Thick red sludge in radiator (pic included)

Baja820 · 12-11-2009, 10:31 AM

so last fall i changed the fluid in my radiator making sure to use distilled water and prestone anti-freeze. fast forward to today.... engine over heats. im like what the hell?!? its 5 degrees outside..... limp it home uncork the radiator and this is what i find..... WHAT THE HELL!?!

what would cause this?

DEVILSTOY · 12-11-2009, 10:36 AM

check your oil , you might have a blown head gasket

96xj4x4 · 12-11-2009, 10:37 AM

wow i have no idea since you said you recently changed the fluid. that looks like radiator "stop-leak" stuff.

Thermostate · 12-11-2009, 10:39 AM

Well that looks like someone put some bars leak repair in it when you started to use the heater this winter it let it get loose and now you have that build up and the engine in now overheating 1. because its pluged up or 2. you have a leak somewhere .And a far distant 3. some one might have jammed mud in your radiator!

Baja820 · 12-11-2009, 10:41 AM

oil looks fine... no milky stuff on dipstick....

Baja820 · 12-11-2009, 10:43 AM

I park it in the garage every night. I have never had it leak any thing on the floor....

96xj4x4 · 12-11-2009, 10:58 AM

i'm out of ideas then...i can see why your posting the question up on the forum.

DEVILSTOY · 12-11-2009, 11:10 AM

i would drain it , flush it out really good and refill it and see what happens

Baja820 · 12-11-2009, 11:15 AM

upon closer inspection there does appear to be a leak.... calling around for replacement prices for radiator now....

Ranger187 · 12-11-2009, 11:16 AM

Look for a double or tripple core if you run it all the time like I do.

PolarXJ · 12-11-2009, 12:26 PM

I'd check it the valve cover for the water/oil mixture (milky stuff). How long did it sit before you checked the dip stick, its possible that the oil and water seperated. Another oil check would be to open the drain plug and drain some oil off. The water should be at the bottom if there is any.

Baja820 · 12-11-2009, 12:57 PM

Update.... Pulled radiator. no noticeable leaks. going to have it checked at shop. im just baffled by the reddish crap...

96Cherokee113 · 12-11-2009, 01:31 PM

Kinda looks like the signs of a blown head gasket, but if you checked the oil and it's fine then I'm unsure. If the coolant recovery tank is filled with that same crap, it could be a blown head gasket. My buddy bought a 99 Blazer and that's how it looked in there. The coolant recovery tank had similar crap. He flushed the radiator, put fresh fluid in, changed the oil using Lucas Engine Oil Stop Leak and it held up fine.

Baja820 · 12-11-2009, 01:58 PM

nothing in overflow tank.

00XJ · 12-11-2009, 02:14 PM

mine was like that to, but i did a real good flush ( filled with water, ran, then drained like 10 times). and it never did it again but that was only 5 months ago.

12-11-2009, 10:39 AM	#4
Thermostate Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 26 My Photos Cherokee	ouch Well that looks like someone put some bars leak repair in it when you started to use the heater this winter it let it get loose and now you have that build up and the engine in now overheating 1. because its pluged up or 2. you have a leak somewhere .And a far distant 3. some one might have jammed mud in your radiator!

12-11-2009, 11:16 AM	#10
Ranger187 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 184 My Photos Cherokee	Look for a double or tripple core if you run it all the time like I do. __________________ 2000 XJ Sport / 231 AA HD SYE / 1310 Spicer CV Shaft / 1999 Ford 8.8 Rear 4.56 Detroit locked with 31 spline and discs /1999 HP Dana 30 front / 6.5" Lift / OBA 210 York with A/C / Snorkel / JKS / Full Alpine setup / Dual Optima batteries in back / Kargo Master rack / KC lights / Rock lights / Front Hitch / Custom front and rear bumpers / Big Daddy Tie Rod

12-11-2009, 02:14 PM	#15
00XJ Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 575 My Photos 2000 Cherokee Engine: 4.0 inline 6 Transmission: 4 speed auto Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: d30 low pinion...i think Rear Axle: chrysler 8.25 Tires: bfg long trail Misc Accessories: magnaflow exhaust, sound system, cragar soft 8 wheels,	mine was like that to, but i did a real good flush ( filled with water, ran, then drained like 10 times). and it never did it again but that was only 5 months ago. __________________ build thred: http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/pro...k-white-39897/

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12-11-2009, 10:36 AM	#2
DEVILSTOY CF Veteran Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: south jersey Posts: 1,473 My Photos 1997 Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: auto Transfer Case: 231 w/ sye Front Axle: dana 30, 4;56 gears and locker Rear Axle: chrysler 8.25 4:56 gears and locker Tires: 33" super swamper tsl Lift Specifications: 7.5" rough country with long arms	check your oil , you might have a blown head gasket

12-11-2009, 10:37 AM	#3
96xj4x4 CF Veteran Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Manahawkin New Jersey Posts: 1,290 My Photos 96' Cherokee Engine: 4.0 160k banks header dumping after the cat Transmission: 5pd ax15 Transfer Case: stock 231 Front Axle: d30 stock ruffstuff cover Rear Axle: stock d35, waggy 44 goin in soon Tires: 33x12.5 BFG MTs 15x10 rims Lift Specifications: 5'' rustys/rough country/IRO stuff Misc Accessories: 6 years worth of trail damage tube doors, ruff stuff stiffeners, cowl hood rollbar jcr bumper lights	wow i have no idea since you said you recently changed the fluid. that looks like radiator "stop-leak" stuff.

12-11-2009, 10:41 AM	#5
Baja820 Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 96 My Photos 1998 Cherokee Engine: 4.0L Transmission: AX-15	oil looks fine... no milky stuff on dipstick....

12-11-2009, 10:43 AM	#6
Baja820 Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 96 My Photos 1998 Cherokee Engine: 4.0L Transmission: AX-15	I park it in the garage every night. I have never had it leak any thing on the floor....

12-11-2009, 10:58 AM	#7
96xj4x4 CF Veteran Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Manahawkin New Jersey Posts: 1,290 My Photos 96' Cherokee Engine: 4.0 160k banks header dumping after the cat Transmission: 5pd ax15 Transfer Case: stock 231 Front Axle: d30 stock ruffstuff cover Rear Axle: stock d35, waggy 44 goin in soon Tires: 33x12.5 BFG MTs 15x10 rims Lift Specifications: 5'' rustys/rough country/IRO stuff Misc Accessories: 6 years worth of trail damage tube doors, ruff stuff stiffeners, cowl hood rollbar jcr bumper lights	i'm out of ideas then...i can see why your posting the question up on the forum.

12-11-2009, 11:10 AM	#8
DEVILSTOY CF Veteran Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: south jersey Posts: 1,473 My Photos 1997 Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: auto Transfer Case: 231 w/ sye Front Axle: dana 30, 4;56 gears and locker Rear Axle: chrysler 8.25 4:56 gears and locker Tires: 33" super swamper tsl Lift Specifications: 7.5" rough country with long arms	i would drain it , flush it out really good and refill it and see what happens

12-11-2009, 11:15 AM	#9
Baja820 Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 96 My Photos 1998 Cherokee Engine: 4.0L Transmission: AX-15	upon closer inspection there does appear to be a leak.... calling around for replacement prices for radiator now....

12-11-2009, 12:26 PM	#11
PolarXJ Seasoned Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 401 My Photos Cherokee	I'd check it the valve cover for the water/oil mixture (milky stuff). How long did it sit before you checked the dip stick, its possible that the oil and water seperated. Another oil check would be to open the drain plug and drain some oil off. The water should be at the bottom if there is any.

12-11-2009, 12:57 PM	#12
Baja820 Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 96 My Photos 1998 Cherokee Engine: 4.0L Transmission: AX-15	Update.... Pulled radiator. no noticeable leaks. going to have it checked at shop. im just baffled by the reddish crap...

12-11-2009, 01:31 PM	#13
96Cherokee113 CF Veteran Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,261 My Photos 1996 Cherokee Engine: 4.0 HO Transmission: AX15 Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: Dana 30 Rear Axle: Chrysler 8.25" Tires: Lemans Pathmaker A/T Lift Specifications: RC 2" lift Misc Accessories: Two door	Kinda looks like the signs of a blown head gasket, but if you checked the oil and it's fine then I'm unsure. If the coolant recovery tank is filled with that same crap, it could be a blown head gasket. My buddy bought a 99 Blazer and that's how it looked in there. The coolant recovery tank had similar crap. He flushed the radiator, put fresh fluid in, changed the oil using Lucas Engine Oil Stop Leak and it held up fine.

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12-11-2009, 01:58 PM	#14
Baja820 Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 96 My Photos 1998 Cherokee Engine: 4.0L Transmission: AX-15	nothing in overflow tank.