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MG MGA - radiator sludge?

I just popped off my radiator cap. The system was dry and now filled with new 50/50 mix.

The fluid visible looks fine, but the underside of the cap has some crud on it - sort of a sludge. I wiped it off and will check it again soon...residual @#$% from the engine?

Common? Normal?

Doesn't seem to bad - just wondering why it's there at all. I will add "flush radiator" to my growing list of winter chores.

JIM in NH
AJ Mail

Is it oily or muddy?
Russ
Russ Carnes

slimy - not oily like oil mixed with water. a little chunky or globby.

I wiped it off the bottom of the radiator cap and will check after the next drive to see if there is any more.

JIM
AJ Mail

Pretty common; any oiliness from engine parts being cleaned etc., or water pump lubricants used in the past. Nothing to worry about as long as it doesn't increase greatly for no good reason.

FRM
FR Millmore

Jim - I had that problem in Key West after the parade a couple of years ago. Turns out it was the rubber gasket in the cap - it was disintegrating after running hot. Try swapping in a new cap and see if you still have the oil residue.
- Ken
Ken Doris

Something isn't right with crud around Jim. Over the years I have rebuilt the engine, this is when the block gets 'hot tanked' and the waterways cleaned out. The rediator, water pump and hoses replaced as you do. I always make up the anti-freeze with distilled water from the de-humidifier and top up with it too. I change the coolant every two years to keep up the anti-corrosion inhibitor. Nowadays the system remains as clean as a whistle with just a slight darkening of the blue anti-freeze prior to changing it. Over time the distilled water will have dissolved any hard water deposits in the system and I know the cooling is as good as it can get. Keep working at it.
Pete
P N Tipping

I had a sludge problem once when my car had not been driven in 6 or 8 months. I looked like it had cottage cheese in the radiator tank. My local radiator shop told me that antifreeze will clot with time in some conditions. They told me to pour about a quart or so of diesel fuel into the radiator and run it for 15 minutes and then drain the diesel and rinse it out good. I thought this sounded a little crazy but did it and, voila, the radiator and water passages were spotless clean.

J T Watson

This thread was discussed between 29/09/2011 and 07/10/2011

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