young

w/ the new 10000miles + servicing, maybe i shouldn't be suprised. but does coolant evaporate and need to be topped off maybe a couple of times a year? i ask b/c my coolant light came on in my other car, and i stopped by the dealer and they topped it off for me and said that it was normal.

i just never remember doing that in any of my old cars (i think it was checked during oil changes and other services which were more frequent)

Mark08859

I don't think that it's evaporation. Rather, it's probably overflow spillage. The overflow tank for the coolant should have a drainage point somewhere. If the engine runs hot enough, the expnding coolant will push out the drain. it just drips to the ground.

However, you should check for a coolant leak.

EdS320

A few times a year is normal as with most cars. If your are adding water weekly to the overflow reservoir, {marked for hot and cold fill} then that is usually a sign of a head gasket, or other leak.

patrick

If the coolant warning light came on it has nothing to do with overfilling.
Coolant does not really evaporate (and certainly not when mixture is right) and a certain amount (pretty much) of coolant must be gone before warning light level is reached.
Normal engine temperature does not make coolant to drain into the overflow container. Pressure must reach over 1,4 bar (I do not know how much that is in PSI) before the coolant reservoir cap opens.
A leak somewhere (in- or outside)?
Patrick

young

well, i haven't noticed any leak. it's that greenish fluid and i think it would be somewhat obvious.

i do not add water weekly (i do no maintenance on this car). i asked at the bmw forum and they say it is normal...

patrick

mleskovar

The coolant is in a closed system. Loss means there is something wrong. And I believe my coolant is blue!

mdp c230k

1.4 bar = 20.58psi

Darkmann

for tat to happen. I have 20K on mine and don't recall any low coolant level warning light coming on.