Should it look like this
Should it look like this
Author
Discussion

Andy Nelson

Original Poster:

517 posts

210 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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Changed the coolant tonight and this is what I took out. Is this normal or do I have an issue? Thanks in advance.

Had the necessary hoon afterwards if you drive quick enough the rain doesn't come in the car when the roof is down!

Edited by Andy Nelson on Friday 12th March 20:48

Andy Nelson

Original Poster:

517 posts

210 months

Friday 12th March 2010
quotequote all
Aaarrrrgggghhhhh picture missing!

orange_dodo

694 posts

218 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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I would say that looks like it needed changing!

Not too bad though, coolant tends to get a bit sedimenty if its in the engine too long. Saying that my experience is with a volvo and when I changed the coolant I had no idea how long its been in there.

lou4010

416 posts

213 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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Hello Andy,

Do you know what you had in the system in the first place coolant etc.

As you have done, drain the system off and add the best coolant you can afford in the correct quantity to the system see how you go from there.

HTH

Edited by lou4010 on Friday 12th March 21:51

phillpot

17,510 posts

212 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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looks a bit yucky but not unusual if been in for some years.

think I'd have been inclined to refill with just water, run for a little while then drain again before refilling with anti-freeze mix.

lou4010

416 posts

213 months

Friday 12th March 2010
quotequote all
phillpot said:
looks a bit yucky but not unusual if been in for some years.

think I'd have been inclined to refill with just water, run for a little while then drain again before refilling with anti-freeze mix.
+1

Andy Nelson

Original Poster:

517 posts

210 months

Friday 12th March 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies, I have a feeling the coolant has been in since Ian restored the car a number of years ago. When I greased the propshaft the colour of the grease would suggest it is of a similar vintage.

I flushed the system as best I could with water and have re-filled with coolant and it behaved on the short drive I took it in.

I will check the levels and go for a longer drive tomorrow (Newcastle and back approx. 100 miles, I like the idea of running for a bit and then ditching it, it maybe worth sacrificing some coolant in the long run especially as I have a run to the south of France in June.

DJ8226

401 posts

202 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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Drained mine the other week, and fluhed it through, 2 bucketzs of brown water later it ran clear, intend to run with no anti freeze etc then drain again, as although I flushed it it was only through the rad and waterpump entry points. Again agree with comments if tis been in a while its going to be rusty/dirty. Mine ran lovely before I drained it, hard to believe when you see what you get out.

catretriever

2,090 posts

271 months

Saturday 13th March 2010
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Also, I've found that if you mix blue coolant with pink coolant it will go a dirty brown colour smile

pringli

313 posts

303 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
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Andy, I dont get on here much but coolant will have been in 2years max but may have a mix of antifreeze, the propshaft grease was graphite based - dirty grey - new at same time - when restored.