silversport00

Noticed a rusty looking liquid leaking from radiator side, when I opened the hood there was coolant leaking from the radiator cap, I took off the cap and noticed all this brown sludgy looking stuff in there, cleaned her out and ran her that day, come to find the next day its all dirty again, cleaning her out again now but any suggestions as to why its doing this?

silversport00

Here's a pic after somewhat cleanedd

Trev1006

Looking like your coolant is becoming contaminated. Possibly head gasket. Pull the plugs, see how they look. If it looks like its running lean, you probably have a leaky head gasket. If they look ok, flush the system out really good and see how clean it stays.

Trev1006

Oh missed the part where it happened again right away. Pull the plugs ASAP and take a pic for me.

tjwalker

Year/engine?

Are you using any coolant? The reason I ask is because if you are, you could have a cracked 0331 cylinder head. Not uncommon with the 00-01. That can lead to sludgy coolant.

What is the history of routine cooling system maintenance? ie: fresh coolant?

Trev1006

Im guessing from your name im thinking you have a 2000 model? Im into the older stuff, but im 99% sure those had the 0331(or something like that) cyl head. Those will crack if you look at them wrong. Causing combustion gases to get into the coolant, causing what you see there.

Trev1006

I think we were typing at the same time. Lol.

timberwolf

If it was leaking out the cap, the system may have been clogged with that crap. It may take a few times to get it all out.

Disconnect the hoses and flush the block and heater core too.

Trev1006

Alot easier to just pull the plugs and verify if your engine is running on anti freeze, or gasoline

djb383

I wonder if anyone that's neglected a cooling system that long would know how to pull spark plugs?

Trev1006

You get to em thru the glove box! Everyone knows that! Lol.

stev-o

X2

stev-o

Wait I thought the spark plugs were in the trunk

Trev1006

No, that's where you check the rear turn signal fluid!

stev-o

Holy **** thats nasty how can u say that is somewhat cleaned thats so disgusting I would advice that u give it a real cleaning with a garden hose and a scrub brush that cap is horrible