brown sludge on rad cap

[turbo]

Hey guys,
I am wondering if any of you have a brown film develop only on the rad cap. Is kind of like a sludge but I have steam cleaned the radiator and the flushed the coolant out twice a year. I don't think it really matters but just seeing if you guys have this crap also.

Thanks
Geoff

 

[GrimJack]

Yes. It's in my overflow tank too - my theory is that it's the engine block corroding until it uses up the oxygen in the water.

 

[turbo]

Maybe it is cause we are Canadian

 

[turbo]

I think is something internal also that I cannot control because the car is babied and I can't figure exactly what it is. I don't know what you think but it shouldn't cause any damage other than contaminating the coolant a little.

Geoff

 

[lagged]

your motor has the runs..........at least thats what it looks like.

ive got it also. even on a fresh rebuild i noticed some sludge after a few weeks.

 

[mkIIIman089]

My old cap had the sludge as well (before I bought my blitz) nasty stuff. My engine runs like a champ so its not too big of a deal I wouldn't think.

 

[1989MKIII]

my old car did that, grandted it was a chevy. but still. and i broke it down and rebuilt it. and it had a cracked head. hope thats not your case. but could be.

 

[MDCmotorsports]

All the brown sludge that I found in any car was from:

-Tap water in the cooling system
-BHG
-Rust & Corrosion

 

[turbo]

The rust and corrosion must be the reason due to the hg being replaced on my car by Toyota like 40k miles ago and I always use distilled water in the coolant for the last two years. I hope I don't have another BHG because I just retorqued 6 months ago. Should I worry about the sludge or just forget it?
-Geoff

 

[mkIIIman089]

Probably not the greatest idea to retorque it. Theoretically you may have caused more harm then good by smashing the HG.

 

[turbo]

I am glad I retorqued the head because there was a little movement in the head bolts. I only torqued to 72 lbs and that should not crush the gasket. The car runs amazing and the small amount of sludge should not really matter. Ill forget about it for a while.

Geoff