engine coolant

[pick333]

My engine coolant light was coming on for the first 30 seconds after I started the car. My car is a 2013 135i which I bought new 13 months ago. Have put 5000 miles on it. I just put in radiator 64 oz. of coolant/water mix. That's alot! Yet have never seen a leak Even after setting 15 minutes with engine off, then taking off the radiator cap, the mixture is boiling. Is this normal? Any ideas why it used so much coolant is such a short time, especially since there is no leak? Engine temperature has always maxed at 248 degrees, which I think is normal.

[JimD]

Originally Posted by pick333

My engine coolant light was coming on for the first 30 seconds after I started the car. My car is a 2013 135i which I bought new 13 months ago. Have put 5000 miles on it. I just put in radiator 64 oz. of coolant/water mix. That's alot! Yet have never seen a leak Even after setting 15 minutes with engine off, then taking off the radiator cap, the mixture is boiling. Is this normal? Any ideas why it used so much coolant is such a short time, especially since there is no leak? Engine temperature has always maxed at 248 degrees, which I think is normal.

You need to visit the dealer. One explanation is a blown head gasket. That can allow coolant to enter the combustion chamber where it then goes out the tail pipe. But if you get enough coolant into the combustion chamber it will hydro lock the engine and break a rod or piston (i.e. if the camber gets completely full, the water cannot compress so the engine is damaged). A compression leak down test will tell and there are also devices that sniff the tailpipe to look for coolant. Blown head gaskets are more of a risk for a turbocharged engine.