Gunk in Coolant Reservoir

[Mikes91]

Noticed today while doing PM on the truck that I have some sort of bluish/greenish gunk in my coolant reservoir (which is completely empty, though radiator looks full).

Any idea what this is?

What should I do about this? I just flushed/refilled the radiator last summer... hate to have to do it again. With this kind of gunk in the overflow reservoir, what can I expect inside the rest of the cooling system?

Wonder if I should just stick a coolant filter on her and be happy... Can anyone recommend a coolant filter system for our IDIs?

Thank you,

Mike

 

[Agnem]

Noticed today while doing PM on the truck that I have some sort of bluish/greenish gunk in my coolant reservoir (which is completely empty, though radiator looks full).

Any idea what this is?

What should I do about this? I just flushed/refilled the radiator last summer... hate to have to do it again. With this kind of gunk in the overflow reservoir, what can I expect inside the rest of the cooling system?

Wonder if I should just stick a coolant filter on her and be happy... Can anyone recommend a coolant filter system for our IDIs?

Thank you,

Mike

Mike, a coolant filter is a good idea. Nobody sells a "kit" per sey, but PaFixIt man published a list of ingredients to make your own. Sounds like a good article topic to me. If your coolant resevoir is empty, I'd go ahead and remove it so that you can flush it completely, then remount with new hose, and bring the levels up to spec. Perhaps at some point somebody accidentally put windhield washer fluid in it.

 

[Mikes91]

Mike, a coolant filter is a good idea. Nobody sells a "kit" per sey, but PaFixIt man published a list of ingredients to make your own. Sounds like a good article topic to me. If your coolant resevoir is empty, I'd go ahead and remove it so that you can flush it completely, then remount with new hose, and bring the levels up to spec. Perhaps at some point somebody accidentally put windhield washer fluid in it.

I've had the truck 2+ years and never put windshield washer fluid in it.

I dunno... this sounds peculiar to me...

SCA wouldn't gunk up, would it?

 

[argve]

I've had the truck 2+ years and never put windshield washer fluid in it.

I dunno... this sounds peculiar to me...

SCA wouldn't gunk up, would it?

I know that it will create a scale when it flakes off.. when you added the DCA did you dump it in the overflow or rad?

 

[Mikes91]

I know that it will create a scale when it flakes off.. when you added the DCA did you dump it in the overflow or rad?

Yup... Had to put some in the overflow. It eventually cycled through (SCA tests showed that).

Gonna flush the system and try again... making sure the place that does the work leaves a little room for additive. Might as well get a new thermostat, too.

Mike

 

[argve]

Yup... Had to put some in the overflow. It eventually cycled through (SCA tests showed that).

Gonna flush the system and try again... making sure the place that does the work leaves a little room for additive. Might as well get a new thermostat, too.

Mike

Well there's your blue crud... it did not eventually mix in all the way as you can see now.

 

[Mikes91]

Well there's your blue crud... it did not eventually mix in all the way as you can see now.

Yes... I was afraid of that when I first saw it... although wasn't aware the stuff would ball up and stick together in clumps.

Overflow bottle and hose need to go anyway.

Any suggestions for where to get a replacement bottle and hose at a better price than the local Ford house?

 

[argve]

Yes... I was afraid of that when I first saw it... although wasn't aware the stuff would ball up and stick together in clumps.

Overflow bottle and hose need to go anyway.

Any suggestions for where to get a replacement bottle and hose at a better price than the local Ford house?

Local autoparts stores sell aftermarket ones, they are not as large as the factory but do work (even when you working them hard) it just about sucks it dry then just about fills it completely when she's working. I had one purchased from autozone on for about a year before I just broke down and bought one off ebay for a few bucks cheaper than local dealer. Actually got it off ebay with shipping for the price the dealer had with no shipping. I found it brand new still in the box.