Vt coolant / muck

[BPX-31H]

Lately since the heater tap, the coolant has been disappearing, it doesn't over heat, but i top it up and in get a brown sludge coming out,

Was thinking of replacing the radiator, would it Be the inlet gasket? The oil isn't mucky, and when there's coolant it's not oily,

[VYMAD]

Replacing the radiator wouldn't be necessary unless it is leaking. Giving the entire cooling system a thorough flush and coolant change would be a good idea, though. What do you mean by "since the heater tap"? Have you recently replaced it? And where is the "brown sludge" coming out of?
If you have a coolant leak that is noticable enough that you have to keep topping it up and you are sure there is no milky substance in the engine oil, then you should be able to spot where the coolant is leaking from. Remember, when coolant dries it becomes a white colour. Assuming you have a nice green coloured coolant, lol.

[airforceone]

man mine was a little sludgy to , prob not using demineralized water hasnt helped , probly a bit of rust and shit, mines been flushed a few times and its not to bad now, i gota take the overflow out and clean it to , but i was thinkn putin a new radiator on didnt realy need it in the end., my coolant was also disapearing because it was a tiny leek at the heater hose goin on to the extractors so u couldnt see it leakin anywhere, check that one out, id say get a full new hose pack , bout 100 buks and flush it out too.

[BPX-31H]

The sludge is coming from the cap, but the over flow is green? Okay it's been pressure tested, twice no leaks so im well lost

[accentstencil]

The sludge is coming from the cap, but the over flow is green? Okay it's been pressure tested, twice no leaks so im well lost

It might be worth trying a new radiator cap, not to get rid of the sludge but to fix the disappearing coolant perhaps.

[BPX-31H]

Sorry forgot to mention I'd got a new cap and it's still doing it

[Claudy]

Inlet manifold gasket??

[VR38]

I have found alot of new caps not sealing correctly lately.

Sludge could be a trans leak if it is auto or if it is rusty colour then the neater core or pipe could have been blocked and is now dislodged.

[BPX-31H]

Trans fluid & colour is perfect, might just have to flush it and go from there!

[VSteve]

The sludge is most likely the inlet manifold gasket. Oil gets sucked in to the water gallerys while the engine cools and the coolant contracts. Just replace the intake gaskets. It will only cost you $50 and a few hours work and you will be able to tell straight away if it has been leaking once its all apart.

[Claudy]

I did say that before lol happened to my mate and after leavin it for a while the car will run like shit coz water/air gets in there and makes it run real rough and nearly stall

[db_notso]

check for leaks EVERYWHERE
heater tap
hoses
clamps pump heater core
into engine oil into auto oil
check resevoir not leaking
a leak may only be shown up by a stain of white greenish colur on part

if NO leaks found and still losing large amount of coolant and no contamination of oils
possible head gasket, or not bled properly and LOOKS LIKE losing coolant (would be a little bit but 1 liter at most)

if after flushing it and it is still sludgy i would suspect inlet manifold gaskets but there is NORMALLY water in oil aswell as in oil in coolant (looks like milk)
which can also indicate head gasket/s

if unsure get the car preasure tested they may at least tell you what to replace if you cant find anything and you can be more sure of what fault is

[BPX-31H]

Had it pressure tested twice it's only happened after the heater tap, so i was thinking it's just rust build up over time, a bloke set at Holden said it could be a build up of gunk ib the radiator,


edit: it doesnt loose much, but its brown and muckyy.

[db_notso]

yeah would definately pay to have it flushed out!~
and get all new coolant in there
before wasting money on guese's

[wortus]

If ther eis no oil in the radiator then the sludge may be the disolved Holden cooling system pellets?

[db_notso]

yes maybe REFUSE TO USE THEM PEOPLE they do nothing but make water dark BUT NOT GLUGGY

[holdengirl17]

my car was like that & my mums vy too.. bought 2 lots of radiator flush for $15 from autobarn and flushed both of them, then put new coolant in. They've been fine since
stuff paying to have it done at a mechanics.

[BPX-31H]

I've been continuing topping it up and the problem has seem to gone! Nice level an green

[db_notso]

fair enough but for long term you need to flush it out or eventually it will happen again... if it was just a coolant percentage problem that is...

[dgrintz]

Had this issue recently with my VT after checking I had no leaks.

It was caused by an air lock in the cooling system especially if the heater knob wasn't in the hot position when flushing and topping up. By constantly topping up you would eventually reduce the air in the system but may also damage the head gasket.

[db_notso]

well a lot of service manuals (haynes etc) say that you caN overfill the resevoir and next time it gets cold it wi suck in the small amount of fluid in-place of air
but this is dependant if the air pocket is at the overflow hose on the radiator...