Brown Coolant in Bottle, but...

[2bclutch]

I have brown coolant in the over flow bottle a long with some solid crud at the bottom. I don't have any kind of chocolate milk shake on the dip stick and the car doesn't over heat nor does it smoke. Could this still be a small crack in the block or maybe a small part of the head gasket not sealing? Or could it just be from dirty / rusty coolant passages in the block?

 

[RayBan GST]

are you using a coolant or Water in the system? if you were using water before instead of coolant then this might be the rust in the system


water to be used only if you are on the track where you need the car to cool nicely and quickly ( water is more efficient than coolant) however over years it will rust your system


just flash the system with water and then add a mix of water and collant i would say 50/50

good luck

 

[luv2rallye]

Suggest adding a can of cooling system flush (any auto store) and follow it's directions to do the flush.

 

[Defiant]

Yeah. What was the last decade in which the cooling system was flushed and refilled with Prestone mix? Don't run plain water in the cooling system. Start with an acid flush, and I'd do it twice. If you can't follow the directions on the can, it'll be cheaper for you to pay to have it done.
Brace for the next failure, and expect it to be soon.

 

[MrBoxx]

when was the last time u changed the seals. I had a similar problem and my seals were bad. I got new seals.(like 20 dollars) filled up with water drove around the block then flushed it. I then filled with coolant and it was fine, and it has been for several months. best of luck

You'll have to be more specific when you say "seals". Also, "you" is not spelled "u". Thank you.

 

[knochgoon24]

id think about the oil filter housing sandwich coming loose and allowing oil to mix with coolant, same thing happened to my 95.

The milkshake wasn't on the dip stick. If you take the radiator cap off, is that coolant the same color?

I had algae growing in my coolant bottle when I bought it. It could be something along those lines.

I'd just go with a coolant system flush and refill. Then keep and eye on it to see if it comes back.

 

[Black91TSiAWD]

yeah it wouldnt necessarily have to have coolant in the oil too though, mine was just oil in coolant and not the other way around. Dont know why but thats how it went down.