Coolant looks much diffrent. Check out these pics

[Freebeer187]

I was doing some odd end work this afternoon to my GP, when I took a look at the coolant. It usually always has the diaper goo dexcool thing going on, but today it looked like a dark chocolate milk. Seemed rather thick as well. I checked the oil, and the oil seemed fine. Looked and smelled like oil. The LIM gaskets were done about 3K ago without a hickup since. What do you think?

Oil dipstick for your viewing pleasure

BTW - Yes I know that the dipstick is saying that the car is a little low on oil. The car was on a slope when this photo was taken.

Click to read more...

 

[bikrboy128]

what does it look like in the radiator?

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

x2 whats in the top of the rad neck as far as deposits and fluid clarity/color

ive seen that in plenty of resevoirs and the neglected system flush can sometimes look like that after a few days of driving/working.

hows the trans level? the trans cooler in the radiator can leak.

 

[Freebeer187]

The top of the radiator cap seemed to have the typical build up. What was weird is when I put in the white paper to take the photo, it began to looks as if it became wet with water. Notice the first picture from the coolant overflow tank, the fluid does not spread through out the paper. In the radiator it spread much different. The thick fluid did not seem present. Hmmm weird.

 

[Freebeer187]

Trans dipstick (cold and on slope):

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

nah you just have the dex sludge and it sucks but that looks like dex with sludge, the fluid in the overflow gets churned up as the radiator fluid vents/returns so it seems thicker.

you got some cleaning to do and a full neglected system flush

fuck dexcool

 

[tmbutitta]

did they do a coolant flush after they did the intake manifold?

at my shop thats a standard.. but not sure if it was for your shop, or if you did the LIM gasket yourself.

 

[Freebeer187]

nah you just have the dex sludge and it sucks but that looks like dex with sludge, the fluid in the overflow gets churned up as the radiator fluid vents/returns so it seems thicker.

you got some cleaning to do and a full neglected system flush

fuck dexcool

I see. What do you suggest I do? Take it to a pro and have them flush it? I did get a flush done about three years ago at a midas . They used the loud machine, but im thinking it needs more than that.

did they do a coolant flush after they did the intake manifold?

at my shop thats a standard.. but not sure if it was for your shop, or if you did the LIM gasket yourself.

A buddy of mine did it. ATM im not exactly sure what was done, but I know the person was doing allot of work with the coolant as well. He does excellent work so im sure it was done right.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

best is to do the neglected system flush for a week before the intake job. flush everything out real well and convert to green...honestly its very unlikely youll get the radiator clean enough and it may need to be replaced

none of the "machines" do much more than exchange the fluid, its a couple hours of work with a garden hose, compressed air and the car

 

[tmbutitta]

id take it to a shop..

it is a pretty easy job to do, but it should only be like $90 for a coolant flush. on the high end..

our shop actually uses a chemical cleaner to flush through the system as well

 

[Freebeer187]

best is to do the neglected system flush for a week before the intake job. flush everything out real well and convert to green...honestly its very unlikely youll get the radiator clean enough and it may need to be replaced

none of the "machines" do much more than exchange the fluid, its a couple hours of work with a garden hose, compressed air and the car

The car runs at normal temps (heat gauge is about a quarter raised) even in this hot ass summer. Do you suggest I act quick, or just hang with it until a problem is presented? From your replys it seems like a typical build up. While yes, dexcool sucks, it seems to be cooling alright. Not to mention its a ~$4K car. Id like to rule it as if it is not broken, don't fix it.

id take it to a shop..

it is a pretty easy job to do, but it should only be like $90 for a coolant flush. on the high end..

our shop actually uses a chemical cleaner to flush through the system as well

Ive been told that if you start flushing the coolant, possibly similar to a trans flush, it can cause even more problems in the future by breaking down the already exhausted gaskets. Is this true?

 

[tmbutitta]

Ive been told that if you start flushing the coolant, possibly similar to a trans flush, it can cause even more problems in the future by breaking down the already exhausted gaskets. Is this true?

I haven't seen it happen, but i assume anything is possible. The worst i have seen is blowing out a heater core, but you have to be power flushing the core for that to happen.

id just take it to a good independent shop and get them to take a look.

 

[Stink Star]

Just leave it alone or at very most remove the overflow and clean the shit out of it if it bothers you that much. Nothing is going to happen because of a shot glass of sludge is at the top of your radiator.

 

[tmbutitta]

flush it..

it might not need to be done today, but it needs to get done.

take it to a couple shops and get their opinions since you get conflicting info here

 

[Stink Star]

Of course flush your system if it's due, but you're only talking about junk in the overflow tank which means nothing. If it was my car I wouldn't be even slightly concerned.

 

[Freebeer187]

Thanks for the input! I am gettting my brakes done in the next week or two. At the same time im going to ask the tech to perform a flush. Not too worried about it though.