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Hey guys, just checked my coolant level in my 2002 WS6 and mount iced that the plastic dipstick has a brown liquid on it, I have wiped it of and cleaned the dipstick, could the coolant become brown if it’s dirty or old?
I’m planning to do a flush and replace the coolant.
If it doesn't look like coolant, there's an issue to resolve.
1) Give the link above and other sites a good read. The stock P/S cooler is risky because when it fails, it causes P/S fluid and coolant to intermix. (Not good for either system.) Some people delete their cooler entirely, which is fine. (Some cars came without them.) Where you live, cooling is probably a good idea, so you might want to check out this thread for alternatives: https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...g-success.html
2) Dexcool (the pink long-life coolant) is very effective but it doesn't last forever. Over time it will oxidize, turn brown, and gum up. If you don't have good maintenance records, it would be a great idea to do a full system flush. (including things that people forget or mechanics like to skip - dumping the coolant out of the overflow bottle and removing the coolant gallery plugs on both sides of the engine) About 1/2 of the coolant sits inside the engine, so draining the radiator doesn't get it all out. Someone needs to get under the car, remove the two plugs and take a little bit of a shower in the stuff. < This will get all the old stuff out, so you can put new coolant in and be perfect for another 10 years. (You'll be good for 10, but you should really change it every 5 years.)
I also agree about the Dexcool. I had my mechanic professionally flush the entire system at about the 10 year mark. The universal green replaced it and it has been perfect ever since.
I could not believe my 2014 Mustang GT had Dexcool too. That was the first thing replaced when I brought the car home last August. Well, maybe the original tires were first.
I also agree about the Dexcool. I had my mechanic professionally flush the entire system at about the 10 year mark. The universal green replaced it and it has been perfect ever since.
I could not believe my 2014 Mustang GT had Dexcool too. That was the first thing replaced when I brought the car home last August. Well, maybe the original tires were first.
I have yet to find a "professional" who does coolant flushes by the book. (they all take short cuts and don't drain the entire system)
Dexcool performs as designed and provides a longer life. Like all things, if not properly maintained, things go wrong. (Dexcool oxidizes and gums up.) If it's properly maintained, Dexcool performs perfectly well and provides greater margins and life over green coolant.
Green coolant doesn't tell us when its old and needs to be changed. It also needs to be fully flushed. If it is not, it will look fine but the coolant's rust inhibitors diminish over time and the engine starts rotting from the inside-out.
The most important thing is to get a quality drain on the flush by removing both plugs on the bottom of the block. Red or Green, this is a key step that the flush machines can't replicate.
There is nothing wrong with Dexcool as long as you use it properly and replace it when needed.
Any brown flakes you see in the coolant are likely from those system sealing biscuits GM puts in the coolant to help seal minor leaks, They use these especially on any engine that has aluminum components (block or heads). It looks like floating dirt, but it is there for a reason and does work as needed. I put them in any time I change the coolant on the GTOs. I even use it in my old cars (Chevelle, old GTO, truck).
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Brown liquid / dirty coolant? 
