High Temperature Coolant Reservoir Failure

[ryanjl]

Here's another video. Taken right after a drive. You can see it bubbling right up at the seam.

I waited about 45 minutes after driving for the coolant to depressurize and stop bubbling. Hit the area with some 100 grit sandpaper, then an alcohol wipe, then slapped some high-heat JB Weld on it. We'll see how it does tomorrow.

 

[ryanjl]

Spoke with Red Noland today. They did not act too alarmed and said they've seen several leak but have never seen one just outright blow. Ineos roadside assistance could have it towed there to fix, but then I'd be looking at flying there to drive it back.

So, current plan is to just have them do it sometime in late June, early July. I'll be driving out to Colorado around then as I'm having a downhill mountain bike built that I'll be itching to kill myself on.

In the meantime, the temperature here took a cool turn so I'm going to probably wait until tomorrow morning for last night's JB Weld patch to fully cure before I see how my temp fix works.

 

[Nadir5]

Looking forward to the update, Ryan. If it holds, it would make sense to build a little kit to handle as a trail-side temporary repair.

 

[Tom109]

I let mine go for six months until I could get to the dealer.

 

[ryanjl]

Trailside would be interesting.

The product I used is the standard JB Weld, which is rated for up to 5020 psi and 550 degrees Fahrenheit. https://www.jbweld.com/product/j-b-weld-syringe

The problem is that it sets in 4 to 6 hours, but it really needs up to 24 hours to fully cure. If the temperatures dip near 40 degrees (which it did here last night), it can take longer.

There's also "minute weld," which sets a lot quicker. But I did not see any pressure or temperature rating for it. https://www.jbweld.com/product/minuteweld-syringe

There's also "kwik weld," which cures in 4-6 hours. It's rated for 3127 psi (which should be plenty), but only rated for 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The latter may be good enough, but it's pretty close. https://www.jbweld.com/product/kwikweld-syringe

If you are in the desert or someplace warm, and are planning to just spend the night regardless, the standard JB Weld may work for a trailside repair. If you are somewhere cold, though, you may have to sit a while, or roll the dice on one of the quicker-curing products.

 

[Tazzieman]

How do they measure the JB Weld PSI rating?
Just curious!

 

[ryanjl]

How do they measure the JB Weld PSI rating?
Just curious!

Good question. I was wondering the same thing.

I just interpret the greater psi rating to equal stronger.

Google AI says it's a tensile strength test.

 

[ryanjl]

Incidentally, I should add that I asked the Red Noland service guy if me JB Welding this would affect my warranty claim, and he said it would not.

I know that it certainly should not from a legal perspective, but just wanted confirmation from someone at the dealership.

 

[CRH]

Incidentally, I should add that I asked the Red Noland service guy if me JB Welding this would affect my warranty claim, and he said it would not.

I know that it certainly should not from a legal perspective, but just wanted confirmation from someone at the dealership.

Is that on an email or verbal?
Drop an email for clarity if not

 

[RB60]

Is this an Ineos design or BMW?

 

[TCMColorado]

Is this an Ineos design or BMW?

It is BMW design.

 

[ryanjl]

Is that on an email or verbal?
Drop an email for clarity if not

Verbal. In the US, at least, Ineos would have to prove that the JB Weld patch is what caused the problem.

 

[ryanjl]

Checked the tank after driving to work this morning. The JB Weld patch job did not fully stop the leak. It may have worked on part of it; hard to tell. But I think a lot of my leak is coming from parts of the tank that I just can't really get to without removing the whole tank, which I'm not going to do.

In this video you can see it is still dripping from the corner made by the wall of the tank and the part that juts out for the mounting bolt. It's a little out of focus, but that appears to be the source of the leak. Getting JB Weld in there requires you do do it blind, because you're standing on the passenger side reaching around the tank (this video is made from the front of the vehicle, with my iPhone camera zoomed way in). I don't want to get JB Weld all over those metal clips and parts, so not going to try it. I'd probably have to get under and around that mounting bolt bracket, too. Which, again, I'd need to remove the tank from the vehicle to do.

There is some coolant dripping from the bottom of the JB Weld blob there. I'm not sure if that's travelling from the corner I mentioned above, or if it's coming from under the JB Weld.

So, I'm just going to carry a pre-made 50/50 coolant mix container with me and top it up every once in a while until I have the tank swapped in a few months.

 

[Fishnerd]

Have you considered self fusing silicone tape? Ive had good results in the past for quick fixes, doesnt require cure time. Im not sure how much pressure our tanks build or max temp they reach, but this tape is rated at 500F and 950psi. https://rescuetape.com/

 

[ryanjl]

Have you considered self fusing silicone tape? Ive had good results in the past for quick fixes, doesnt require cure time. Im not sure how much pressure our tanks build or max temp they reach, but this tape is rated at 500F and 950psi. https://rescuetape.com/

Seems like that has to be wrapped around itself, right? Which wouldn't work for fixing leaks on the side of a plastic tank.

 

[Fishnerd]

Seems like that has to be wrapped around itself, right? Which wouldn't work for fixing leaks on the side of a plastic tank.

Yeah youre right! i forgot to take in to account the inward corners of the tank and the tabs.