I am sure it means I have to change the coolant/flush the coolant, but is this an indication that there is something wrong with the engine or is this a problem that is 99% of the time fixed merely by flushing out the bad coolant and putting in new/good coolant?
2007-01-19 12:17:42 · 5 answers · asked by NoCalMike 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The car is a 1996 Saturn SL1 and this is the first time the sludge has ever shown up in the coolant tank...
2007-01-19 12:28:57 · update #1
when was last time changed could be you need radiator boiled out at radiator shop or maybe leaking oil into areas coolant runs
2007-01-19 12:21:57 · answer #1 · answered by oldmanarnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a direct symptom of DexCool (yellow) coolant. In theory Dex is supposed to last over twice as long as 'conventional' green coolant but in reality once the chemical properties of Dex begins to break down it causes massive sludge problems in the cooling system. Ask any radiator repair shop -- Dex is making them wealthy with engine flushes, radiator replacements, etc. I have read that the newer Dex-type coolants are much improved but I will stick to the conventional types and just change it more often. I flushed all the dex from my two cars so equipped and replaced it with 'green' coolant with absolutely NO ill effects at all. (both are long out of OEM warranty, by the way).
2007-01-19 13:19:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probably have oil leaking into the coolant ( check your oil dipstick for a milky color ) which could mean a bad head gasket and or cracked head.
2007-01-19 12:26:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe your radiator is rusting out.
2007-01-19 12:26:13 · answer #4 · answered by margarita 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Head gaskets , seen it more than once .
2007-01-19 12:31:47 · answer #5 · answered by Dakota 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋