Decided to change the coolant in the bluebird, draining through the engine block plug as it got to the last litre or so, it goes black and rather like oil damn at 40k on the clock I didn’t expect that.

Changed the coolant over to some new stuff and poured in some radweld (yeah pure optimism) but I think tonight I’ll run the engine up to normal temp and re-torque the head bolts and change the coolant again, after all its £70 for a gasket set

Then in a couple of weeks I’ll change the coolant yet again to see if that’s worked and the coolant is clean.

I suspect head bolts loose some of their tension over time and it has been 20 years since they where last done up. Typical I need the car to go down to Glasgow next week and this, why can’t things like this happen when the cars not being used?

40k on a bluebird?!

take both radiator hoses off and stick your garden hose in it to flush it all out first perhaps?

quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
40k on a bluebird?!

take both radiator hoses off and stick your garden hose in it to flush it all out first perhaps?

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i thought you probably would have, but you didn't mention it.

hmm, i'd doubt it was actual oil though, otherwise it would be all mixed up, white and creamy etc, rather than black oil coming out.
some sort of algae perhaps? the header tank on one of my dads cars was full of it many years ago. i didn't think it would live in there, but it did

just sounds like sludge to me - Iron Oxide.

Flush the block as well. If you had a blown head gasket youd have other signs as well, such as running rough, milky oil, and poor spark plugs.

I doubt it's oil; you would notice it in the header tank (would float!).... Like above, hopefully the flush and re-fill will do..

Dan

well tbh I did think it a bit odd, as like you I was supprised it was so sudden a change, from clearish liquid to then black stuff. Perhaps I'm mistaking something else as oil...

Probably just being paranoid hope so

[Edited on 29/10/09 by Mr Whippy]

you didn't fill up the coolant with treacle did you?

quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
you didn't fill up the coolant with treacle did you?

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the water pump might not agree, but i can't see it would have any other effects.

Did you try feeling it? was it oily?

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Originally posted by alistairolsen
Did you try feeling it? was it oily?

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You'd smell it in the header tank if it was the head gasket even if it didn't overheat. That's what happened to my daughter's Corsa. edit to add if it's had radweld in it before or Barr's it could be that coming out.

[Edited on 29/10/09 by Peteff]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy

quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
40k on a bluebird?!

take both radiator hoses off and stick your garden hose in it to flush it all out first perhaps?

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When I saw the black stuff I then flushed the whole engine and rad for about half and hour! 3 years ago it was at 27k , in a way its really annoying as I drive the car very carefully and never thrash it

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quote:

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Originally posted by r1_pete

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy

quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
40k on a bluebird?!

take both radiator hoses off and stick your garden hose in it to flush it all out first perhaps?

---

When I saw the black stuff I then flushed the whole engine and rad for about half and hour! 3 years ago it was at 27k , in a way its really annoying as I drive the car very carefully and never thrash it

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So the third picture along is you being carefull.....

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being careful not to miss the puddle...

its an auto so it won't let me thrash the engine anyway

but thanks guys for the help, kind of puts my mind at rest that I may have jumped the gun and assumed the worst here's hoping

[Edited on 29/10/09 by Mr Whippy]

I read somewhere that a brand of antifreeze actually went really mouldy, could it have been mould?

Hope so!

Cheers

Rich

iron oxide sludge produced by a mix of metals and a splash of oxygen and hydrogen.

A similar type of muck will be found in you central heating system