Sludge in water; Normal?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2013
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Sludge in water; Normal?
Just bought a 1989 F-250 7.3 Diesel. I started checking all fluids. I popped the radiator cap and found a lot of black sludge. I dont think this is normal even for a Diesel. Can anyone offer any ideas? Is it motor oil? I drove it for about 15 miles and 30 minutes on and off the freeway and it never got too hot?
Thank you
Thank you
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 4
From: 8600 ft in Colo
Normally oil in the coolant will look like a chocolate milk shake when you pop the cap.
Maybe the PO had a leak and put a lot of stop leak in it. Some of the brands of stop leak look like tar... I'd flush it out & put new coolant in it. Don't forget the SCAs. I'd also do an oil change, and look carefully for what comes out first. Coolant is denser than oil, and will settle in the bottom of the oil pan...
Maybe the PO had a leak and put a lot of stop leak in it. Some of the brands of stop leak look like tar... I'd flush it out & put new coolant in it. Don't forget the SCAs. I'd also do an oil change, and look carefully for what comes out first. Coolant is denser than oil, and will settle in the bottom of the oil pan...
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 445
Likes: 6
From: western Oregon
YA... what he said ^.... check the overflow tank and see if it has alot of gunk in it. clean it and check it often.. could be symptoms of a oil cooler leak. you could also send off a oil sample to check for coolant.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Don't use a silicate coolant, use a long life universal coolant so you don't have to worry about it.
I like the Prestone citric flush, either the quick flush or the 6hr one works, just make sure to drain the coolant first and follow the directions carefully.
I like the Prestone citric flush, either the quick flush or the 6hr one works, just make sure to drain the coolant first and follow the directions carefully.
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