Hey All,

So I opened my overflow reservoir to check the level. When I looked inside I noticed what looked like a thin layer of pureed peas\baby food on the top of the coolant. I also checked the rad hose and there was green residue around the lower end of the hose. What does that thickened coolant mean? It's not overheating and there is plenty of coolant in the overflow (too much for my liking). If I need to, I can get it to the dealer tomorrow.

Thanks,

Lew

 

Pop your radiator cap Lew, you'll find the same yuck at the top too. Chances are very good you have a blown head gasket allowing oil in your coolant. Could be worse, you could have the reverse with radiator fluid in your oil. Sorry bout the bad news!
Gary

 

FML...That just makes a shitty Monday even worse.

The car just turned 5 years old, but only has 37k miles. I also have the Elite extended warranty, so I'm covered either way. Is it OK to drive it to the dealer tomorrow or should it be towed?

 

Has your engine ever overheated? Blown head gaskets usually occur with an overheated engine

 

I've only had the car for 10 months and it's been running tip top. Never overheated. Not sure about the previous owner, but from the service records it's was cared for pretty well. When I took delivery of it the coolant was new. Funny thing is, I just had it in for an oil change on the 12th and nothing was mentioned.

Going to leave the car in the garage tomorrow and take the wife's Volvo. Will call the dealer tomorrow and see when they can get me in.

 

take out the oil dipstick and smell to see if you can smell coolant in it which will be easily distinguished, also look at the color carefully if there is any 'whiteness' to it. like gary said it is possible that the head gasket is blown and oil is getting into the coolant. post a pic if possible

 

I'll try to take some pics tonight if I can. Dropping the car off Thursday. Going to drive the Volvo today and tomorrow in the meantime.

 

I think I might have the same thing my coolant in the reservoir just looks thick to me but its been that way since I got the car 2 years ago. I've never had any issues whatsoever so I'm guessing you're fine

 

If the engine never overheated in the past 10 months you had it, and there is no loss of coolant, then I doubt you actually have a blown head gasket. The problem probably isn't even there. If your car has been running fine, then I think the residue was just a buildup of dirt and corrosion from circulating in the radiator. You should do a coolant flush to clean it out. You could also just use a turkey baster and remove that top layer of gunk.

Blown head gaskets will cause you to lose coolant.

 

Well, that's good to know. Could there be an issue with the trans cooler causing this?

 

Do these engines have problems with headgaskets? This is the first time I've ever even heard of someone mentioning headgasket failure with these motors.

And, wouldn't the factory warranty cover this? Or let me guess, they won't cover "gaskets". (I'm referring to the factory powertrain warranty)

 

I've seen blown head gaskets do 3 things (1) Milky krud in the radiator (2) Radiator fluid in the oil (3) Water pouring out your tail pipes. When I had my BRE 510 I had to torque the head bolds down every few months or I'd get oil in my radiator and coolers. Major PIA to clean everything out....if only they'd had Loctite back then!
Gary

 

^ and each of those would cause your coolant level to decrease...so unless the OP's coolant level was noticeably decreasing in the past couple of months then I doubt it's a blown head gasket.

If all your fluid levels check out fine then there isn't any leakage anywhere. If the oil looks normal then there's nothing to worry about. I have a feeling that the OP's coolant was just dirty and should be flushed.

 

I really don't think thick coolant is normal. As I asked earlier, could the integrated trans cooler possibly be cracked\leaking causing trans fluid to leak into the radiator? I'll have pics up in a few. The coolant was practically at the top of the reservoir last I checked, so I'll see if the level has dropped and will check the dipstick.

Snapped some pics. I also checked the dipstick. Oil looked good.







Lower rad hose:



I popped the cap and the coolant looked good:

 

I think it's just dirty. You should get coolant flush or something to clean up that mess.