Coolant muddy colour

[jalz]

Hi Guys,

Looked under my bonnet today was due to top up oil and noticed the coolant expansion tank with some muddy looking fluid in it. Opened the cap and it looks like I have a little bit of oil floating around. As the coolant is the old blue cheap and nasty stuff from the garage, I've bought some g12++ from the dealer - which is purple in colour.

How likely is it my new coolant will change into muddy colour again?I have had it serviced recently by a local garage, they would have told me if there was a 'mayo' like substance on the cap so I dont think its the head gasket...(but i'll check it anyway).If its not that what else could it be thats contaminating the coolant and is there something I can do to fix it or does it need a visit to the garage?

Whats the best method of cleaning this up so I have nice clear purple coolant in my tank. How much coolant will i need to get my car running at optimal temp - i have an Audi A3 1.9tdi 110 ASV

Cheers

J

[jalz]

Had my coolant replaced by a local garage today. I saw them draining the fluid that was there and adding the g12++ solution I gave them with water. Looked nice and purple, but after about 5 miles of driving - i.e. from the garage to my house, popped to look under the hood as I was told to watch levels and the coolant was muddy again.

Anyone know if there is something I can look at, hate keep going to garage to sort it.

Thinking of buying a pela pump to extract that gunk out again (the guy at the garage unclipped a hose which drained the water)

Again checked the oil and there was no sign of mayo on the lid.

Cheers

Jalz

[micheal balbrig]

Had my coolant replaced by a local garage today. I saw them draining the fluid that was there and adding the g12++ solution I gave them with water. Looked nice and purple, but after about 5 miles of driving - i.e. from the garage to my house, popped to look under the hood as I was told to watch levels and the coolant was muddy again.

Anyone know if there is something I can look at, hate keep going to garage to sort it.

Thinking of buying a pela pump to extract that gunk out again (the guy at the garage unclipped a hose which drained the water)

Again checked the oil and there was no sign of mayo on the lid.

Cheers

Jalz

If theres an oil cooler on your model it may be leaking oil in to coolant.
The oil cooler would be at filter area

[jalz]

Thanks Michael,

It does indeed look like a small amount of oil is floating in the coolant discolouring it. How much is an oil cooler and is it something I can do myself or do I have to take it to the garage?

I guess I need to flush the whole system out again.....can I use the suction method and replace the gunk with ionised water as a cleaning step.... run that in for a couple of miles and the suck it up and put proper coolant in?

Cheers

Jalz

[phil miller]

if i was you id drain it out full it with plain water and use the car for a day or so then drain it all out, flush with clean water then refull with G12 mate

[joshaudi]

could this be the head gasket on its way out guys?