Dirty coolant?
Why??...Dirty coolant? I checked my coolant level the other day and then wiped it off on a rag, and it look blackish like it had mixed with oil, but i dont have a blown head gasket or anything(cause i think basically anyone would notice that), tell me your opinions?
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 781
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From: Taxme, Ohio
When I went to buy my 2nd 95 Z28, I checked the coolant in the radiator and reservoir. It had this dark gray substance that on first inspection looked like oil. I looked closer and decided it wasn't oil and I would flush the cooling system after I bought the car.
When I got the car home I drew some of the coolant up into a baster and put it in a clear container. The coolant had two layers, one was green and the other orange. The dark gray sludge in the mix was aluminum that had eroded from the radiator and heads.
Although the new coolants claim they can be mixed, I figure the coolant I had in this 95 was the old stuff. Someone had put the green glycol into the factory dexcool and the erosion process was in earnest....
When I got the car home I drew some of the coolant up into a baster and put it in a clear container. The coolant had two layers, one was green and the other orange. The dark gray sludge in the mix was aluminum that had eroded from the radiator and heads.
Although the new coolants claim they can be mixed, I figure the coolant I had in this 95 was the old stuff. Someone had put the green glycol into the factory dexcool and the erosion process was in earnest....
Black does not sound good to me.
Dirty coolant usually turns brown or grey as 01z28m6 said.
I suggest a complete flush & replace with 50% distilled water and the correct antifreeze. If the black comes back it may be bad news.
Dirty coolant usually turns brown or grey as 01z28m6 said.
I suggest a complete flush & replace with 50% distilled water and the correct antifreeze. If the black comes back it may be bad news.
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12 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Springfield, Missouri
also i don't know if this is the same problem but when i got my eclipse i changed the coolant and it was a darker color turns out the owner before me had a radiator leak and put some of that stop leak in it. found that out after i changed the coolant and i had a leak. =/
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Originally Posted by waiting2bl33d
also i don't know if this is the same problem but when i got my eclipse i changed the coolant and it was a darker color turns out the owner before me had a radiator leak and put some of that stop leak in it. found that out after i changed the coolant and i had a leak. =/
Originally Posted by CashMoney
Hopefully you replaced your timing belt or at least inspected it. If he half assed on the radiator I would want to make damn sure that timing belt isn't about to go out.
the radiator and timing belt are in no way related.
TTT
I'm having the same problem, had it flushed, and it's still this nasty brown color. I'm running really hot about 210. It doesn't feel like I've lost any power. Any way for oil to get in the coolant besides head gaskets?
I'm having the same problem, had it flushed, and it's still this nasty brown color. I'm running really hot about 210. It doesn't feel like I've lost any power. Any way for oil to get in the coolant besides head gaskets?
head gaskets is probably the main reason for oil/coolant mixture, and 210 is not running "REALLY HOT" that about normal, most GM engines run around that area. Im not sweating the situation cause my gas mileage is not bad, and im not burning oil, so i think im ok!
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Taxme, Ohio
Originally Posted by pjb
how about the possibility of the power steering fluid contaminating the coolant. sound stupid? it happened to me, in a simple way that I never would have guessed.
not sure about all LS1s but my 98 has a power steering cooler. the power steering hoses run up to the upper raditor coolant hose, which consists of a rubber hose on each end with a metal pipe in the middle running parrallel with the radiator. that pipe not only flows coolant thru the center, but its outer layer also has power steering fluid going thru it. somehow the the pipe failed and allowed the power steering fluid into the coolant. It took me a few days to figure out why my power steering resevoir was going empty with no external signs of leakage. A cooling system pressure tester confirmed with bubbles appearing in the power steering resevoir. After replacing the coolant/powersteering cooler pipe it has been trouble free. side effects during the problem included contamination of the coolant level sensor giving a false coolant low light. removing the sensor from the radiator and cleaning the oily residue off of it fixed it. I think this happened gradually over a long period because I had the contaminated sensor issue before the power steering fluid lose was discovered. like anything else, once it gets worse its easier to find. this may not be your issue but I'm sure this must of happened to others, although I've never heard anyone else be familiar with this problem.
Originally Posted by black00TA
you usually check replace the timining belt when replacing the water pump
the radiator and timing belt are in no way related.
the radiator and timing belt are in no way related.
Originally Posted by pjb
not sure about all LS1s but my 98 has a power steering cooler. the power steering hoses run up to the upper raditor coolant hose, which consists of a rubber hose on each end with a metal pipe in the middle running parrallel with the radiator. that pipe not only flows coolant thru the center, but its outer layer also has power steering fluid going thru it. somehow the the pipe failed and allowed the power steering fluid into the coolant. It took me a few days to figure out why my power steering resevoir was going empty with no external signs of leakage. A cooling system pressure tester confirmed with bubbles appearing in the power steering resevoir. After replacing the coolant/powersteering cooler pipe it has been trouble free. side effects during the problem included contamination of the coolant level sensor giving a false coolant low light. removing the sensor from the radiator and cleaning the oily residue off of it fixed it. I think this happened gradually over a long period because I had the contaminated sensor issue before the power steering fluid lose was discovered. like anything else, once it gets worse its easier to find. this may not be your issue but I'm sure this must of happened to others, although I've never heard anyone else be familiar with this problem.
