Orangish or brownish color in coolant

[LoW96Rs03]

My coolant is like a orangish/brownish color, I need to know what would cause it to turn this color? I looks like a liqued rust type color, its hard to explain. The only thing different that was done to the car before noticing the strange color is putting a can of sea foam through the vacuum line but I dont see that effecting anything unless it knocked off some nasty residue? Car runs fine and stays cool,(Ive always had to add water every couple weeks)im just curious where this rust type color in the water or coolant would come from? BTW its a 96 420a.

 

[MyBeatGSX]

All of your coolant is rust colored or just the stuff at the bottom of the overflow? I get rusty crap in the bottom of my overflow bottle. Its caused by just that, rust. Probably past due for a coolant flush.

 

[Auto RS T]

Definatly sounds like rust, do a full coolant system flush, if you hadn't owned the car for a while I would a have suggested that someone put the wrong type of coolant in also. "Dex cool" is red and appears orangish when exposed to air for a period of time. Flush the system like mybeatgsx said.

 

[LoW96Rs03]

Yea that was my next move to flush it all out, i was quoted $60 and I didnt want to do it yet because I figured that it would just come back, plus I had no idea rust would get in there. After the flush is the rust color going to come back like right after? Ive owned the car for three years and have never done it so I think its past due eh?

 

[Auto RS T]

You can easily do it yourself with a garden hose. The color should go away if you flush it well enough, for a real good flush also disconnect the heater hoses and flush the heater core, dont forget the block too. Also dont forget to mix the coolant correctly (directions on back of jug) or buy pre mixed.