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WTF is in my coolant

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Old Feb 23, 2006 | 10:12 PM
  #1  
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WTF is in my coolant

Ok i got my car recently and i havent changed coolant yet after a previous owner but its seems like something brownish-white floating on the top of coolant reservoir and also when i open up the radiator cap something like white substense sticking on the rubber of cap. Ok i cleaned my reservoir by remooving it and simply washing it and it seems like it did a good clean up because most of this **** was there. Now after a couple of weeks it looks clean may be just a litle bit left.
I know i know now you gonna start saying something about gasket and white smoke from my muffler but wait. I checked everything and i may say that the level of coolant always the same since i add it, recently i changed the oil it was clean nothing suspicious. NO white smoke at all. Oil level still there Onse i heard that if your gasket bad and coolant goes into your engine there should be a bubles on your oil dip stick when the car started i checked it also everything is fine too.
The strange thing that when i was checking the car before buying it there were nothing in coolant, everything seemed fine but i left my car on dealership after that so they can make some papers and they also sayd that they gonna check all the fluids and add some to the level. So i'm wondering may be some dumb *** mechanic pour something different there instead of antefreeze
I know the only way to check that is to change the antefreeze.
Is it fine if i'm gonna flush only radiator and refill it or i have to do everything inclusive engine block?? I really got no time to do it and weather is sucks also.
Thanks for reading my tripe
Is i think coolant wasn't changed sinse car was brand new probably someone just add it sometimes and thats about it may be because of that it lost its functionality and just some of it tuned over
Old Feb 24, 2006 | 01:23 AM
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I recommend doing a flush. Don't worry to much about the two drains on the block. Make sure when you change you use distled water. Sounds to me who ever changed it before you used tap water. The minerals and all the crap will build up in your motor and cause scale. I think that is what is happening. Just a heads up: When I bought my car from the dealer I went through it and did a good tune up on it, even though it only had 23K. You never know if the person before you kept up on maintenace.
Old Feb 24, 2006 | 06:03 AM
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It's sludge. Probably the car has been used almost all the time as a commuter in town and has rarely got up to a good working temperature. Just flush it and refill with the correct proportion of antifreeze, use a decent brand.
Old Feb 24, 2006 | 08:00 AM
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Thanks guys.
love org.
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 05:20 AM
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And hope it isn't oil!!!
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 09:13 AM
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Rust. Flush now.
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 09:18 AM
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Yep like ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ said.. rust!! flush
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 10:21 AM
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listen guys today i mixed one drop of oil with the coolant and it's exactly the same what i found in mine reservoir so now i dont't know what to do my be it's oil there(brownish color not white anymore) is it possible that oil gets in to the cooling system and if it is so, how......??????
should i do something
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 03:06 PM
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its RUST man! your coolant become like acid after time if its not flushed, its eating away your engine from the inside out. Get a full system flush and call it a day.

20k or every 2 years do your maintance. Cars don't run forever with poor maintance.
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 05:17 PM
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Also, when gaskets start to go, coolant usually enters the engine - oil doesn't usually enter the cooling system. It has to do with the different pressures of the two systems. As others said, flush the system completely, use the proper mixture, maybe add some "water wetter" and monitor it.
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Toolrocks
Also, when gaskets start to go, coolant usually enters the engine - oil doesn't usually enter the cooling system. It has to do with the different pressures of the two systems. As others said, flush the system completely, use the proper mixture, maybe add some "water wetter" and monitor it.
Pressures of the two systems? What the heck are you talking about?
Old Mar 11, 2006 | 07:54 PM
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Thanks guys i'm so glad to hear that it's not the oil because i got this car month ago and i love it i thought now i got to get rid of it(even got for sale sign today) i haven't done flush yet though will do soon may be previous owner havent changed it for a while.
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 06:20 AM
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Oil every 3k or 3 months on the dot
Coolant every 20k or 2 years
Brake fluid 20k or 2 years or when replacing pads
Basic 20k service
Major 50k
major 100k
PCV valve every 9k. I do it usually on the 3rd oil change everyone here will say do it 20k, I don't take chances.
Plugs depending what you have 30-60k.
Fuel filter every 20k
Trans fluid every 20-25k or 2 years
Carbon clean AKA Fuel injector, fuel rail and combustion camber clean. (machine clean only) every 2 years or 25k. (Highly recommend)
-----------------
Basics of what you need. Ive been doing this to my car and so have my brother when he owned it for the past 6 years. Im always on top of my game. Want to make sure when it comes time to sell the next owner will be happy the car runs great and doesnt need a penny to invest.
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 06:42 AM
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Yes, I agree with the other orgers that it is in fact acid building up in the coolant. The pH of the coolant has changed from neutral, to high tonicity of acid. That just loves to devour engines from the inside out. I agree with that whomever did a collant service on your car last, most likely used tap water instead of distilled water.
Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapor condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals. Use Nissan anti-freeze as well, its worth it. A coolant flush should fix your problem.
When i bought my Max 3 years ago with 42k on it, I went through and changed all fluids. Nobody knows how a previous owner maintained a car before, so its better to start ownership out fresh. That way you know its done..
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by SMX95
Oil every 3k or 3 months on the dot
Coolant every 20k or 2 years
Brake fluid 20k or 2 years or when replacing pads
Basic 20k service
Major 50k
major 100k
PCV valve every 9k. I do it usually on the 3rd oil change everyone here will say do it 20k, I don't take chances.
Plugs depending what you have 30-60k.
Fuel filter every 20k
Trans fluid every 20-25k or 2 years
Carbon clean AKA Fuel injector, fuel rail and combustion camber clean. (machine clean only) every 2 years or 25k. (Highly recommend)
I agree with everything here but the oil change interval. A superior synthetic like Amsoil or Mobil 1 will easily outlast 3 times the typical 3k drain interval with a filter change in between. All you're doing is wasting money if you're changing it before the 5-6k mark.
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by SMX95
PCV valve every 9k. I do it usually on the 3rd oil change everyone here will say do it 20k, I don't take chances.
What is this PCV valve and where it's located
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:23 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by black97
What is this PCV valve and where it's located
FAQ-U!!!

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...4&postcount=37
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:31 AM
  #18  
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Thanks for the link. What this valve does
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by black97
Thanks for the link. What this valve does
http://www.100megsfree4.com/dictionary/car-dicp.htm#PC
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by nismology
Pressures of the two systems? What the heck are you talking about?
I was referring to the pressure of the coolant system and the pressure of the oil circulation system. Coolant is usually under greater pressure which is why it usually spreads into the engine and not the other way around.
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 03:15 PM
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The pressurization doesnt just aid in circulation, but increases the boiling point of the coolant. I'm sure that the water gets way above 212 degrees F
Old Mar 12, 2006 | 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted by metal_god98SE
The pressurization doesnt just aid in circulation, but increases the boiling point of the coolant. I'm sure that the water gets way above 212 degrees F
This is true, however he wasn't referring to that at all. He was explaining why coolant will usually enter the crankcase and not oil entering the cooling system.
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