Viscous Fan Issue

[Brian H]

I know of the dreaded Viscous fan issue and have heard of a few exploding recently, whilst looking for an elusive red squirrel under my car and in the engine bay I noticed that I have maybe dodged a bullet here!

This is becoming a common issue, I think I will ditch the viscous fan and use the AC fan to cool the car.

You can see the top of the blades have just started to rub, small amounts of plastic are peeling off. The engine is moving a good 30mm - 40mm here, I think it is time to check my engine mounts!

Down the bottom of the fan cowl, the rubbing has created deposits of what was once melted plastic!

The ducting to keep the alternator cool has been sliced open by the serpentine belt and pulleys!

 

[Alan W]

I'm guessing that play in the water pump bearing is causing that?

 

[GazHyde]

Another example of having a good nose around your engine bay regularly is a good idea. Any obvious play in the water pump bearings?

 

[Antm72]

Its certainly moving around abit good find before the dreaded

 

[Brian H]

No issues with the water pump, just checked again. This is an engine tilt issue, to move that much to carve away the plastic housing that cools the alternator is pretty insane! I did drive quite hard at Cadwell Park but this should not happen.

Below is a pic of the top of the DISA valve, you can see where the valve has been touching the strut brace.

 

[Antm72]

Has to be the engine mounts and if not the gearbox mount allowing it to rock forward ?

 

[Brian H]

Has to be the engine mounts and if not the gearbox mount allowing it to rock forward ?

I'm thinking engine mounts too, if I'm stood in front of the car looking at the engine the right hand side must be lifting 30+mm

 

[Brian H]

@Dino D can you remember the part number of the lower temp stat for the radiator, to enable the viscous fan delete?

 

[Antm72]

Blimey that sounds like its possibly split they don't move that much surely ?

 

[t-tony]

Blimey that sounds like its possibly split they don't move that much surely ?

It could easily if the mounting is totally knackered, plus Brian has been using it fairly hard too. The torque from the motor tries to rotate the engine and if the mounting is failed it will stop at the first obstruction it hits, which looks like it's the DISA.

Tony.

 

[Antm72]

It could easily if the mounting is totally knackered, plus Brian has been using it fairly hard too. The torque from the motor tries to rotate the engine and if the mounting is failed it will stop at the first obstruction it hits, which looks like it's the DISA.

Tony.

Lucky for the strut brace then as next stop the bonnet !

 

[Brian H]

Do you reckon I should be able to see the movement by jacking under the engine @t-tony?

 

[t-tony]

Do you reckon I should be able to see the movement by jacking under the engine @t-tony?

Definitely Brian. If I remember right the engine mountings are oil filled too so maybe there could be a tell tale leak of oil near the N/S one?

Tony.

 

[Brian4]

Looks as @t-tony is right the mounts are oil filled.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...cement/47-ENGINE-Engine_Mount_Replacement.htm

Or go for these as you drive it hard @Brian H doesn't mention the 3.0 but fit the M

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vibra-Tec...del:Z3&hash=item4632e1b5b2:g:ipEAAOSwYGFUwrJG

 

[Brian H]

Confirmed, failed engine mount N/S, the top fitting has de-laminated from the rubber mounting.

I had read that the mounts are oil filled but no leak that I can see. You can maybe just see the split between the rubber and the metal fixing.

How to make a hole in the ducting!

 

[Antm72]

At least you found the culprit it could have caused alot of damage

 

[Brian H]

Talk about movement!

 

[t-tony]

Talk about movement!

Quite a bit there mate. No wonder it's making the fan catch.

Tony.

 

[Brian H]

Quite a bit there mate. No wonder it's making the fan catch.

Tony.

I am thinking that the strut brace saved my bacon here, it stopped the engine having too much movement.

 

[GazHyde]

I think we can all agree those are a little past there best! I supposed the strut brace may have helped, but you may also have noticed it sooner without it in place. Hard to tell with that sort of thing whether it's a good or bad thing. Although, I'm thinking it's definitely better than your fan blades taking the radiator out.