What kind of additive do I put it in top mounter intercooler coolant reservoir?

[parky1215]

I pulled this code when checking with BM3.
20A201: Auxiliary coolant pump for charge air cooler: Dry running detected
This is only code that I see at the moment.

My car has about 52k miles on it and it is first time I see this code.
I am going to check reservoir when car cools down, but if it seems empty, what type of additive + distilled water(?) should I put it in there is top it off?

I am going to fill it up once to see if it runs dry again then take to some shop to get it diagnosed by mechanic.

[Shadow2]

I think BMW calls for 50/50 mix of standard coolant and water. Look around the top intercooler for any obvious signs of leaking fluid, seeping at the edges and the like. Only reason it would be empty is if the TMIC is leaking or theres a leak somewhere else in the system, either way not good. Is the car still under warranty? Tuned?

[parky1215]

Originally Posted by Shadow2

I think BMW calls for 50/50 mix of standard coolant and water. Look around the top intercooler for any obvious signs of leaking fluid, seeping at the edges and the like. Only reason it would be empty is if the TMIC is leaking or theres a leak somewhere else in the system, either way not good. Is the car still under warranty? Tuned?

My car is 2015 model so it had no warranty sunce few years ago. My car is tuned but only running conservative M4 GTS tune from BM3.
I did not notice any obvious leak but I will take closer look once car cools down.

Thank you.

[AustinGelbM4]

Don't know if you've checked out this thread. Info might be useful.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...tercooler+leak

BTW. I checked my intercooler coolant yesterday and it was a just a tad low. I'm gonna top up with BMW coolant. I found it strange though that the intercooler coolant looked very clear like plain water while the engine coolant has a typical green color.

[parky1215]

Originally Posted by AustinGelbM4

Don't know if you've checked out this thread. Info might be useful.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...tercooler+leak

BTW. I checked my intercooler coolant yesterday and it was a just a tad low. I'm gonna top up with BMW coolant. I found it strange though that the intercooler coolant looked very clear like plain water while the engine coolant has a typical green color.

Thank you. That thread has a lot of useful information.
I checked reservoir and saw barely any coolant there. I also checked engine coolant and it was pretty low but no cel yet on that either.
I ordered bmw coolant concentrate from amazon and it will arrive tomorrow. I will fill up both tanks and check regularly looking out for the leak.

[///Mangler]

Originally Posted by AustinGelbM4

Don't know if you've checked out this thread. Info might be useful.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1570544&highlight=intercooler+lea k

BTW. I checked my intercooler coolant yesterday and it was a just a tad low. I'm gonna top up with BMW coolant. I found it strange though that the intercooler coolant looked very clear like plain water while the engine coolant has a typical green color.

BMW specific coolant should be blue not green.

T

[AustinGelbM4]

Originally Posted by ///Mangler

BMW specific coolant should be blue not green.

T

You're right. I suck at colors. My engine coolant matches the BMW coolant in bottle even though the intercooler coolant seems clear.

[maximumpsi]

if you pull the throttle body charge pipe check for blue-green residue inside the intercooler. If so, you have an internal leak from the intercooler.

[KevM2]

The new coolants are green now. Called HT-12.... these initially also came in magenta colour so don't be alarmed if yours is brown or magenta colour

[CoolLiving]

Everyone in this thread hits it right on the head its time for an upgraded. Mine never threw any codes I just check it every so often and seen it dry. Get auto zone European fluid and use that for now if you cannot get the bmw fluid and or like some said water works for now but don't rely on the water.

[thestimp]

You dont have to wait for it to cool down FYI, its doesnt get hot enough if theres coolant, and if its empty nothing. Dont forget to bleed it when you add the mix. Check the instruction on how to do that

[Kilabyte]

Originally Posted by Matt720s

Everyone in this thread hits it right on the head its time for an upgraded. Mine never threw any codes I just check it every so often and seen it dry. Get auto zone European fluid and use that for now if you cannot get the bmw fluid and or like some said water works for now but don't rely on the water.

Don't.


It's simple, if you're losing coolant from the top tank and can't see any in the engine bay your intercooler has failed internally, it's bad and can potentially hydrolock the engine some said.

I just went through this a couple of months out of warranty so I did it myself, super easy (except for the part where you eat the cost of a new aftermarket cooler)

Car has felt like it was pulling power at times and on a really hot day I got a drivetrain malfunction with no codes that cleared itself upon restart, did some reading and that's where I ended up.

It rips now, I'm wondering how long things were not right before the car threw the white flag

[TopJimmy]

Parky,

If the TMIC reservoir tank is a tiny bit low you can top it off with distilled water (shouldn't need much). Make sure to look for the yellow "toilet looking thing" inside the reservoir and only go to the top of the "toilet tank" which is the full mark. The lower "toilet lid" is the low mark.

If the tank is bone dry I would look outside the tanks and TMIC for white residue from the evaporated green or magenta coolant. Then fill with only distilled water (you're in Cali, no freezing) so your engine doesn't get more residue possibly up the intake, do the "pump purge procedure" (key ON, heat to high, fan to lowest, hold gas pedal 10sec, watch res for bubbles) and go replace the TMIC/Res right away. The mechanic will use 50/50 BMW Coolant and Distilled when refilling. The TMIC cooling circuit only holds about 1-1.5 gallon total.

Aftermarket TMICs really only add bling unless you race, and OEM can be found cheap here since guys replace working ones.

[DataNerd]

I just had my car at BMW getting the TMIC replaced. Same behavior - drivetrain malfunction and then would clear after restart.

I also had the exact same code thrown.

Time to replace/upgrade it!

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by DataNerd

I just had my car at BMW getting the TMIC replaced. Same behavior - drivetrain malfunction and then would clear after restart.

I also had the exact same code thrown.

Time to replace/upgrade it!

Don't forget to add 4oz of Water Wetter to the 50/50 coolant. You can add it into the small TMIC reservoir tank after sucking out coolant to make space. Trigger the pump-cycle procedure to run it through, or just wait and a few driving cycles will mix it in. For less than ten bucks it will cut temps by a few degrees.

[Ejones4541]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

Don't forget to add 4oz of Water Wetter to the 50/50 coolant. You can add it into the small TMIC reservoir tank after sucking out coolant to make space. Trigger the pump-cycle procedure to run it through, or just wait and a few driving cycles will mix it in. For less than ten bucks it will cut temps by a few degrees.

+1

[Twistm4]

I run 80% distilled water with a bunch of water wetter. Performs much better than coolant imo.

[papasmurf_m3]

Originally Posted by Twistm4

I run 80% distilled water with a bunch of water wetter. Performs much better than coolant imo.

I was thinking about doing the same thing. Water wetter works!

Where did you drop the coolant from?

If memory serves me correct, I think it still has lubricants so you won't corrode your charge cooler, heat exchangers, or any rubber o rings or rubber seals.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[TopJimmy]

@papasmurf_m3 is right, the BMW coolant has a corrosion inhibitor. Use 30/70 at minimum but 50/50 is recommended.

[Twistm4]

Originally Posted by papasmurf_m3

I was thinking about doing the same thing. Water wetter works!

Where did you drop the coolant from?

If memory serves me correct, I think it still has lubricants so you won't corrode your charge cooler, heat exchangers, or any rubber o rings or rubber seals.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

It does but it's basically a 80/20 water, coolant mix with water wetter . I dropped it when I did the infamous OFHG replacement. Pulled the line off the aux cooler or pump I can't remember

[theweebabySeamus]

Anybody ever run straight water + Purple Ice or Water Wetter? Not sure exactly why youd need 50/50 coolant since that circuit shouldnt get hot enought to need boil protection and the additive should provide corrosion resistance.

[papasmurf_m3]

Originally Posted by theweebabySeamus

Anybody ever run straight water + Purple Ice or Water Wetter? Not sure exactly why youd need 50/50 coolant since that circuit shouldnt get hot enought to need boil protection and the additive should provide corrosion resistance.

I was thinking the same thing. Shouldn't the water wetter have some lubricants inside. I used it before but I can't remember.

What about 1 bottle water wetter and the rest distilled water. Maybe a tiny bit of coolant for the lubricating properties.

I'm not worried about boil or freezing. I think I will just do it when I install my parts soon.