Dirty Coolant, Pics included

[Heffer_Slayer]

Hey everyone, i was just doing some checks on my car and noticed my radiator was flippin filthy!

So i went down to repco, grabbed myself some fresh coolant and a coolant flush.
Flushed it out following one of the guides on here and it seemed all good. Water was running clean through my hoses ect.

Almost a day later it was back to its filthy self...im not sure why.

I am pretty certain its not engine oil and as when i change the oil its not murky or anything, its just black.

Also, i have noticed more and more "white dots" in my engine bay, which i am told is coolant.

The temperature gauge never moves from the "standard" position when the car is warm and has been running for a bit, its just under half way.
I figured i better get onto this before it gets any worse or causes some other damage.

Here are some pictures to describe what the hell im talkin about because im not to good putting this all into words...

[paul-r]

It could be engine oil, caused by a faulty inlet manifold. I am not sure what else would cause the water to go black.
Is the engine idling ok or is it rough idle ?

[edals]

My VR was exactly the same as that, Turned out to be the Inlet Gasket. Changed it and flushed the whole system, Been perfect green ever since.

[paul-r]

Sorry, I should have said "faulty inlet manifold gasket" - not "faulty inlet manifold" - this is a common problem - changed mine a few weeks ago.
Another symptom is you will get a rough idle with a faulty gasket.

[Heffer_Slayer]

Hmmmm, It doesn't idle or run rough at all. Runs pretty good from what i know of.

Is it still a possibility even though it seems to be running fine?
Does the transmission fluid have any contact with coolant, isn't there a tranny cooler on the vt?

[edals]

Im not sure about the Trans cooler. Eitherway, if your cars done over 200k the inlet gaskets will be worn and will need to be replaced anyway.
My VR RAN fine when it was leaking. But after changing it it did improve the idle a little.

[Dayvo]

My bets with the inlet manifold . Replaced mine a couple weeks ago , had the same symptoms. Not an overly hard job just time consuming, Takes the best part of a day .

[edals]

Heres the basic break down, Its a Different motor but similar work. Took me from about 10 to about 4, while having breaks and cleaning alot of crap. ya calves start to get bloody sore though lol
Vr inlet gasket replacement

[Heffer_Slayer]

Cars done 155,000km, Hasn't been replaced before as far as i know of.

Just strange how my oil is always clean when i change my oil, could it be possible its only leaking into the coolant, and the coolant not leaking into the oil? Though that sounds like a unlikely scenario.

Thanks for the link to the VR Guide.

Where would be the best place to get my replacement gasket, is there any special tools required that will make the job easier? Any extra tips would be a bonus too!

All the symptoms are there, is there just a visual inspection i can do, just to be 100% sure its the inlet manifold gasket? Would you think that leak has been dripping out into my engine bay and spraying all the white dots everywhere too?

[edals]

Its hard to tell exactly what is it from a forum mate, But since its only done 155k, Im suspecting something else now, I have passed the 200k and mines only very slightly starting to go oily. unless a gasket has failed early. How is your Transmission oil level ? Have you noticed that drop at all?

[Heffer_Slayer]

Yer true...
Hmm, Well in regards to the transmission level, i havn't checked in a while nor gave it a change since i have owned it as far as i know of.
Been a bit scared getting under there, old man says its a prick of a job.

[edals]

YOu only need to check the Dip Stick level thats all, see if its dropped and ewwies with coolant lol. Yes servicing a trans is a pain.

[ashbox]

trans cooler will be apart of the radiator so if thats gone, it will run through your coolant

[ephect]

i would agree with most on the inlet gasket, but before you do replace it, check to see if your trans cooler lines plug into the radiator.. could be leaking.
easy-ish way to check either rad or motor is remove top and bottom hoses, cap them both at rad and motor, fill both with water run the engine for a minute or 2, will be fine for the motor coz you've capped them, but dont run it too long. this way you seperate both systems and can tell if its rad or engine side by catching the fluid and checking it from either system.

[Dayvo]

If you are getting water in the auto trans it can will be up for a rebuild

[Heffer_Slayer]

I just checked my trans fluid and engine oil. oil looks fine, nice and clean. Same with the trans fluid. Its red :\

Where do i go from here.

[edals]

Well since both lots of oils are clean and levels are fine. Im guessing your up to do a Inlet gasket mate, But just remember it will need to be done at some point so even if it does not fix the issue, its one less thing todo later on. You can go to super cheap and get gaskets, or get the Holden OEM Ones, Or if you really want, get these from mace.
Inlet Manifold Gaskets - Mace Engineering Group

[ephect]

remember that you can have water in the oil which is a seperate issue to oil in the water, and sometimes you dont have both occuring. Check to see if the trans lines are in the radiator, it could be leaking oil into the water and not into each other.

[S.T.K.E]

Hmmm This is Quite Interesting. Mine has only got 120K's on it but displays the same kinda filth. Although a different engine but something that we may want to look at is age as well. Were Pushing 10 Years Now.


ahhhhhhhhhhh.... Doing a Inlet Gasket on a L67 is so much more complicated than on the ecotec.

[Dayvo]

You can try to see how tight or loose the bolts are on the intake manifold . When i replaced my gaskets one of the bolts could have been undone without using a spanner . When i pulled the bolt out the thread was covered in oil / water and the gasket was shagged near that bolt .Tightening the bolt up wont do any good as the damage is already done but its a good indication to tell if the gasket needs to be replaced .
I got the gaskets from Autobarn and cost about $80 the o rings for the coolant tubes came to about $7 plus i replaced the o rings for the injectors which came to about $12 . Might as well clean out the plenum chamber and check the pcv valve while you have it all apart. If you need any info send me a p.m . I got hold of a copy of the VX service manual on cd which helped too .

[PBestii]

hey mate, not sure if youve got the problem solved yet or not, but i had the exact same problem in my vx and it was a crack in the drivers side tank on the radiator. if you take all of the stuff covering the radiator off, have a look to see if any of the fins of the radiator are corroded, there were a couple that were corroded on mine which pretty much confirms a leak/crack. If it turns out you do have a crack in the side tank you can either get it fixed or just replace the whole radiator, if you just get it fixed chances are itll just let loose again so id recommend replacing the whole radiator and giving your engine a flush.

Hope this helps
//PBestii

[Heffer_Slayer]

Thanks for all the advice so far guys...im still in Limbo about this whole Dirty coolant situation.

I think i will hopefully have some time sunday to check it all out and hopefully find out what it causing my dirty coolant.

If i can't find anything, does anybody have a reputable mechanic down the Northern suburbs? the folks have been taking there cars for RWC/General Servicing down to a bloke in Thomastown, family owned business if i remember correctly.

[gungazza]

Hey everyone, i was just doing some checks on my car and noticed my radiator was flippin filthy!

So i went down to repco, grabbed myself some fresh coolant and a coolant flush.
Flushed it out following one of the guides on here and it seemed all good. Water was running clean through my hoses ect.

Almost a day later it was back to its filthy self...im not sure why.

I am pretty certain its not engine oil and as when i change the oil its not murky or anything, its just black.

Also, i have noticed more and more "white dots" in my engine bay, which i am told is coolant.

The temperature gauge never moves from the "standard" position when the car is warm and has been running for a bit, its just under half way.
I figured i better get onto this before it gets any worse or causes some other damage.

Here are some pictures to describe what the hell im talkin about because im not to good putting this all into words...

would this be the same for a 5lt v8

[Benboy]

Nothing unusual about discoloured coolant - particularly in a high mileage engine. If owners used/added coolant in accordance with the manufactures specifications then the problem(s) would be lessened. Take your car to a radiator specialist. They can remove and clean the radiator as well as flush the engine block and get rid of the built up sludge. Once cleaned make sure that you use only coolant that meets Holden specification and change it according to Owner's Handbook recommendations.

[damotheking]

i also have this problem if it more of a redish color ur tran cooler has come apart and the oil is slowly going straight into your radiator water cheers