Thread: Coolant Recovery Tank Help

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  1. #1 Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    Hi, I noticed a while back that the Dexcool coolant in my 1999 Grand Prix's recovery tank turned to sludgey oily stuff. Today, I finally got to clean out the recovery tank. I didn't get all the oil stuff caked on the sides off but it is better than it was before. What I need help on is the coolant that I drained out of the tank was full of the sludgey oily stuff so I am no going to put it back into the tank. Do I need to go buy some dexcool to refill the tank up? I plan on flushing the whole system in the spring and changing from dexcool to normal coolant.

    Thanks in advance.
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  2. #2 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    just fill it with water.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
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  3. #3 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    GTX Level Member TEK310's Avatar
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    this^^
    2012 Competition Orange Boss 302 #1769 438rwhp 391rwtq
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  4. #4 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    OK that's what I was thinking. I just didn't know if it would dilute the mixture since it will be winter soon. Thanks
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  5. #5 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    I'm still running straight water in my car. Probably should take care of that soon.....
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  6. #6 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    GTP Level Member tms8582's Avatar
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    Sounds like someone might have mixed some green stuff with the dexcool. Personally I'd drain the radiator and flush with water a couple times and fill with fresh universal coolant before winter.
    Stage 1 Comp Cam / 105 Springs / Yella Terra 1.7's / SLP Headers / Ported heads / 255 Walbro fuel pump / Siemans 60# Injectors / 2.8 Pulley / 180 stat, 104 AL's / Intense e85 tune / 3" ZZP exhaust / GXP seats / KYB Coilovers /
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  7. #7 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    It's normal from my experience for an open to air container with 14 year old dex in it to be goopy.

    I'd pick up a little coolant, either dex compatible or anycolor. Mix or mix your own to 50/50 and you are all set. If you want a cracked coolant res, use water. Water expands and without you telling us where you live..I assume the north pole.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  8. #8 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    I live in Iowa. So I can mix any color without it gooping up? I already have some green supertech antifreeze. Thanks
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  9. #9 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    Yup
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  10. #10 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    Bill is the man around here but I'm pretty sure you don't want to mix green with DexCool unless something has changed that I don't know about. I use the universal stuff just to be safe because I've bought a couple used GM cars in the past that have had all kinds of red clay looking crud in the radiator and the overflow container. I was told that this problem occurs from mixing green antifreeze with the original DexCool. If I'm wrong which is possible mixing green with Dexcool will be new to me...
    Stage 1 Comp Cam / 105 Springs / Yella Terra 1.7's / SLP Headers / Ported heads / 255 Walbro fuel pump / Siemans 60# Injectors / 2.8 Pulley / 180 stat, 104 AL's / Intense e85 tune / 3" ZZP exhaust / GXP seats / KYB Coilovers /
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  11. #11 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    OK, that's what I heard about mixing different colors with dexcool also.
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  12. #12 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    I live here. 02NavyBlue's Avatar
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    Yeah universal is compatible with dex. I'm pretty sure if you take even the latest conventional green and latest dex cool, and mix them, they will sludge. That happened to someone on the forums, they took it to get it flushed with green, months later a different tech said it would be okay to top it off with dexcool since it's whats recommended for GM, and it sludged.

    Someone in my family did that to their dex cool system, it was a mess...

    To the OP, Bill is right that the recovery tank will sludge without coolant contamination due to air. What's important is to make sure it wasn't mixed. Pop the radiator cap and make sure it's fine in there. If not, I'd just add universal and wait til spring to do a thorough flush with a cooling system cleaner. You'd flush/backflush it well with water, then top off with the cleaner and more water if needed, and drive it like that for a while. After a few weeks it will dissolve a lot of junk.
    2006 Grand Prix GT S/C 109k - Modded Transgo Shift Kit, Gutted Airbox, Dash Cam, and Inlays. Retros soon to come.
    2002 Grand Prix GT N/A 127k - Same as 06 Plus: Trans Cooler, DIY Aux Input, LED lighting, Suspension Upgrades, Tint, Retrofits.
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  13. #13 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    any color is a brand bill was talking about.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  14. #14 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    OK, that sounds like a plan to me. Navyblue, I noticed that in your signature you put cabin air filter. I'd like to hear about this.
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  15. #15 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    I live here. 02NavyBlue's Avatar
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    Well basically there's a spot where one fits, but Pontiac decided not to put one in there. Just go to an auto parts store and ask for a filter for a regal. I asked for one for a 2003 impala since we have one and I knew it fit since I tested it first.
    2006 Grand Prix GT S/C 109k - Modded Transgo Shift Kit, Gutted Airbox, Dash Cam, and Inlays. Retros soon to come.
    2002 Grand Prix GT N/A 127k - Same as 06 Plus: Trans Cooler, DIY Aux Input, LED lighting, Suspension Upgrades, Tint, Retrofits.
    Sold.
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  16. #16 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    Where does it go?
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  17. #17 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    I live here. 02NavyBlue's Avatar
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    Under the cowl at the bottom of the windshield. It's a good idea to install the water deflector cowl while you're there. http://www.grandprixforums.net/showt...ter+floorboard

    2006 Grand Prix GT S/C 109k - Modded Transgo Shift Kit, Gutted Airbox, Dash Cam, and Inlays. Retros soon to come.
    2002 Grand Prix GT N/A 127k - Same as 06 Plus: Trans Cooler, DIY Aux Input, LED lighting, Suspension Upgrades, Tint, Retrofits.
    Sold.
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  18. #18 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dsmuts View Post
    any color is a brand bill was talking about.
    Actually ...it is what is written on the container. It's not necessarily the brand. I've seen it written on many different manufacturers.

    Guys, when I've seen Dex/green mixed it's usually a brown mess. Haven't seen it gunk/oat up, but then..maybe I didn't wait long enough. Another thing to keep in mind is most any color coolants have a green tint to them. It's easy to mistake it for green if the system was clean and flushed when it was added.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  19. #19 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    I meant brand like dex is a brand. I guess maybe not the best choice of words on my part
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  20. #20 Re: Coolant Recovery Tank Help 
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    Here are some pictures of the coolant from my recovery tank.
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