Coolant contaminated?

[wseed]

After a good long run with no problems yesterday I left the motorway and had to queue for a while at lights. Water temperature rise and my overflow bottle started to boil. I've just topped up with water to see what sort of coolant was in and it looks like the attached image. Is that contaminated? Should I be concerned?

[Milky400]

Get it checked, It shouldn't be that colour and certainly shouldn't boil, when was it last changed?. The cooling system if healthy is more than adequate

Have you checked oil cap for mayo? and it sounds to me it could be head gasket. but no expert, so id get it checked.

[wseed]

I don't know the history as only had the car a few weeks. It has been serviced recently but I don't think it had seen much use for the last few years.

[Milky400]

to add, you shouldn't have to much water in the expansion tank, cannot remember from memory as its been a while since the Chim went, sure someone will be along at some point soon

[ClassicChimaera 350 ft lb]

Expansion tank should be about 1/3 full when water is cold. Allows expansion when hot then draws a bit back as it cools so leaving 1/3 in there at all times.

If you've watered that down this might not work but open the expansion cap and quickly smell it, if it smells like exhaust emissions suspect problems.
It could be no coolant so just water and rust but that's pretty unlikely!

I'd be emptying that out and re filling the system with water/antifreeze and bleeding it then running it.

If it's boiled over there's obviously a problem. Could be an air lock so bleeding it would be the first thing to do in my book. after replacing that brown stuff and getting it analysed.
Did the engine sound ok, you might have blown a head gasket, is there any steam or excessive water out the exhaust.

[Andy JB]

I recall that was the colour of mine at the first flush many years ago. Its either had no coolant added to water or the water has become contaminated by oxidisation in the engine (not good).

Get it fully flushed out (not just drained), if you are lucky upon refilling with 50/50 monitor the colour & it may be okay with new fluid, if it discolurs again there is more serious internal corrosion most likley IMO. If you do change it then flush it again after 6-12 months to remove any remaining contaminated fluid.

[ClassicChimaera 350 ft lb]

Andy JB said:

I recall that was the colour of mine at the first flush many years ago. Its either had no coolant added to water or the water has become contaminated by oxidisation in the engine (not good).

Get it fully flushed out (not just drained), if you are lucky upon refilling with 50/50 monitor the colour & it may be okay with new fluid, if it discolurs again there is more serious internal corrosion most likley IMO. If you do change it then flush it again after 6-12 months to remove any remaining contaminated fluid.

That first sentence,,, that's good to know
Water pump/ rad, there is a fair bit of metal in there and if it's had no antifreeze rust will soon form. Does your water pump sound noisy, check the weep hole on the pump and check for small leaks, usually only when under pressure. You might notice brown or sticky substance dried on the water inlet pipe casting on the pump, a tell tail sign of pump seal failure
All worth checking.

I'd be checking the thermostat too. See what the water looks like up there.

[ClassicChimaera 350 ft lb]

If it's boiled it's now likely to be low on coolant so air could well be in the system regardless of other properties entering so I wouldn't run it until it's been filled and bled properly.

[wseed]

Thanks for the reply all that doesn't sound encouraging although I spoke with the dealer I bought the car from, he'd had the engine in bits replacing the cam before I bought the car and wasn't overly concerned.

I'll look at draining the coolant and doing a flush before I use it again. Do any of the flushes revers any oxidisation? What long term issues might I have?

[Milky400]

You bought from a dealer and only a few weeks ago? I'd be taking it straight back.

The coolant should not be that colour, whatever the cause, could be simple could be serious but it's for the dealer so sort. If like me you don't trust dealers get it independently checked, I had issues with a well respected dealer after a Tuscan I bought developed serious engine faults, smoking after a 60 mile trip home after collecting. He wriggled like a poison worm I eventually got a full refund but that was after countless emails and threaten of serious action. In the day I returned it he even tried selling it on that day.

All this from a so called respected dealer.

[ClassicChimaera 350 ft lb]

^^^^^ this. Infact I wouldn't do anything other than keep a sample of that water and return the car to said dealer if it has no antifreeze !!! ???

[Chimp871]

Totally agree. Send it right back to dealer let them deal with it.... Head gasket is easier for them than you plus you want to know your block is sound.

[wseed]

I've spoken with the dealer and he'd already said to bring it in as it is running a little rich and he was going to sort that and the timing. He's totally no- nonsense and I have no doubt that he's put it right. I just trying to find a convenient day to get to him as he's a good hours drive away I wan't to make sure I'm not going to make matters worse running it.

I think the orange colour may just be the sediment in the expansion tank.


I got the lid off the swirp pot and the fluid is green in there so I do think it has antifreeze in it.


I just ran it to refill the coolant and topped up the swirl pot but left the cap off the expansion tank with the heater on.
When the temp gauge reached 90c the expansion tank filled and started to spit/boil


Regarding if the gasket has gone or not there was a small amount of water dripped out of the exhaust, black with soot as per the previously mentioned rich running. Is this evidence enough that the gaskets have gone?

[Steve_D]

sooty black water from the exhaust is just condensation.

If you run the engine for long with the caps off the water will boil. the pressure cap is there to raise the pressure in the system as water at a higher pressure has a higher boiling point.

Steve

[wseed]

Thanks Steve, so maybe its not all doom and gloom. I'll have another chat with the seller and sort out when he can give it a fettle.

[wseed]

Closing off all my problem threads so this turned out all to be fine. I think the cause of the issue being the expansion bottle cap as I could hear it leaking as pressure builds. For confidence in the system I've flushed it all, will be replacing the thermostat at the weekend and fitted a new standard otter switch as the original was coming on late. despite the colour of the water in the expansion bottle the rest was relatively clean and was just sediment in the bottom of the expansion tank which I've now cleaned out.

[phazed]

I would just add that if the dealer replaced your camshaft he would've had to drain the cooling system and therefore one would've thought he would've renewed the coolant and everything should be clean, clear, (with antifreeze) and all okay if done properly .