re: waterpump failure

[tedcrum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I am not convinced.

The pressure cap limits the cooling system pressure; no gasket leak is
going to have an effect unless it is big enough to kill a cylinder. There
are standard chemical tests like Bloc Check for detecting combustion
products in coolant.

Some models were tsb'd with lower pressure caps, but not for waterpump
trouble.

Look for excess belt tension, fan imbalance and contaminated
(gritty) coolant. Don't mix non-phosphate (oem) and phosphate coolants.

- -tc

> Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:18:07 -0800
> From: "Brian Kissel" <brian@domain.elided>
> Subject: '95 540 Waterpump and head gasket
> 
> I just had a water pump replaced a month ago, and it's leaking
again.  The
> mechanic says that it's leaking from the water pump "nose gasket" which
is
> indicative of excess pressure in the cooling system.  He says this is
> occurring because the head gasket has failed and needs replaced.  He
also
> said that this is a very common occurrence with the '94 and '95 540
engine.
> Has anyone else had similar experiences?  Are there any factory recalls
or
> tech-notes about this?  What other diagnostics could I do before
committing
> to a head gasket replacement?

- -- 
Ted Crum
1988 735i  5-speed
tedcrum@domain.elided

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