Weird substance inside radiator

[RENESIS VIII]

I noticed that my radiator is always filled with these dirt substances which looked like dried skin or scale sometimes. I wonder what these things are and is it a sign of something bad happening inside the block? Are these things rust particles inside the block?

I got my radiator flushed 2 weeks ago due to clogging which I assume is because of these things.

 

[6UE5t]

Looks like coolant sludge.

 

[lsm1991]

i dont actually know what that substance is but I too had this crap some time after flushing my radiator... I thought it was oil and i was screwed with a head gasket leak or something and have since then monitored my fluids with utmost paranoia. I dont think it ever came back again in my case.

just clean it up (unless you want to send it in for analysis or something) and monitor your fluids and temps for a while...

**wait i just read.... always?? if its oil.....

 

[sweelt]

If oil leaked. Open oil filler cap, inside might be milky color.

 

[vr2turbo]

I think need to flush again. If clogged before should flush a few times before adding coolant

 

[lsm1991]

just wondering~~ any of you get crusty white chalky stuff by the top (sometimes on the cap as well)?? note that.... pretty sure it ran on tap water for a while, could it just be the impurities?

also after starting the car (radiator cap off) i see some small bubbles for the first 10 secs, after that no more dah.... the bubbles have been worrying me for a while but i ignored this cause the bubbles dont constantly appear..

 

[vr2turbo]

As long as you are not loosing water then should be ok.....

 

[6UE5t]

As long as you are not loosing water then should be ok.....

Not losing water and not clogging also so temp still stable.

 

[vr2turbo]

Not losing water and not clogging also so temp still stable.

Clogged, sure will over heat.......lol

 

[RENESIS VIII]

Looks like coolant sludge.

Previously before I put coolant, these things are there too.

i dont actually know what that substance is but I too had this crap some time after flushing my radiator... I thought it was oil and i was screwed with a head gasket leak or something and have since then monitored my fluids with utmost paranoia. I dont think it ever came back again in my case.

just clean it up (unless you want to send it in for analysis or something) and monitor your fluids and temps for a while...

**wait i just read.... always?? if its oil.....

It is always there. Apparently it only shows itself when I left the engine not started for quite some time like maybe a day or two. If lets say after a drive and I opened the cap, these substances are lesser and they don't form into 'skin' or 'scale'.

Not losing water and not clogging also so temp still stable.

Things din't look too good today. Drove like 40km just now and temperature was not at its usual level. Somehow I feel like something is not right inside my block and water jacket areas. Temperature looked like this instead of being around 40-45% like how it normally is.

[/url]

 

[lsm1991]

im quite sure you already checked.. but reservoir not empty kan?

 

[6UE5t]

Your car bought from new or used? If used maybe previous owner put some bad coolant or additives there hence got sludge like that.

You need to reflush again until really clean leh, better even service the radiator all together, then no more dirt and temp should be back to normal. If you open your thermostat, does it also have similar dirt like that?

 

[RENESIS VIII]

im quite sure you already checked.. but reservoir not empty kan?

Not empty. Coolant level still quite full. Fan is working too. No leaks. Water pump can be considered as new as I've got it changed earlier this year.

Your car bought from new or used? If used maybe previous owner put some bad coolant or additives there hence got sludge like that.

You need to reflush again until really clean leh, better even service the radiator all together, then no more dirt and temp should be back to normal. If you open your thermostat, does it also have similar dirt like that?

New since 1999. I've been driving it for exactly 3 years since November 2013. Previously the water inside was not very clean. Just looked brownish and dusty but it was just water only. These weird substances is not there until recently like less than half a year ago.

Maybe should do a reflush on the engine itself too. The reflush I did was just on the radiator itself. Din't clean the engine as my mechanic say it will take some time and won't be very cheap. Told me to flush the radiator first and see how it goes.

Din't check the thermostat.

 

[6UE5t]

...
New since 1999. I've been driving it for exactly 3 years since November 2013. Previously the water inside was not very clean. Just looked brownish and dusty but it was just water only. These weird substances is not there until recently like less than half a year ago.

Maybe should do a reflush on the engine itself too. The reflush I did was just on the radiator itself. Din't clean the engine as my mechanic say it will take some time and won't be very cheap. Told me to flush the radiator first and see how it goes.

Din't check the thermostat.

Hmm Ic, weird then. Did you do anything different around half a year ago then to the water/coolant?

The whole cooling system flush can DIY, quite easy actually. I did that a few times before for my Lancers & Galant back then, using some coolant flush agent and constant flow of water.

 

[RENESIS VIII]

Hmm Ic, weird then. Did you do anything different around half a year ago then to the water/coolant?

The whole cooling system flush can DIY, quite easy actually. I did that a few times before for my Lancers & Galant back then, using some coolant flush agent and constant flow of water.

Nope. Just checking water level and sometimes adding in pipe water. But those are not rust residue? Last week, I actually found one of these stuff shaped like a small rock. When I try to rub it with fingers, it feels dusty and crumbles a bit.

DIY like this?

http://www.zerotohundred.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=387409

 

[sweelt]

Bro, left the radiator cap open. Start engine, let it idle.
See what come out. If you try d. Then is OK.

 

[RENESIS VIII]

Bro, left the radiator cap open. Start engine, let it idle.
See what come out. If you try d. Then is OK.

What should I expect? Bubbles or more of these substances?

 

[sweelt]

See what ooze out. But not too long, later tembak out pulak. Careful.
Like suggested, do full flush again.

 

[RENESIS VIII]

See what ooze out. But not too long, later tembak out pulak. Careful.
Like suggested, do full flush again.

I'll monitor the temperature again on long distance drive from now on. See if the temperature rises up a lot or not. Might visit my mechanic 2 or 3 weeks later. Currently he is moving into a new place, so I don't want to bother him for now. For the past 3 weeks, I've been visiting him weekly. First it was because one of the bolts at my alternator is loose, second is to flush the radiator and last week is because my radiator drain plug was leaking droplets.

 

[6UE5t]

Nope. Just checking water level and sometimes adding in pipe water. But those are not rust residue? Last week, I actually found one of these stuff shaped like a small rock. When I try to rub it with fingers, it feels dusty and crumbles a bit.

DIY like this?

http://www.zerotohundred.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=387409

That might be dirt coming from your tap water or your hose. Sometimes old hose can contain moss inside it or in the nozzle spray, then when you fill up with that hose it gets into your cooling system.

Yup, DIY just like that only, simple enough right?