Thread: Sludge in Coolant

Originally Posted by 02NavyBlue

Right, it's good that you guys encourage changing the gaskets as a preventative thing, but at least make sure the OP knows that's why you're encouraging it, not because we think that's the solution to this thread's problem. It wasn't exactly worded that way but it comes across.

He said the coolant is actually brown, that's usually due to mixing coolants. If it's still red/orange with a bit of sludge at the top it's from air.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

the lim gaskets should be done on general principals really. they are failing as we speak.

if you do the job yourself and shop smart, you can get it done for around a 120 in parts or so.

i kinda did say that^^^^

04 here and I had plastic gaskets

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

i kinda did say that^^^^

Ah done as "general principals". Interesting.

Anyway to the OP, a through flush will be needed to get as much of that sludge out as possible. You can use a flush chemical to help break up the sludge. I know prestone makes it, and some people just use tide with good results.

And yeah, check those gaskets and replace if they're plastic, but I could tell this to everyone on the site.

flush it to just water before the lim job, you'll be dumping the coolant when you do the lim, then add 1 gallon of green straight antifreeze, not the 50/50 crap. when the lim job is done.

green is easy to deal with later on, dex is not always to be found so easy in a pinch, the green stuff is every where. super markets, small markets and such if stuck in a bind.

Originally Posted by orange57

So when looking over the car last night, the coolant appears to be brownish, and when I remove the raidator fill spout there was what looked like oil sludge on the cap. I read on here it could the the trans cooler leaking into the coolant. is there a way to check this before just blindly replacing a radiator?

Also saw some people mention the LIM, is that the lower Intake Manifold gasket? How difficult is that to remove and replace on an 04 GTP? Is there a write up?

Thanks,

matt

orange57--

Your number one suspect is and should be Dexcool. It gunked on me completely, twice, within a thousand miles.

I suggest sticking a garden hose in one end and opening the plug on the other, running it for an hour or two while you grab a beer, and then coming back. It must have taken me a dozen flushes to get the crud out completely.

Then switch to the conventional green, and never look back.

I wouldn't immediately suspect the LIM unless you can first and foremost rule out Dexcool, although it's a good idea to replace it eventually in either case.

Dexcool = sucks. Green ftw! Plus green adds HP I heard.

Well once dex cool has turned brown and is all gunked, I believe it has lost its anti rust/corrosion properties, so I'd flush it sooner than later.
I flushed a gunked system once, I did a good job with a garden hose flushing and back flushing. About a month later you could still see specks of things floating in the green coolant I switched to because pieces were breaking off of the sludge in the system. That's why I'll always add just water after the first flush, add a cooling system cleaner or tide, and drive it like that for a week to break up the gunk. Then flush again and add green.

After witnessing first hand what dexcool does when air is introduced to it I will never use it again. Gunks up everything and a pain in the butt to clean up!

Dorman 47065/Napa 660-1736, they can be found in the HELP section of most parts stores. or ask for them, on the back of the package it says what year cars they are for.

they also sell new aluminum elbows now. Aluminum Coolant Elbows these are now in parts stores as well, not all of them but some carry the new metal ones. or can order them.



the how too http://www.grandprixforums.net/how-c...ows-49779.html