Is Bleeding Coolant Necessary In Your BMW E46?

195 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit- is the range within which an internal combustion engine works best. The sole purpose of the cooling system is to make sure that the engine temperature stays within that range.

To do that, it employs a variety of components and a special kind of fluid known as coolant or antifreeze. The coolant is made of water and ethylene or propylene glycol. It has a high boiling and freezing point. This unique physical property enables the coolant to withstand extreme cold and hot temperatures. It circulates throughout the system to prevent the engine from overheating or freezing.

But, there's a catch: accumulation of air pockets within the coolant lines can put the cooling system in jeopardy which may lead to engine overheating. And, to prevent that from happening you have to bleed the cooling system of your BMW E46 from time to time. In this article, we will discuss the way you can do that all by yourself. Listed below are a few signs of air within your cooling system.

Signs you need to bleed your BMW cooling system

The engine gets too hot

If you have air in your BMW cooling system, the first sign you will begin to notice is high engine temperature. As time goes on, air finds its way into the cooling system. And, when that happens, it may interrupt the coolant circulation, causing the engine to overheat and seize up. If you leave the problem unaddressed, you’re opening yourself up to an array of engine-related issues along with higher repair costs.

Poor engine performance

Another major sign that your car's cooling system has air pockets is- declining engine performance. As explained earlier, to run efficiently, an internal combustion engine requires optimal temperature (ideally, within the range of 195 to 220 degrees F). And, a properly functioning cooling system makes certain that the engine temperature stays within that range. However, temperature fluctuation due to a malfunctioning cooling system can make your car engine lose power.

Malfunctioning heater

If your BMW E46 heater is not functioning properly, it is a sure sign that something has gone wrong with the cooling system. Most probably a cracked hose- which is letting the air enter into the system. Accumulation of air pocket may prevent coolant circulation to the heater core; resulting in a non-functional heater. To fix this problem, all you have to do is to get the air out of the cooling system.

What causes air to get into the cooling system?

Air may enter the cooling system of your BMW E46 due to any number of reasons- defective radiator cap being the prime one. In addition to that, leaking gaskets and seals can result in a similar problem.

Air can also get into the cooling system through a cracked radiator hose. If you don't address the issue on time, it may lead to engine overheating. Therefore, do whatever it takes to get the air out of the cooling system.

How to bleed air out of the cooling system?

Bleeding your BMW E46's cooling system is easy and can be done at home. The first thing you need to do is to remove the radiator cap and place a funnel on it. Once that is done, try to fill the radiator with the requisite amount of coolant.

Then, start the engine and turn on the climate control. If the coolant is declining, top it off to make sure that the coolant remains at a stable level. And, that's it, your job is done. If you're finding this process complicated and harder to do, you can take your vehicle to a nearby auto service center to bleed air out of the cooling system.

Bottom line

The cooling system serves to prevent the engine from overheating. The presence of air in the form of pockets can impede coolant circulation within the system. If left unaddressed, you might end up within an overheated engine. Therefore, if you're experiencing any of the above-stated signs, it's time to bleed air out of your cooling. You can do that all by yourself. Or, you can take your BMW E46 to a nearby auto service center so that professionals can take care of the problem.

Rowlett Motorwerks located in Rowlett, TX is a leading European auto repair and service shop in the entire area. The mechanics in Rowlett believe in getting the job done right. We have decades of experience working with European, Domestic and Asian.