Orange sludge in radiator

[The motor guy]

I think Dex-Cool is fine if your car came from the factory with it. Otherwise no.

I avoid the universal coolants and use a coolant designed for my engine although I am fine with a brand like Xerex.

Of course skip Dollar Tree brand oils and coolants.

I use zerex g05 in my other cummins. Of course it gets changed

 

[Shel_B]

I've adjusted the image and posted it here to perhaps make it easier for members to see.

 

[Chris142]

Didn't know it had one, I'll have to look into it next time

Drivers side, 3 inches or so above the oil pan rail. May need to scoot the trans cooler lines out of the way and it takes a 5/16 square.

 

[BMW Dom]

I would not recommend puting sweet potatoes in your coolant system.

 

[The motor guy]

I would not recommend puting sweet potatoes in your coolant system.

Dodge came from the factory with plain old green antifreeze back in 99

 

[Kira]

^^I YAM making the same recommendation.^^

 

[Chris142]

I've adjusted the image and posted it here to perhaps make it easier for members to see.

View attachment 161519

Ya that's rust from old coolant when it goes bad and eats the block up

 

[Nukeman7]

Watch this YouTube video which explains the issues linked to DEX-COOL that got GM into hot water. Especially focus on the portions around the 4 minute, 10 second mark.

 

[The motor guy]

Watch this YouTube video which explains the issues linked to DEX-COOL that got GM into hot water. Especially focus on the portions around the 4 minute, 10 second mark.

I've watched a few. All the YouTube videos say it's from mixing fluid, while all of you say lack of maintenance

 

[Donald]

I saw mixing coolant.

For it to rust really bad plain water would have used rather than coolant.

You could always plumb in an online coolant filter until the system is clean then pull it out.

 

[Donald]

I saw mixing coolant.

For it to rust really bad plain water would have used rather than coolant.

You could always plumb in an inline coolant filter until the system is clean then pull it out.

 

[The motor guy]

I saw mixing coolant.

For it to rust really bad plain water would have used rather than coolant.

You could always plumb in an online coolant filter until the system is clean then pull it out.

From the pics I gave of my truck? Thats what I think it is too. If it was plain water, it would just be a rusty watery color, not a thicker paste.

 

[The motor guy]

I think Dex-Cool is fine if your car came from the factory with it. Otherwise no.

I avoid the universal coolants and use a coolant designed for my engine although I am fine with a brand like Xerex.

Of course skip Dollar Tree brand oils and coolants.

It could have been mixed with any flavor of antifreeze honestly. I don't think green mixes with anything, so unless they flushed out the factory green stuff good, which nobody probably did then no telling how long its been sludged. Nobody ever tells the truth these days. I'm not sure why I didn't give it a better look over beforehand either. The radiator looks newish. Maybe in the last year or so it was replaced? That's the thing when you buy an older vehicle, no telling what was done.

 

[Greasymechtech]

If its not overheating, keep driving.

I'd either flush it, or simply drain/refill and add rmi25 to the mixture and keep driving. You'll probably want to repeat in 6-12 months.

If you want to flush:

No-Rosion Cooling System Flush

I don't go bezerk with cooling systems. Simple shorten the interval until it cleans out. Might have to repeat a couple times a year.

Keep the coolant level full cold always with a quality 50:50. Pick a good quality coolant for your engine.

Final Charge PRO-SERIES guaranteed advanced heavy duty antifreeze/coolant technology delivers highest service-life in the industry - 1.5 million miles - Final Charge Pro-Series - Old World Industries

ADVANCED HEAVY DUTY ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS HIGHEST SERVICE-LIFE IN THE INDUSTRY. GUARANTEED. Available in Full Strength & 50/50 Prediluted. Drums, totes, bulk, gallons.heavy duty diesel antifreeze, heavy duty diesel coolant, heavy duty truck antifreeze.

www.owi.com

 

[barkingspider]

I would use a chemical radiator flush product of your choice, follow the directions, and repeat until all is clean to you satisfaction You should be good after that

 

[The motor guy]

I would use a chemical radiator flush product of your choice, follow the directions, and repeat until all is clean to you satisfaction You should be good after that

I didn't find anything like that at the auto parts stores

 

[Nukeman7]

I didn't find anything like that at the auto parts stores

You can find this flush at WalMart, Lowes, ACE Hardware, Amazon and most national auto parts chain stores.

This kit is also beneficial when performing a complete flush:

 

[The motor guy]

This is going to be my Sunday morning project. Can I run straight water in it and do a few drain a fills over a period of a couple weeks? Then put antifreeze back in? Or will it overheat with straight water?

 

[Nukeman7]

Running straight tap water will be acceptable and won't overheat; however, I don't recommend doing it for a couple of weeks since there won't be any rust inhibitor for the iron block.

I suggest just turning the climate control to full heat and flushing thoroughly with tap water until it runs clear. Next, run the Prestone cleaner per the directions and do a follow-up flush with tap water. Then, drain as much water as possible and refill to 50% total capacity with concentrated Final Charge or G05 coolant. Top off the system with distilled water and purge all air and refill as necessary with pure coolant. This process will ensure you have at least ~50/50% coolant in the system.

 

[Chris142]

I've watched a few. All the YouTube videos say it's from mixing fluid, while all of you say lack of maintenance

I've had customers that never opened a hood or added any coolant and still got a deathcool mess. When dex goes bad it does it quickly and makes a mess like we see.