Posted by MercForHire

Sell car now!!
Preferably to an undeserving high schooler.

My head cracked when my 325i overheated :'(

Originally Posted by ckberry

No smoke. No oil in the coolant. No coolant in the oil that I can tell. Would the fully synthetic turn milky like the old stuff? Didn't smell any fuel in the oil either. No misfires.

I did get a P0117 code (Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Low). I'll see if that drops off, but I'm assuming that's the temp sensor in the lower radiator hose?? I'll replace that anyway.

BTW, this forum is great. You all reply so quickly.

Those are great signs so far.

Put the following words in the thread title and you'll get FAST replies:

overheated, stance, oil, girl.

Originally Posted by ckberry

Thanks for the advice everyone. I spent hours going through all the threads on leak-down testing and finally figured out the method and and where to get components for a DIY tester (I could now write my own thread on that), but then I found one for $60 on Amazon (http://amzn.com/B005Z2BZ9S) from Aircraft Tool Supply. It seems like a quality tool and I was starting to get discouraged by the prospect of spending all that time to build something that I would then use to spend time testing something that would lead me to more time fixing something else.

I'll update you all on whether the optimists or pessimists (realists?) were right in this case. I'm pulling for the former.

And I'll keep the wife. She may cause overheating sometimes, require finessing, etc. but the ride is worth the trouble.

Lol