Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

[nascar24jd]

1993 Firebird, 3.4L. One of the problems when I bought this car was that the coolant was a horrible rust color. First I just thought it was neglected green coolant, but now I am thinking that it was Dexcool gone bad. Did GM use dexcool in 1993?

Anyway, I spent all morning flushing this stuff out and I was quite successful. I got it to run clear water out the radiator drain with the engine at full temp and the heater core flowing. Filled it back up with 1 bottle of Water Wetter, 6 quarts of Prestone Green Anti-Freeze, 100% mix, and the rest water. My car will be much happier now. Oh, and yes, I did flush out the overflow bottle.

What a mess of "mud" that came out of this thing. My son was asking my why there was mud coming out of my car. Assuming this was Dexcool gone bad, thanks GM.

BTW, this car looks and runs awesome. It had a few minor issues which I have been resolving myself, and I only paid $1500 for it. What do you all think of the price?

[BLLDOGG]

Re: What a mess...

someone probably switched over to dexcool and left it to sludge. mixing green and dexcool and never maintaining it lead to that mud effect.

[nascar24jd]

Re: What a mess...

Thanks, so did the 1993 model originally come with green coolant? When did they start to use Dexcool?

[landj]

Re: What a mess...

Couldn't the sludge be a leak stop and conditioner tablet remains? From what I have read in the repair and maintenence manuals, it's recommended that 2 tablets of leak-stop/conditioner (I've used Barrs) be added every time the coolant is changed. I know Barrs will turn the coolant, whatever color it is, more brown.

[landj]

Re: What a mess...

By the way, good job in finding such a deal on the car!

[nascar24jd]

Re: Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

I am not really sure. I have changed the anti-freeze on many, many occasions in my lifetime. This stuff was terrible. Could have been bad Dexcool, rusty green coolant, or coolant with a ton of Bars in it. I am pretty sure that it was not Bars simply by the consistency of the fluid. I really think that it was Dexcool that went bad and was poorly maintained. I went out for a nice long ride before, after it cooled down I removed the cap, and saw nice bright green Perstone, ahhhhh.

[nascar24jd]

Re: What a mess...

By the way, good job in finding such a deal on the car!

Thanks, you know, sometimes we do get lucky.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: What a mess...

your car came with green and they mainly changed i believe in 95. from your description, someone probably added dexcool to the green not realizing what it will do.

[landj]

Re: What a mess...

I'll remember not to mix ethanols(-glycol)! ;-)

[RadRacer]

Re: Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

Mine was the same way first time I checked it. My dad thought it was engine case sealant, then we realized it takes dexcool. So, we flushed it all out, replaced my thermostat and put in more dexcool. The manual says to put that in, so.....that's what I did......

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

you did the right thing.

[slow6]

Re: Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

there is also coolant in the passage-ways of the block itself, and the heater core, and the heater core hoses, and the water pump

[nascar24jd]

Re: Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

Well, a year has past since I flushed away the brown muddy mess. I was checking the fluids yesterday and the coolant was just turning from a dirty green to a bronze color. I decided to change it today. So I drained it flushed it, added a bottle of Redline Water Wetter and topped it off with a 50/50 mix of green Prestone and water. Considering a year has past the coolant held up pretty well. I figure in another year it will be even cleaner. Eventually all of the brown will be gone.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: What a mess...

your car came with green and they mainly changed i believe in 95.

1996+

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Coolant was muddy, not anymore :)

are you sure it wasnt oil in there...cause I had a **** load of oil in mine from my intake gasket goin, and it was a pretty damn rusty colour...