coolant is grey greenish color

Bimmbb · 04-25-2018, 06:34 AM

So about a week ago my water pump failed while driving on the highway. I couldn’t stop it right away but after 30-40 seconds I got it on the off ramp and shut the car off. I was curious to see if there was oil in the coolant (god forbid the head gasket went) no oil but the coolant was a grey greenish color. Any help would be appreciated. The car is a 2009 335xi.

overcoil · 04-25-2018, 09:11 AM

Was the coolant a different color last time you checked ?

Blown head gasket and oil in coolant meant the coolant looks like chocolate-milk. A few droplets of oil floating around in an overflow tank in a 9-year old car is not unusual.

XutvJet · 04-25-2018, 11:04 AM

That's the appropriate coolant color. You may find more help on the 3 series E9X forum rather than this forum which pertains to the 2 series.

aerobod · 04-25-2018, 11:22 AM

I would compare the coolant colour with new BMW coolant. It should be more blue than anything. If it looks too green, it has probably been topped up with the wrong coolant at some point, which could lead to cooling system problems (most likely corrosion and sediment if Prestone has been added). I would ensure the system is properly flushed and filled with the correct BMW compatible coolant when the water pump is changed, not just topped up.

04-25-2018, 06:34 AM	#1
Bimmbb Banned 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW 3 Series (E90) Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	coolant is grey greenish color So about a week ago my water pump failed while driving on the highway. I couldn’t stop it right away but after 30-40 seconds I got it on the off ramp and shut the car off. I was curious to see if there was oil in the coolant (god forbid the head gasket went) no oil but the coolant was a grey greenish color. Any help would be appreciated. The car is a 2009 335xi.
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04-25-2018, 09:11 AM	#2
overcoil Major General 3074 Rep 5,577 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	Was the coolant a different color last time you checked ? Blown head gasket and oil in coolant meant the coolant looks like chocolate-milk. A few droplets of oil floating around in an overflow tank in a 9-year old car is not unusual.
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04-25-2018, 11:04 AM	#3
XutvJet Major General 5538 Rep 5,364 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	That's the appropriate coolant color. You may find more help on the 3 series E9X forum rather than this forum which pertains to the 2 series. __________________ The forest was shrinking, but the Trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them.
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04-25-2018, 11:22 AM	#4
aerobod Car Geek 3612 Rep 3,578 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	I would compare the coolant colour with new BMW coolant. It should be more blue than anything. If it looks too green, it has probably been topped up with the wrong coolant at some point, which could lead to cooling system problems (most likely corrosion and sediment if Prestone has been added). I would ensure the system is properly flushed and filled with the correct BMW compatible coolant when the water pump is changed, not just topped up.
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