Holy cow it's cold!

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Richard Cranium - 05 Dec 2005 21:53 GMT

I have a 2005, 6-Speed, M3 Coupe that I bought in April. So far I've
put on about 5000 miles. Here in Northern Illinois was the first day
it saw 0 deg. (F) temperatures.

With the three other BMW's I've owned once the engine coolant reached
operating temperature the temp gauge remained straight up, never
wavering even the slightest, regardless of the outside temp or the
traffic conditions.

Today was something new for me. After the coolant reached operating
temperature I looked back down at the temp gauge and it read about one
to one and a half needle widths cooler than straight up. I kept my
eye on it and it came back to straight up after about 30 seconds to
one minute. It did this a couple more times during my fifteen mile
drive to work. The drive home this afternoon at 16 degrees (F) was
uneventful as all previous days.

Is what happened this morning at 0 deg. normal for this engine?

Thanks,
R.C.

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Nobody Important - 05 Dec 2005 22:46 GMT

> After the coolant reached operating
> temperature I looked back down at the temp gauge and it read about one
> to one and a half needle widths cooler than straight up.

Here in Canada, it is a common practice to put a piece of cardboard in
front of the radiator during the winter to impair the heat transfer from
the engine to the environment. You have a large performance engine and I
bet it's got a rad with a lot of surface area.

> Is what happened this morning at 0 deg. normal for this engine?

When it's 30 below here it's not uncommon for an engine without the
cardboard modification to read 1/4 warm under light loads (say, on the
highway).

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R. Mark Clayton - 05 Dec 2005 22:48 GMT

Check the anti freeze strength!

PS for non US that is about getting down towards -20C.

If it freezes in the radiator it may burst, the pump may struggle to
circulate the coolant and the engine may over heat. Remedy - stop briefly
and allow the [hot] engine to defrost the radiator. If it does split well
$$$.

If it freezes in the pump then the fan belt will slip over the pulley and
you will hear squealing and perhaps smell burning rubber. Remedy - warm
engine bay before starting.

If it freezes in the block then it may push up the head, split galleries or
crack the block. Remedy - move to Florida and buy a new car.

>I have a 2005, 6-Speed, M3 Coupe that I bought in April. So far I've
> put on about 5000 miles. Here in Northern Illinois was the first day
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Thanks,
> R.C.

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Richard Cranium - 06 Dec 2005 02:29 GMT

Not an acceptable solution. I don't like hot weather. :-(

I called the dealer, left a voice mail explaining the situation and
asked if that was normal. Unfortunately I haven't heard back yet.
I'll call tomorrow and talk to a person.

R.C.

>Remedy - move to Florida and buy a new car.

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Alistair J Murray - 06 Dec 2005 15:02 GMT

> I have a 2005, 6-Speed, M3 Coupe that I bought in April. So far I've
> put on about 5000 miles. Here in Northern Illinois was the first
> day it saw 0 deg. (F) temperatures.

Brrrrrrr...

> With the three other BMW's I've owned once the engine coolant reached
> operating temperature the temp gauge remained straight up, never
> wavering even the slightest, regardless of the outside temp or the
> traffic conditions.

That, at least in part, is due to it not really being an analogue gauge;
it will stay dead centre over a range of acceptable temperatures. If the
engine starts to overheat the needle moves briskly to its next position.

> Today was something new for me. After the coolant reached operating
> temperature I looked back down at the temp gauge and it read about
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Is what happened this morning at 0 deg. normal for this engine?

My guess is that your thermostat is opening right at the cold end of
specification and that the slug of supercooled coolant added to the
circulation is just enough to move the needle off centre at 0degF but
not when even slightly warmer.

It might be worth checking the thermostat but provided the car warms
quickly and the coolant has sufficient frost protection I wouldn't worry.

A

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C.R. Krieger - 07 Dec 2005 20:47 GMT

> I have a 2005, 6-Speed, M3 Coupe that I bought in April. So far I've
> put on about 5000 miles. Here in Northern Illinois was the first day
> it saw 0 deg. (F) temperatures.

> Is what happened this morning at 0 deg. normal for this engine?

As someone who lives ~200 miles north of you, I'd say that is perfectly
normal. Your coolant (unless you've done something wildly
inappropriate to change it since you bought the car) is no doubt good
to -25º at least; more likely to -40º.

If it actually does manage to freeze, the dire consequences listed by
another poster aren't likely to be the result. Usually, your car will
run fine and then get hot *very quickly* because the coolant isn't
moving. Don't ask me how I know this ... >:^(
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; done that)

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