Performance Car Parts Information

BMW Cooling Systems Maintenance and Service. The cooling system on your BMW plays a critical role in the optimal operation of the vehicle. When operating as it should, it’s your best friend, but cooling system repairs can be your worst enemy when a component in the system fails or if you don’t know how the BMW cooling system operates. The primary role of the cooling system is, in short, to maintain the proper engine temperature by cycling coolant through the engine. The coolant draws heat away from the engine and is then passed through the radiator to cool it with air. A thermostat valve regulates coolant flow, and your engine may be equipped with a temperature sensor which regulates external air cooling fans.

Your BMW cooling system consists of three primary elements, outlined below.

- BMW Hoses, Valves, Heater Core, Radiator and Expansion Tank

These components work in tandem to facilitate the transit and regulation of the coolant flow throughout the engine. Because of the types of materials used and their constant contact with coolant, these parts are more greatly affected by exposure time rather than how much they are used. Prolonged exposure to engine coolant results in eventual deterioration, therefore regular coolant replacements and periodic examination of all hoses and piping is highly recommended. When the engine coolant is drained and replaced, any hoses showing signs of wear should be replaced. We recommend that all hoses be replaced every few years as a preventative measure. Read the rest of this entry »

For older models, it wasn’t hard to detect when your fuel pump was going out, and it was almost as easy to replace. There were two spots where you can find the fuel pump, either somewhere near the underside of the block, or attached to the head, near the camshaft. How these pumps work is that the pump unit consisting of a one-way valve, and a diaphragm that moved up and down with a pump handle, mounted inside the block, resting against a part of the crankshaft. When the crankshaft turns, it makes the pump handle move up and down, pumping fuel from the tank to the carburetor.

These car parts weren’t very hard to replace, and the main thing that usually went wrong was either the handle mechanism, or the internal diaphragm. You could tell right away, loss of fuel to the motor, the heavy smell of gasoline, and you could actually see gas spewing out from the little breather hole. The whole unit can be removed with some open-end wrenches, and disconnecting the fuel lines. In front wheel drive vehicles, the manual fuel pump would be located by the camshaft, and the movement of the camshaft would make the pump work. You could find car parts to replace the pump at your local junk yard, as well as order them brand new. You should always replace things like fuel and oil pumps, or alternators, brand new, or refurbished in some cases, never from a junk yard. Read the rest of this entry »