RE: cold E-30

["Fadeev, Alex" <alex.fadeev@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

JHahn22@domain.elided [mailto:JHahn22@domain.elided] wrote:
> 
> I just went down and started tinkering, and noticed that 
> there is some sort of adjustment screw on the top of the
> t-stat housing.  What is this????  

That's the air bleeding valve. 

> Could this doohicky just need some adjustment? 

nope.

> Also, when the engine was warm (as warm as it gets anyway)
> my radiator fan seems to spin freely, 

The mechanical radiator fan is mounted using a viscous clutch. The viscosity
of the fluid inside the clutch increases with the engine bay temperature and
the fan free loads less and less as the engine heats up. 
After the engine reaches operating temps, you should not be able to stop the
fan from spinning with a rolled-up news paper. But you can't test that for
now.

> My 89 325i seems to be running very chilly.  I just got the 
> A/C working  again, (with R-134 conversion), and the engine
> colant temp guage is barely out of the Blue section. It was
> running at a little under a 1/4 of the guage, but now it 
> seems to be dropping some. How reliable are the temp guages
> on these cars?  


> Would a T-stat being stuck open cause this perhaps?  

YES, it would, and I bet that's exactly what it is. 
A replacement 80C thermostat is $10-15 from the dealer. Swapping it is one
of the simplest DIY jobs out there, just don't forget to bleed the air out
of the cooling system after you are done.

> Also, how quickly would a fan missing two blades start 
> damaging other components because of lack of balance?
> [...] I have the replacement, just haven't had time to
> put it on yet.

!!!!
Get that thing replaced NOW! What are you waiting for?

alex f
  
>  Thanks,
>  Jake
>  Bryan TX
>  89 325i
>  87  Alfa Romeo spider >>

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