Oh oh, metal in radiator overflow tank

[Chamelion]

Hi there,

Was under my car verifying some oil leaks and I noticed a mass of brown crap in the bottom of my overflow tank. I droped a screw driver down there and dragged some out. Turns out, with the aid of a magnet, that the gritty substance is rusted metal.

The coolant is looking a little sad. It's still slightly green and doesn't look as bad as I've seen before, but it will need changing.

Am I looking at a huge problem here?

Matt.

[RG]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Hi there,

Was under my car verifying some oil leaks and I noticed a mass of brown crap in the bottom of my overflow tank. I droped a screw driver down there and dragged some out. Turns out, with the aid of a magnet, that the gritty substance is rusted metal.

The coolant is looking a little sad. It's still slightly green and doesn't look as bad as I've seen before, but it will need changing.

Am I looking at a huge problem here?

Matt.

Corrosion in the cooling system is at fault there. Best to take it for a full flush and some corrosion inhibitor.

[Mechan1k]

It is fairly common ... pretty much do what RedXR347 mentioned ... also it might be a good idea to get a pressure test done at the same time ... just for piece of mind.

If you have the factory radiator in there ... if you can afford it ... replace it with an ADRAD copper core radiator ... the factory aluminium ones are rubbish and are prone to cracking end-tanks.

[mik]

(if it hase`nt been done already) it might pay to have a look at your water pump before you do the cooling system if its time for a change do it all in one go, mine started weeping through the tell tale hole at 110thousand k`s might as well check your hoses as well.