Fan stays on for 5 mins after ignition off

[Vandalay Industries]

Hi - on my MCSC 2006 - a couple of times recently i've noticed that after the ignition is off and i am out of the car - there's a noisy fan still going under the bonnet. I waited around and each time he fan would stop after about 5 minutes or so.

Is this normal or something I should get checked out?

(Temperature gauge shows normal temperature when this happens and nothing appears to be wrong.)

Thx

[Paul]

Sounds normal from my experience.

[MINIAC]

The radiator fan goes on when the water temp exceeds 104C (220F). The temperature gauge can look "normal" at this temperature.

[Sejanus]

You might want to get it checked out. The only time mine did that there was indeed a crack in the radiator.

[Paul]

Hmmm. Perhaps it's just how and where I drove that lead to so much fan activity (or there was a fault I didn't recognise).

[RO51 BOZ]

Hi there, i dont want to worry you however sejanus is correct. I have the same problem. Check to see if you are losing coolant. Mine was showing no obvious leak as it was only a very small split on the side of the radiator, causing coolant so mist out giving a steam affect from the front of my car when the engine got up to higher temps. Mine has been booked in to have the radiator changed next week. for the sake of your engine its worth a look as it will save you big bucks if your engine was to overheat.

Hope this helps.

[Vandalay Industries]

thx for the replies - i looked at the coolant level today (the engine was still warm - car had been parked for a while - but engine was definitely not at ambient temperature) - it's hard to tell the coolant level isn't it! It looked like it may have been around the minimum mark but it's difficult to really tell - certainly some fluid in there. When is it best to check the coolant level - at ambient or at full running temperature? And what coolant should I use to top up (if necessary) - is there anything I can get in a regular petrol station or Halfords?

[rec]

coolant level should be checked on a cold engine. and then topped up. if you have a warm/hot engine and you're just over the minimum mark, then you seriously need to top it up.

once it's topped up keep checking the level. this is also likely to be the reason you're seeing the rad fan running for so long.

[Vandalay Industries]

ok thx for that

and 2 questions...

1) do i HAVE to use BMW antifreeze? Or will Halfords Advanced be ok? Or any other brand?

2) ....mixing the antifreeze with water - should I use kettle-boiled tap water (does that count as "distilled" water??) or buy some special water - distilled or de-ionized?

[DaFlake]

Any coolant will do (some people are hook on a brand). Just dilute it to your climate. Regular water can be used and there is no need to "boil" it.

[rec]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vandalay Industries (original)

ok thx for that

and 2 questions...

1) do i HAVE to use BMW antifreeze? Or will Halfords Advanced be ok? Or any other brand?

2) ....mixing the antifreeze with water - should I use kettle-boiled tap water (does that count as "distilled" water??) or buy some special water - distilled or de-ionized?

any brand antifreeze, any normal water :]