Dirty Coolant

[Ned Flanders]

I had the entire system flushed out a year ago when the water pump was replaced on my 95 Regal 3.1.

 

Looking at the coolant today, it's really nasty looking...almost brown. I thought it might be oil but I'm 95% sure it's not. It just looks nasty/rusty.

 

So, I'm going to flush it out again...but doesn't a year seem like a very short amount of time for this to happen? I drive it about 40 miles a day, country driving, not much traffic, so the engine gets good and warmed up. I also use green coolant. The car has 107,000 miles on it do I don't think I'll switch to Dex at this point.

[Prospeeder]

Are you completly sure you used Green Coolant ALL the time, cause if you mix the green with the orange it turns nasty and brown

[Crazy K]

There may have been alot of crud that didn't get out of the system when it was flushed. Not to speak bad of your skills. All you can do is guesstry what i do:

 

I like to use the long life prestone antifreeze and ditilled water. I get the undiluted antifreeze and mix it with water myself (less $)

http://www.prestone.com/products/antifreezeCoolant.php

(walmart usually carries both)

 

I like to do a complete flush using their flush if the system looks dirty.

http://www.prestone.com/products/coolingSystemTreatments.php

 

And i like to repalce all the fluid: While running the heater, I disconnect the upper radiator hose from the radiator and run the engine while pouring antifreeze mixture into the radiator to flush.

BUT be careful! Your car should spout water in periodic burst from the upper hose and the water will be hot. run the car until the water being spewed is nice and green.

(don't forget to put the hose back on and utilize the bleeder valves to de-air the system.

 

I also add a radiator sealer at this time, just in case.

http://www.autobarn.net/chg12bp.html

[Crazy K]

p.s. i don't like dex, it gives people something to neglect.

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Did you clean out the reservoir last time? Looking at mine in the reservior it looked dirtier than it actually was..

 

Your radiator might be slowly rusting, I think mine might be, but it's still okay for a while.

 

The way I like to flush the system is to remove the t-stat (or do it when the engine is warm and t-stat is open) then remove the hose from the waterpump, and force a garden hose to pump water through the whole rad/engine. I broke the stupid plastic drain plug off the rad the first time I tried to drain it, so this way is better anyways.

[Crazy K]

I wouldn't do that!!! You may over cool the engine! The thermostat regulates the incoming flow, and the disconnecting the upper hose idea avoids spilling antifreeze on the motor.

When you disconnect the upper hose you will have to let the engine run until warm to open the thermostat, and this will help pick up any crap floating in the engine.

 

If you can easily open the drain spout, do it, but don't force it.(I've disconnected the lower hose or completely removed the radiator to flush if it can't be drained.) -ken

[Ned Flanders]

Honestly, I think I'll have a radiator shop do it. No time! With the days so short and not having a garage it'll be a pain.

 

The radiator rusting theory is VERY plausible. I think it's the original radiator!

 

Thanks for the advice!

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

I wouldn't do that!!! You may over cool the engine! The thermostat regulates the incoming flow, and the disconnecting the upper hose idea avoids spilling antifreeze on the motor.

When you disconnect the upper hose you will have to let the engine run until warm to open the thermostat, and this will help pick up any crap floating in the engine.

 

If you can easily open the drain spout, do it, but don't force it.(I've disconnected the lower hose or completely removed the radiator to flush if it can't be drained.) -ken

 

FWIW I only do it with a cool engine. I take out the t-stat, put the housing back on, then flush it good. Put new coolant in before running the engine. I don't see how that can hurt the engine.

[Crazy K]

No time? DIY! it's not that hard to change coolant. just a bit of work. Do it on your next day off.

Cool engine perhaps, but i was thinking along the lines of thermal shock. Someone, somewhere would read this thread and do it to a hot engine and crack a block. I like to get the engine hot as hot coolant would pick up and carry more of the crud and sediment out... which requires the thermostat to regualr flow. The water being dumped from the hose is so much dirtier hot than it would be cold.

Try it sometime. -ken

[ToroToro]

I'm not sure I'm buying that whole rust thing. My coolant was shit brown as well, and I'm pretty sure it was from the stop leak someone added. It's been known to turn brown after awhile. It's not a real serious issue, but I'd still flush ASAP.

[Ned Flanders]

My neighbor helped me do it today. It wasn't so bad. I ran cleaner and everything through it, so hopefully the problem won't pop up again anytime soon.