How to Top off your Coolant‼️ #bmw #b58 #x3 #x3m40i #coolant #coolantleak #maintenance #howto, by Petrol Juice on YouTube. 1 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground and let the engine cool completely, at least 30 minutes, before you go near the coolant cap.
Open the hood and find the coolant expansion tank at the front of the engine bay. The cap carries a coolant warning symbol.
Read the level against the marks moulded into the side of the tank. With the engine cold it should sit near the minimum line or slightly above.
Drape a rag around the cap and twist it off slowly. If you hear hissing, the system is still pressurised, so stop and wait.
Push the funnel into the filler neck and pour in the correct coolant until the level reaches just below the maximum mark.
Stop there and leave room for expansion. Refit the cap and turn it until it clicks.
Start the engine, switch the heater to full hot and let it idle for a few minutes while you watch the temperature gauge.
Let the engine cool again and recheck the level. If it has dropped, look for white crusty residue around the tank, cap and hoses, which points to a leak.
Tips and common mistakes
Never open the cap on a hot engine, because pressurised coolant can spray and cause serious burns.
The plastic expansion tank and cap are common leak points on the B58, so check them for white crust.
Do not mix coolant types, as the additives can react and clog the system.
In an emergency, a small amount of distilled water will get you home, but correct the mix afterwards.
Questions
Can I just top up with water?
Only in an emergency and only with distilled water. Plain water dilutes the antifreeze, so have the correct mix restored soon after.
How often should I check the coolant?
Check it every few weeks and before long trips. A level that keeps dropping means coolant is escaping somewhere.
What coolant does a BMW X3 M40i take?
BMW HT-12 coolant, or a branded equivalent that states compatibility with it. Check the label before you buy.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
