Coolant Contamination???

[lberch]

I did a search but found nothing specific about my topic.



I have 27,000 on the odometer and have been reading all the great tips about changing the coolant @ 30,000.



I have lost about a third (from the Full mark) of coolant in my overflow since the truck was new. I chalk this up to evaporation over the miles and the 18 months in the South Florida heat - not a concern right?



What does concern me is that there is a bunch of "grayish" opaque suspended matter in my overflow tank and in the radiator. What the heck is it????



I emptied the overflow tank into a glass container (about two quarts) and this gray stuff settled to the bottom 3 inches worth. It looks light gray and like fuzzy irregular gobuletes. At the bottom of the tank, was some sludge that is darker than what is floating in the coolant.



Has anyone seen this? Does anyone know what it coould be?

Should I have it tested for oil? Fuel?



Any comments would be appreciated.



LB

 

[Pit Bull]

I would take it to the dealer and have them write it up and give you an explanation. Then let them flush and change your antifreeze for you. My dealer does a flush and fill with a machine that gets all of the old out and uses the recommended 50/50 mix for the refill, only costs $79. 00 and you don't have to figure out what to do with the old antifreeze. If there is a problem you are covered by the 100K warranty and you have the repair orders that show you followed the recommended maintance. Cheap insurance. Plus in all of my years, and that is many I have never seen what you are talking about in my cars or trucks. Make sure they give you a written answer about what it is.

 

[lberch]

Thanks for the idea BT.



I too have changed alot of coolant but in gassers and have never come across this. Before I take to a dealer I may get a few opinions from some diesel shops and or have it tested.



LB

 

[LSMITH]

LB, I don't want to scare you but that sounds like oil in the coolant. I would get an oil analysis ASAP. Your local Cummins store can do it for you if you want them to. Get the analysis and find out for sure, coolant in the oil can do tremendous damage to the engine in a hurry. Hope this helps.

 

[Boost]

I agree with LSmith, it sounds like oil in the coolant Get it checked ASAP!

 

[lberch]

I carted around my jar of "pickle juice" to a couple of Diesel shops today with mixed comments.



One master mechanic didn't know what it could be, but was sure it wasn't oil and recommened I have it tested. Another mechanic thought it was just an excessive amount of scale and recommended a flush and refill.



The second shop thought it to be a combination of scale and casting residue that wasn't properly cleaned from the block after manufacturing. They also tested the ratio of the glycol and found it to be 20% low, @ 30%, rather than the recommended 50%. This mechanic said to use "Cascade" dish washing soap to clean and flush out the scale because it doesnt foam like regular soap,

any takers??



I am tending to agree with the scale / casting residue opinion.



This stuff will almost completly mix in the glass jar when you shake it up and then settle to the bottom in a couple of minutes, leaving the green glycol on top. This is the original coolant from the factory (St. Louis). Maybe they used tap water or worse yet raw water and it created this excess amount of scale.



I will have a sample tested, flush and refill and keep a close eye on it.



LB

 

[Pit Bull]

LB

This is a new truck, I would make sure that it is on record with your dealer and have them do the flush and fill (for free). I would also make them do a test on the sample. I would also do an indepent test and keep the results. Just incase you have problems down the road. If the test come back with any problems I would send the test results to Dodge in a certified letter and ask for the problem to be corrected and future performance to be insured. Cover your ***, you can't expect them to cover it for you. Sorry for your problem. Sound very unusual. Mine was made in St. Louis also, but I guess I am lucky. My truck is perfect so far.

 

[R.ebel]

Grayish stuff?

If it was oil it would be floating on top of the coolant. Been there experienced that with a Powerjoke I once owned.

 

[lberch]

Rebel - I agree, if it was oil it should be floating, Exxon Valdez anyone?



BT - Point well taken. I don't want to set myself up for a big bill @ 100,001 miles.



I am really curious to see how much of this stuff is in the rest of the cooling system and how much I can get out.



Will post results.



LB

 

[BBurns]

When I was trying to install my turbo gauge I accidently removed a drain plug on the side of the block. At first a couple drops of antifreeze came out and I knew immediately I had removed the wrong plug, but I was wondering why it wasn't pouring out. So I stuck a screw driver head up in the hole and found it was completely closed with white scale. This was about 6 months ago at 26,000 miles. I guess I'll be changing my antifreeze this weekend. Can anyone recommend a radiator flush other than Cascade?

 

[lberch]

Yeah, I am a little chicken about the cascade too!



I have seen several diesel cooling system cleaners around for sale, CAT, Fleetguard etc...



I will probably just choose one and follow their recommedations and take off a couple of the hoses and thermostat and run the garden hose through to flush the gunk out.



Refill and keep an eye on it.



LB

 

[TXRam]

I have seen this stuff in a buddy's truck in the bottom of the reservoir. It appeared to be suspended solid material, not any kind of liquid. He flushed the radiator with the kit from Wally World and said he saw no more of it. Refilled with new fluid and hasn't seen any more.



Casting material? Scale? Silicates coming out of solution (from the original antifreeze? Most likely one or a combination of all of these things. Oil? I don't think so.

 

[lberch]

BBurns:



I used a Fleetguard product called "Restore" yesterday during my flush & refill. It is a "Heavy Duty cooling system cleaner". It was $$ ($22. 00 for 1 gal. ) and a PITA to use, but it did a great job cleaning out my system. I found it at a diesel shop where I bought my coolant. Hope this helps you.



LB

 

[BBurns]

Thanks Iberch... I'll check around this weekend for some. I've ordered a thermostat that will be here next week. Plan on doing the flush when I change the thermostat.