'Silvery liquid' in coolant tank
Discussion
My sister has just text me saying that there is a silvery liquid floating on top of her coolant tank.
She says that she mixed pink and blue antifreeze, I don't know whether these are different and react with each other?
It doesn't sound like any head gasket problem I have heard of before.
The car is a Rover 25 so I don't want these people saying 'Of course it's HG, it's a Rover', I actually want proper advice.
Thanks,
Bob
She says that she mixed pink and blue antifreeze, I don't know whether these are different and react with each other?
It doesn't sound like any head gasket problem I have heard of before.
The car is a Rover 25 so I don't want these people saying 'Of course it's HG, it's a Rover', I actually want proper advice.
Thanks,
Bob
There is more to antifreeze than colour. There are so many different compositions of antifreeze with different chemical compositions. OAT, Non Acidics, Glycols, etc.
Personally, I'd drain and refil for peace of mind. And figure out where it's loosing coolant. Remember, it's a sealed system and operates best as such.
Personally, I'd drain and refil for peace of mind. And figure out where it's loosing coolant. Remember, it's a sealed system and operates best as such.
It could well be bits of scale floating about in the anitfreeze, it could also be bits of water pump, if she is losing coolant and it needs topping up the water pump is a know weak point, get it fixed straight away, not a hard or expensive job but you will need to replace the timing belt and tensioner as well, just as an aside maybe someone has added K seal at some point this has shiny copper in it. This car should be ran with O.A.T (pink) antifreeze only at a 50/50 mix.
davepoth said:
A good point; antifreeze is usually red or green. You shouldn't mix them. You definitely shouldn't mix them with screenwash.
Blue antifreeze is very common, probably the most common colour until the long life stuff gained in popularity. However, the colour indicates almost nothing about the type of coolant these days. Mixing different types can cause reactions and make salts precipitate out of the mixture, but I've never heard of a silver liquid before.You shouldn't mix different colours of antifreeze especially if you do not know which type you already have in the system.
Typically you have 2 clear types of coolant. Sadly you can't really rely on the colour to be able to tell if your coolant is phosphate/nitrate based or organic based.
I believe MG/ROver use a organic based solution which is normally bright yellow or bright green. As far as I know you can only mix purple G12 based coolant into G11 or G11+ types but you cannot mix G11 and G12
If you have mixed coolant types you do usually end up with a murky sludge layer.
Typically you have 2 clear types of coolant. Sadly you can't really rely on the colour to be able to tell if your coolant is phosphate/nitrate based or organic based.
I believe MG/ROver use a organic based solution which is normally bright yellow or bright green. As far as I know you can only mix purple G12 based coolant into G11 or G11+ types but you cannot mix G11 and G12
If you have mixed coolant types you do usually end up with a murky sludge layer.
aka_kerrly said:
You shouldn't mix different colours of antifreeze especially if you do not know which type you already have in the system.
Typically you have 2 clear types of coolant. Sadly you can't really rely on the colour to be able to tell if your coolant is phosphate/nitrate based or organic based.
I believe MG/ROver use a organic based solution which is normally bright yellow or bright green. As far as I know you can only mix purple G12 based coolant into G11 or G11+ types but you cannot mix G11 and G12
If you have mixed coolant types you do usually end up with a murky sludge layer.
Rover use the O.A.T anitfreeze which is pink. It even tells you O.A.T only on the collar around the expansion tank neck.Typically you have 2 clear types of coolant. Sadly you can't really rely on the colour to be able to tell if your coolant is phosphate/nitrate based or organic based.
I believe MG/ROver use a organic based solution which is normally bright yellow or bright green. As far as I know you can only mix purple G12 based coolant into G11 or G11+ types but you cannot mix G11 and G12
If you have mixed coolant types you do usually end up with a murky sludge layer.
lankybob said:
GAAAH!
My sister has taken it to a mechanic and he is saying head gasket, predictably. The problem is though, I'm not convinced. I'm not being naive here because I know what these engines are like, I just feel that this bloke is taking my sister for a ride.
To be fair, if there is an oil film on the coolant, it would appear silvery and that really has to be the head gasket. My sister has taken it to a mechanic and he is saying head gasket, predictably. The problem is though, I'm not convinced. I'm not being naive here because I know what these engines are like, I just feel that this bloke is taking my sister for a ride.
Tell her she should really replace the water pump too and to not accept his first quote but shop round for prices before getting it done.
I will, I know of a chap who is a good mechanic and cheap. This bloke has quoted £600 which is more than the Rover dealer in a near town.
LuS1fer said:
To be fair, if there is an oil film on the coolant, it would appear silvery and that really has to be the head gasket.
Tell her she should really replace the water pump too and to not accept his first quote but shop round for prices before getting it done.
Tell her she should really replace the water pump too and to not accept his first quote but shop round for prices before getting it done.
SebastienClement said:
What engine is it? If it's a diesel it's not likely to be HG.
To be honest, I'd drop the coolant and replace with fresh and watch it for a bit.
I will also mention this to her, watch and see of it happens again.To be honest, I'd drop the coolant and replace with fresh and watch it for a bit.
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