02-27-2024, 09:12 AM | #1 |
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Charge air coolant empty 20A201 CEL code
New to the M4 and tuner cars in general.
Picked up a 2018 M4, 50k miles from a local dealer. Has a Racing Dynamics charge air intercooler on it, got the 20A201 check engine light error code on it, checked the small coolant res and it was completely empty. Been googling around and all issues that I've seen seem to just be from the OEM cooler and everyone says to replace it and it wont leak. Mine been replaced and seems to be leaking. Anyone have suggestions on where to check? I filled it up last night, didn't do the bleed thing correctly though I think. Drove it around for about 30 minutes, check it this morning since it was too hot to check last night and it was empty. Filled it back up this morning, way over filled it on accident, ran the bleed procedure and that brought it down to a little below empty, topped it off to the correct levels, still waiting to take it back out and test to see if it empties again. Just looking for a direction on what to check, no threads that I've found in the search talk about this happening with an aftermarket cooler. |
02-27-2024, 09:34 AM | #2 |
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Internal leaks can happen on any heat exchanger and there only two places coolant can go with that system.
Get a leak down check if it’s not holding pressure it should be pretty easy to track down the leak location. If you don’t find it dripping outside, look in the intake side of the heat exchanger for coolant. |
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02-27-2024, 09:54 AM | #3 |
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02-27-2024, 10:45 AM | #4 |
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The single Jpipe. The two pipes on the left are the turbo charge pipes that feed the air into the intercooler. The cooler can start to spit due to high pressure due to added boost, and the split can cause coolant to leak into the intake Jpipe (into the motor).
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02-27-2024, 11:05 AM | #5 | |
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02-28-2024, 01:33 PM | #6 | |
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02-28-2024, 01:42 PM | #7 |
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pop the charge pipes off and take a look at both sides. When mine leaked there was a puddle at the bottom of the J pipe. started slow and then failed completely and dumped.
Should be evidence of fluid in there. any other visible leaks? Any misfires on throttle? I would also run the proper bleed procedure if you haven't. How long have you had the car? |
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02-28-2024, 01:53 PM | #8 | |
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No issues that I can tell with the car running, it just got a CEL for it running dry. Check it and it was empty, filled it back up and did the bleeding procedure, topped it off and drove, it dropped a lot again. No visible signs of leaking from the car on my garage or anywhere that I can see. I've had the car a week, purchased used 50k miles. Went back through the bore scope video and there's possibly residue? Can't tell if its just dirty or from coolant. |
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02-28-2024, 05:05 PM | #10 |
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Possible it never had any to begin with or very little? It took awhile for that code to pop up on my car when my stock IC leaked. I drove it hard for weeks before I saw that code come up.
Fill it up and and do the proper bleed procedure and monitor it.
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02-28-2024, 05:57 PM | #11 | |
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Going to keep an eye on it and see if I can notice it dropping a lot. |
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02-28-2024, 05:58 PM | #12 |
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Used distilled water if you aren’t in a cold climate .
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02-28-2024, 06:41 PM | #13 |
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02-28-2024, 06:46 PM | #14 |
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Distilled an water wetter is what I use but I’m just suggesting distilled to top it up because it’s cheap and easy to get.
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02-29-2024, 09:31 AM | #15 | |
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Just confusing on why it was completely empty to begin with unless they just forgot to fill it up somehow. |
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02-29-2024, 11:28 AM | #16 | |
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02-29-2024, 01:50 PM | #17 | |
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3 days after I got the car got the 20A201 CEL code saying the coolant pump was running dry. The cooler was extremely hot to the touch, the reservoir was empty. Added a few cups to it and seems to be holding now. Just did a 3 hour pressure test and it held at 15 PSi the entire time. Guess its good? lol Side note, found this on the car while looking at the coolant stuff haha. |
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03-01-2024, 10:31 AM | #19 | |
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Have you filled it up yet and monitored the level or looked for leaks?
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