Gunky coolant - oil and tranny fluid ok

[mbvp73]

Hi guys

I have found the yellow plastic dipstick for the coolant and the radiator cap have this gunky brown crap on them.

Oil dipstick shows the oil is looking good (no milkyness) and the tranny fluid is red and fresh (just had it flushed/replaced).

Also, I had my radiator replaced in February.

Any ideas as to what it might be? Some people of forums say it could be tranny fluid getting in thru the cooler. Maybe it is but it doesn't seem to be affecting the tranny fluid.

Car is runnning great. No steamy exhaust so I think the head gaskets are still ok.

Is there something I might have missed here???

[rocket0000]

me too mate my engine oil is clean no creamy shit in it or on the dipstick but i have some creamy shit at the bottom of my coolant reservoir dipstick.
i did a compression test for coolant to confirm if there is a blown mother ####er gasket but result came negative. i think one of the ####s at Holden service did put some oil or he pissed in my coolant. so am gonna flush it again and check after that.

[paul-r]

The brown stuff is likely to be engine oil caused by a faulty inlet manifold gasket. I had the same problem.

[mbvp73]

Oh ok, thanks paul-r, I will get the mechanic to check that out next service

[edals]

Yeah no doubt its the inlet gasket. Its not to hard a job todo your self, just need a day todo it, Costs a fair bit to get a mechanic todo, as the gaskets are about $160 + about 4 hours labour.

[mbvp73]

Youch! Might have a look at the how-to's and see if there is something there. Cheers

[edals]

Vr inlet gasket replacement

Thats my How to on a VR commodore, Its not the same engine but very similar job, give you idea the work your up for.

[mbvp73]

Actually checked this thread out before but didn't realise you did it till now! haha. Unfortunately, way beyond my mechanical capabilities. Looks like a bit of financial pain for me. Car runs great though, but I gather its one of those things left unchecked will eventually bite me on the arse.

[Dayvo]

I'd say its the inlet manifold gasket too , i replaced mine a couple of weeks ago , they do have a reputation of shitting themselves . Not a hard job just time consuming. The biggest problem is cleaning the old crap off the heads and intake surfaces .Get a spanner and see if the bolts on the manifold are tight. They have a habit of working loose .Tightening them up won't help cos the gasket will be stuffed but it is a good guide to tell is thats the problem . It is a bit different to doing the VR . On the vts you have to remove the tensioner pulley and the two coolant tubes which just pull out , remember to replace both O rings and use plenty of lube on them before refitting them. also you dont have to remove the coolant sensor cables or the thermostat housing .

[dylanstone]

over time every cars coolant turns brown and ends up with glunky deposits, which is why you have to or should flush it every so often. mines slightly brown (still green) my mates cars are the same and there all serviced by reputable mechanics regularly.
unless urs is different, which it doesnt sound, your car should be FINE

[edals]

over time every cars coolant turns brown and ends up with glunky deposits, which is why you have to or should flush it every so often. mines slightly brown (still green) my mates cars are the same and there all serviced by reputable mechanics regularly.
unless urs is different, which it doesnt sound, your car should be FINE

You Have to remember Theres a difference between oil and just normal Rust in the coolant. Depending on the age and how many kms is on it.
If you see oil in it theres a gasket leak, can easily tell when you see oil around your rad cap and it floating on the top of the coolant, should never be oil in the coolant, rust sure cant escape that

[rocket0000]

mate i do have just a very little bit of creamy thing and as i said before i did a compression test for a blown head gasket when the car was worm but the result is negative. and who told u it might be a gasket leak??? it might be ur tyranny leaking into the coolant. or as i said before someone had pissed in it or put some oil in ur coolant as defiantly what did happened to me. I've done alot of test at auto shop to confirm if a head gasket leak or a tranny oil is leaking but the result is negative. so plz can u explain 2 me mate????

[rocket0000]

i do believe its a rust as Holden admit they build up a faulty reservoir tube that pick up every shit pass by under or above neath.

[Dayvo]

If its a milky brown color under the radiator cap then it is oil mixed with water.

[edals]

mate i do have just a very little bit of creamy thing and as i said before i did a compression test for a blown head gasket when the car was worm but the result is negative. and who told u it might be a gasket leak??? it might be ur tyranny leaking into the coolant. or as i said before someone had pissed in it or put some oil in ur coolant as defiantly what did happened to me. I've done alot of test at auto shop to confirm if a head gasket leak or a tranny oil is leaking but the result is negative. so plz can u explain 2 me mate????

Ok, The Inlet manifold (with gaskets between The Block and the inlet manifold) is the top part that allows air into all cylinders, Both Oil and Coolant Run Through this part from block to inlet manifold, so need gaskets, So A compression test would not show a fault as it will only test the Head gasket as both Valves are closed at point of compression and the Inlet has nothing todo with it at point of compression. So if oil in coolant is either a Trans leak or Inlet gasket leak. If Coolant in the oil then its a head gasket or a failed compression test. Hope this makes sense lol