VT Commodore - Brown Sludge, in overflow tank reservoir.

[Bronson3]

have a look at your radiator cap
if you have an oily residue like vaseline
you probably have worn lim gaskets
if you use the holden pellets you will get a brown residue
if it is pinkish trans coolant pipes in radiator may be coroded
my money is on lim gaskets

2 pictures of the brown sludge, it's now under my cap :S so it's pretty bad

 

[lout]

thats definitely lim gaskets

 

[SavVYute]

Why don't you scrape a sample off and sit it out in the sun.
If it is oil it will stay oily.
If it's the pellet residue (ground up walnut shell) it should turn to a dry crust.

 

[Bronson3]

thats definitely lim gaskets

Are they expensive to fix/replace? hard to do? no idea what they are, but I pride myself on being a good learner and always willing to give it a shot
I google'd the symptoms:

X Coolant leaks.
X Red, green or yellow fluid underneath car.
X Engine runs rough.
~ Check engine light is on. - - - - - The electrical fault light comes on, I think that's because of my alternator though :3

I don't have any of those, but I'm trusting your expertise my friend, would you be able to elaborate on other ways I could diagnose this as the problem?

EDIT: Just did more research... UNSTEADY IDLE can be a symtpom, which I do have...
many of my problems could potentially all be linked to one :OOO

++
This guy has a video of what looks similar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ZQSLpxwX0

But mine looks alot more like mud as opposed to his looking very oily :S
Another way to describe his would be more of rusty water, mine being... well mud, haha no better way to state it :/

Why don't you scrape a sample off and sit it out in the sun.
If it is oil it will stay oily.
If it's the pellet residue (ground up walnut shell) it should turn to a dry crust.

Great idea, thanks for that mate, I'll see how I go with that tomorrow

 

[lout]

a bit of reading for you
https://forums.justcommodores.com.a...d-gasket-replacement-6hr-includes-pics.187621
https://forums.justcommodores.com.a...r-intake-manifold-gaskets-vs-vy-ecotec.236774

 

[Bronson3]

a bit of reading for you
https://forums.justcommodores.com.a...d-gasket-replacement-6hr-includes-pics.187621
https://forums.justcommodores.com.a...r-intake-manifold-gaskets-vs-vy-ecotec.236774

I've been watching this guys videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn73uh67Zp8
That's part 3, he does all this extra stuff, but would you know what tool he needed that he speaks about need to buy, it's to disconnect one of the hoses at the back of the engine. It's at " 1:06 " of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_jWF9yp44s

I run the risk of being made a fool of but are rocker cover gaskets and lim gaskets the same

 

[billythakid]

I run the risk of being made a fool of but are rocker cover gaskets and lim gaskets the same

Nope , Lower intake manifold gaskets are between the heads and intake manifold in the " valley"

Without watching it the Tool needed would be a fuel line disconnection tool for the 3 fuel /return lines at the firewall .
Do your thermostat while its apart as well

 

[Bronson3]

Nope , Lower intake manifold gaskets are between the heads and intake manifold in the " valley"

Without watching it the Tool needed would be a fuel line disconnection tool for the 3 fuel /return lines at the firewall .
Do your thermostat while its apart as well

So I have gotten EVERYTHING off, except the fuel lines, I'll need to get the tool tomorrow because I ran out of daylight, is there another way to get them off? I don't exactly know how to get them off either, I take them off at the wall, but I don't see a connection where I am supposed to slip the tool into at all...

 

[lout]

i just undo the rail from base of plenum and lean it out of the way
pulling injectors out of lim
i can never find my line tool

 

[BlackoutSteve]

Tha gaskets through GMH are about $190 + tax.
If you can wait, perhaps buy genuine through Intense for US$55 plus post. Browse their site, you're bound to find more reasonably priced GM engine bits.
INTENSE Racing: Lower Intake Gaskets (L36)
Double check, these are for L36 engines.