Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What are these crystals on my radiator!

[Seed Guy]

Brand new 2002. These lines of crystalls are on the top of my radiator. I am a little concerned.

 

[Idaho CTD]

I just took mine in for that last week. I noticed I was losing some antifreeze now and then plus smelling it in the cab every once and a while. I had hit a deer a month or so earlier and took it back to the collision center and asked about it. The guy actually tasted the stuff. He said it wasn't antifreeze. The dealer did replace my radiator and top bracket though. I tried to get him to replace the intercooler and A/C cond. due to some corrosion as well and he said nope . I guess they are just going to wait til it eats it's way through either one and hopefully that is after the warranty is up . You buy a brand new truck and it starts corroding within 4-5 months and they dont want to fix it. Hmmm and the warranty is good for what? Maybe they ought to give you an option of a lower price and no warranty VS. normal price and virtually no warranty. The only good one is the cummins warranty anyways, everything else is a hassel (sp?).



Just needed to vent

Nathan

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Idaho CTD

I just took mine in for that last week. I noticed I was losing some antifreeze now and then plus smelling it in the cab every once and a while. I had hit a deer a month or so earlier and took it back to the collision center and asked about it. The guy actually tasted the stuff. He said it wasn't antifreeze. The dealer did replace my radiator and top bracket though. I tried to get him to replace the intercooler and A/C cond. due to some corrosion as well and he said nope . I guess they are just going to wait til it eats it's way through either one and hopefully that is after the warranty is up . You buy a brand new truck and it starts corroding within 4-5 months and they dont want to fix it. Hmmm and the warranty is good for what? Maybe they ought to give you an option of a lower price and no warranty VS. normal price and virtually no warranty. The only good one is the cummins warranty anyways, everything else is a hassel (sp?).



Just needed to vent

Nathan

Nathan

From reading your post you say you hit a deer and damaged your truck. When you took it to the collision center that repaired your truck they said it was not antifreeze. So what was fixed after you hit the deer? I don't understand why the dealer would replace your radiator and top bracket under warranty if it was damaged in a collision with a deer? Also why was the AC/intercooler corroded? was that from the accident? Can you explain this in more detail? I see your upset but don't understand why you are upset with the dealer, unless the dealer is also the collision center? If that is the case then you should contact your insurance company and claim that they did not fix your truck correctly and have the insurance company go after them. They will get the dealer/collision centers attention.



PS Seed guy, take it to the Dealer and have them fix it that is not normal and the repair will be covered under your 36 month 36K mile warranty. Keep us posted

 

[Idaho CTD]

Pit Bull,



When I hit the deer the insurance company gave me the option of where to go to get a quote. I went to the local dealer. I then took the cash and fixed the truck myself. All that was damaged was the front bumper, windshield, and superficial damage to the A/C cond. (the plastic shoved into the cond. but didn't pierce it). I went back when I noticed the crystals forming on the top of the radiator. He said it wasn't accident related and the crystals weren't antifreeze. He did say it should be covered under warranty though. I took it to another dealer and they replaced the radiator and top bracket. The A/C cond. and intercooler have corrosion on them but no crystal formation and they wouldn't warranty them. Like I said before I guess they will just wait to see if the cond. or intercooler leak before they replace them and that will most likely be after the warranty is up. To answer your ?, I dont know what caused the corrosion on any of it. He asked where the truck came from and I told him the Oregon coast and he said that might be why. I told him as soon as I bought it I brought it back to Idaho and the corrosion started after it had been here in Idaho for a few months. I bought the truck the 31st of July so it isn't very old. The A/C cond. doesn't bother me that bad because I got paid to replace it and I was waiting to see what the cause of the corrosion was. They could not tell me that so I might just replace it myself. The intercooler is another story though. The thing that bothers me the most is if anything goes wrong with my trucks it seems like it is a constant struggle to get things fixed by either of the local dealers. I might have to start taking them elsewhere even if it requires driving a ways.



Nathan

 

[Pit Bull]

I think I would drive a little way to another dealer or ask to have the DC zone rep come look at the problem. Go to war with one local dealer and keep the other as a friend. Nothing to lose. Thanks, now I understand. Sorry for your problem.



PS I would still like to know what the crystals are? If you wiped them off did they come back?

 

[illflem]

Tough one to believe but the crystals might be caused by a uncorrected electrical short from the accident. Stray electricity can do some strange things. It's called electrolysis, I describe it in this thread-- http://216.235.147.117/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62643 It's pretty easy to diagnose.

 

[Idaho CTD]

illflem,



The guy at the collision center mentioned electrolosis but it started before the accident. It still could be electrolosis but the accident didn't start it.



Pit Bull,



The crystals on my truck are/were pretty hard so it would take a lot of scrapping to remove them to see if they return.



It will be interesting to see if the crystals return with the new radiator. If they return I guess it is some form of electrolosis. It might be due to the lack of paint on the new trucks.



Nathan

 

[Phil Stuart]

I've got the same stuff on mine!!!!

Looks like some kind of corrosion to me.



Was under my truck last nite and saw it on the radiator bottom as well as some on the top part in small areas. Not that bad, scraped some off with finger nail and is powdery white type substance.



Electrolysis I don't know, but is some kind of corrosion from dampness/moisture from surrounding air on the aluminum



I agree this shouldn't be happening to a truck that's coming up on a year old.



Phil