Thread: White/black/brownish gunk in radiator

That gunk would be the result of someone mixing Dex-cool, and regular green coolant. They are not compatible.

Look like this?


If the low coolant light is on no matter how full the system is, it is bad and needs to be replaced. Could be gummed up.

Check the engine oil dipstick and make sure there is no coolant in the oil (No foamy oil). You will probably need new LIM gaskets.

I good guess is that the LIM (lower intake) gaskets are going out and its been eating the coolant slowly. The black/brown crap under the cap is likely the dex-cool coolant that has see air, dex-cool and air don't mix and thus it sludges up.

If it was my car, I would do the intake gaskets, flush the coolant, new thermostat and run green coolant when done.

There are a few write up's on this and even a video on how to do the job.

big time flush for you five is right tho your going ot need a flush badly

soulds like your gasket failed on ya but if your going ot do that might as well replace it with your flush.

make sure you tourqe it down tho last thing you want is for it to blow up in your face with scolding hot coolant. thats no fun trust me on that

Originally Posted by Meliquin00

Ok then I have another question, I added some Prestone antifreeze yesterday, and this morning I ran it to the gas station which is like a quarter of a mile away, when I came back out it was all over the floor, open the hood and it looked like it squeezed its way out of the top of the water pump, now would that be a gasket problem or the actual water pump?

sounds like the coolant elbow blew out, it the plastic part from the lim to alt bracket.

you need to flush and clean your system out real good, flush it to clean water, then put some Prestone radiator cleaner stuff in, run it like that for a while, ( a nice little ride) then flush it again, and then add green coolant.