Black Antifreeze
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 125
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Black Antifreeze
I have a used 1999 Scab 4x4. I'm thinking the previous owner did not take as good of care of it as I would have, and I know he spent a lot of time in the mud (he told me so) But hey, it's a great truck just like I've always wanted and I was able to afford this one. I've always checked the fluids, etc., but the other night I actually looked in the coolant reservoir, instead of just at the level, and discovered that the antifreeze was black. So I started flushing. 2 days later, I finally got the whole system running clear. I must have used 1/3 tank of gas just running the engine - clean water in the top, black water out the bottom. I probably ran the truck for a total of about 6 hours. I ran two cans of radiator flush through it, driving it periodically throughout the flushing process. It is clean now, green as it can be. Does anybody have any comments on this? What might have caused the blackness? (Seems like I read somewhere on here the 5.4L had a problem with antifreeze getting into the cylinders - maybe vice versa in this case) Any recomendations I should consider for preventing this in the future? Problem areas to look for from having black antifreeze? Thanks in advance.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 3
From: NE Texas
Do you mean black or do you mean really dark green? You need to keep a close eye on it, but I would guess that it had just never been changed. Change it every year or two to keep your heater core from going out. I've never changed one, but I have read that it can be as much as a 10 hour job to change.
You are doing the right thing by seeing after your fluids.
Good luck,
Doc
You are doing the right thing by seeing after your fluids.
Good luck,
Doc
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Well, I would keep a close eye on the entire cooling system from now on.
How many miles does the truck have?
There is a good chance that parts like the thermostat and water pump might not last as long as they should because of the first owners negect.
I had a 95 E150, straight 6, with over 100K that I got used, opened the radiator cap and it was a nice, solid brown! Did the whole flush thing, but about 20K later it needed a new radiator.
Good job on flushing the system, though. You've pretty much done everything you can for now.
How many miles does the truck have?
There is a good chance that parts like the thermostat and water pump might not last as long as they should because of the first owners negect.
I had a 95 E150, straight 6, with over 100K that I got used, opened the radiator cap and it was a nice, solid brown! Did the whole flush thing, but about 20K later it needed a new radiator.
Good job on flushing the system, though. You've pretty much done everything you can for now.
