help on water dripping on undercarriage

[sch21]

HI guys, sorry have a technical question here (not enuff postcount to post in technical)..last weekend was helping my frd out on his wedding as his brother and drove my 325i ard with him. When we stopped somewhere for phototaking with our cars parked by the roadside (engine off), i realised that my undercarriage was dripping water (reason i cld see very obviously was coz the road was on a slope and the water was flowing out) and was quite a fair bit.

Got a bit worried and i call performance centre up (mine's a second hair 2 yr old car). performance told me to check coolant lvl and also to check if the indicator light for coolant liq low is up or not as there might be a leak on the coolant pipe. After i stopped at the bride's house for another hour and went down to check again, there is some signs of water underneath, but coolant liq indicator not up.

I forgot all abt it coz the wedding was too busy... today while driving to work, after i parked and i suddenly remember the problem is still there, i bend down to the undercarriage and check, and shucks, its dripping water again, and its quite a bit.

Anyone have the same problem? wat cld be the reason for this and shld i send this to the service centre?

Thansk

 

[318 NewBoy]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

Could it be water from the air-con?

Did you manually check the coolant level in your engine-bay first thing in the morning before your start your engine (while it's cool)? It should be obviously low if there is a significant loss, as according to your description. For the sake of kiasu, I'll usually check once a week.

Btw, what is your car model?

 

[sch21]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

mine's a E90 325i... how do u check the coolant lvl?

 

[318 NewBoy]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

Bro, quoted you an example of E90 320i (couldn't find image of 325i engine, hehehe). The coolant cap is what I highlighted in red circle. Open it up while it's COOL. Look at the level of orange-coloured stick (you can read from the manual).

 

[jinooi]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

open up the radiator cap when it's not hot.

there's an indicator with markings. there's a stick thingy that should pop-up when the level is correct. just add water (distilled - can get it from the petrol station, drinking kind, not the battery kind).

the water is most probably due to your air con condenser. is the thermostat set very low? i.e. temp in the cabin is quite low, i.e. v cold?

and i suggest that you read the owner's manual. there are all the basic maintenance instructions in there. like checking and topping up radiator coolant, adding engine oil, checking air pressure in tyres, changing tyres, etc.. the more you know, the less you will be caught out, and with basic maintenance, your car will probably last longer.

 

[sch21]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

wah... thanks bros... really helpful info to me... the only thing i know abt maintenance is to pump the tyre pressure at petrol station... will check the coolant lvl tonite when i get home... getting married in 3 weeks time and using this as my bridal car... have to make sure it doesnt fail me....
Temp in my car not that cold.. normally its 2 wind speed and 24 deg C... but i think if i am free this sat i might have it check at the workshop at tanjong rhu...

 

[jinooi]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

from the sound of it, your car is probably very new, so unlikely to have a leaking radiator or expansion tank.

and congrats on your upcoming wedding.

 

[sch21]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

its actually not very new.. 2 year old.. sep 06 registered done 32k km....

thanks! not feeling that prepared yet though... previously driving a swift but i kanna knock twice till i scare

 

[iScoupe]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

hmmm looking at ur post i think is ur aircon too cold... very unusual for car to drip water if radiator is not leaking.
careful not to open when hot ! my friend got burn on the face, lucky married liao...

 

[four4s]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

sorry, a bit OT:
from the thread title, i thought your car went belly up (since water was dripping on the undercarriage)!

congrats on your wedding.

 

[sch21]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

thanks very much fro the well wishes guys... i feel quite warm when driving still at 24 deg cel. nevertheless i will open it up tonight.. hopefully its not dry insde the radiator

 

[armValkyrie]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

thanks very much fro the well wishes guys... i feel quite warm when driving still at 24 deg cel. nevertheless i will open it up tonight.. hopefully its not dry insde the radiator

mine is always at 27deg and fan speed 1 !!!

but i drive alone most of the time, so no bother.... :laughlik:

 

[jinooi]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

radiator will not be dry, otherwise you will have seen your engine temp indicator in the red zone = overheating.

probably just a bit low.

When topping up the radiator, you might have to loosen the expansion tank bleed screw too. this will probably be done when you send your car in for servicing anyway, so not to worry.

thanks very much fro the well wishes guys... i feel quite warm when driving still at 24 deg cel. nevertheless i will open it up tonight.. hopefully its not dry insde the radiator

 

[sch21]

Re: help on water dripping on undercarriage

thanks for the advice... when i see the water dripping somehow i think abt i am dirivng a double decker SBS bus