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Need Help! Overheating Issue!

10K views 38 replies 15 participants last post by  LukefnDavis  
#1 ·
Hello all,

I recently picked up a 2019 x3 turbo rr max. Been extremely reliable so far after a few months but recently took it to a local rally event and now I’m having some issues.

while in the staging area waiting to enter on track my temp gauge went from normal temp (middle) to fully spiked. High temp light came on, I was concerned then 30 seconds later it dropped down to the middle. I took my run and didn’t know what to think.
While letting the rig warm up for the next run it happened again except this time it took about a min after temp spiking for it to go back down.
This is a 2 day event and this is the morning of the second day. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on and if I should back it up and leave early to preserve the rig or send it and fix it later
Any and all ideas or advice would be appreciated!
 
#2 ·
I'm no expert, I just barely know how to read and use the Googles.

Make sure the radiator(up front) isn't plugged full of debris, mud, etc... Make sure the fan is cycling on, sounds like it may be, by the cooling effect after some minutes...

Could be thermostat sticking? It's not an uncommon occurrence for the water pump gears to strip on these engines. They're plastic...

Running it at high Temps is your own prerogative... I wouldn't be thrilled about cutting my trip short either.

Hopefully someone else has better troubleshooting for you though!
 
#6 ·
Holy hell. That looks like cement!

I can't tell if that is sand for sure, is it grainy? Kind of looks like caliche mud.... I would check your oil immediately and make sure you still have a functioning head gasket- see if there's coolant in your oil.

For your coolant level to be that low, it's gotta be going somewhere.... And that really has a milky look to it. I don't know off the top of my head how that much contamination could enter the coolant system like that, hopefully someone else does... Unless it was deliberately sabotaged...?!

If it were mine-I would not run that machine much longer until you do a tear down and figure out wtf is going on ... Sorry bud!
 
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#8 · (Edited)
First flush that system well!

Something got in it somehow...sucked back in though the vent/overflow when the pressurized cap opened?
I would check around well including making sure no water in the oil.

I've never done it on a Can Am, but I have with many other vehicles, where you disconect from the exit of the radiator for dischage and keep a high flow of water coming in the resevoir until it all comes out clear and clean. Drain and refill with proper amout of antifreeze. Then go from there....
 
#9 ·
Yea no kidding I packed it up and headed home after seeing that coolant. You guys think this has something todo with water pump or thermostat? I was think the water pump fins could have broken which could **** with thermostat opening or closing. I checked oil off the dip stick and it looked health and at the right level…
 
#11 ·
Yea no kidding I packed it up and headed home after seeing that coolant. You guys think this has something todo with water pump or thermostat? I was think the water pump fins could have broken which could **** with thermostat opening or closing. I checked oil off the dip stick and it looked health and at the right level…
Don't feel water pump or thermo...... As mentioned, I would first flush, then rediagnose. Something, somehow entered into the system.
Make sure to "burp" system after flushing.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Since it is relatively new to you, makes me wonder if PO put some kind of stop-leak in it which is always a temp fix and it has now started leaking. IIRC some of the stop-leak junk is kind of like pellets of cottage cheese consistency and is not sandy, but looks a little chunky. Air bubbles in the system will show some temp spikes as the bubbles go to the high spots where gauge and thermostats typically are. After you get it cleaned-up, you need to pressure test system and check all connections in system. If some hoses have pin holes or loose connections and lay in some muddy pools on skid plates or such, it could suck the mud in as it cools down, same principle as coolant reservoir does. Let me repeat... pressure test... when car is totally dry... nothing better! you may be able to rent tester at your local auto parts store but cap size may be a challenge to get right size.
After you get cooling system repaired, keep your eye on it and check for any cylinder blow-by in coolant to just verify that is not a problem. Sometimes a bad head gasket will not show up in a static pressure test. There are some tests for exhaust gases in the coolant.
 
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#15 ·
Any reason to think that car had ever been sunk in a muddy river?
 
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#18 ·
Looks like someone used pond water to fill your system. WOW.

Hopefully a good flush takes care of your issues. I recommend using an AIRLIFT coolant tool for refilling your system. If used properly it'll keep you from having to burp the system and you can hold vacuum to check for leaks.
 
#31 ·
Looks like a stop leak material added, and they were also cheap and was just using water with very little coolant if any. Just like others have said flush the system many times. I would pull the radiator and do a very good flush. Being a little low on coolant will cause you to heat up like yours was doing. When I got mine new they added a heater and left coolant a little low I was having similar heating on long hills and would have to pull over for a few minutes for it to get to normal operating temp. Hopefully you just have a leak and not a head gasket issue.
 
#32 ·
Check engine oil, if it's nice and clean then I'd give your coolant system the flush of a lifetime! I would pull the nose off teh car and take a REALLY good look at the radiator and see like somebody said it had a lead and PO used stop leak to seal it up. Seeing that radiator cap I would for sure change the thermostat! Flush, fill, flush, fill, until WATER comes out clean clean, then fill with coolant and burp the piss out of it. This is going to sound weird but what did the cap smell like?
 
#37 ·
following
 
#39 ·
So I flushed the system didn’t find any leaks. Got some engine ice from my local dealership and have tried my best to burp the system. Filled up the reservoir, started it up let it idle until it’s at normal operating temp. Turned off let it cool topped it off again burp ect ect. It’s been through 4 or 5 start up warm up cycles and I haven’t seen it over heat. Mind you when it over heated the first time it was while at idle. So I think the next step is to go stretch it’s legs a bit on a trail and see how it does.