Radiator: Where's all this rust coming from?

I just sprung a leak somewhere around the water pump on my 96 Taurus GL, and while I'm currently working on extracting the water pump, I'm wondering why, when I drain and refill my cooling system with water, why it becomes chocolate-milk rusty within minutes. Am I just loosening the crud up or is something rusting out in there? I intend to change the water every week or so until it stays clear or the weather here gets cold, usually around late December or so.

Also, where's the intended place to drain the radiator from? I had to break the "in" line into the bottom of the radiator. There's a coupling right where it goes into the bottom passenger's side of the radiator. Also, what's that object that looks like a pump that's mounted to the radiator that the line goes through to get into the radiator in that corner? I know it isn't the water pump, as it's on the engine and appears to be leaking. I'm working on getting that one off right now, and am having to go through all sorts of pulleys to get to it.

You have a very common condition called brown sludge.

It will never get any better until you purchase the bypass kit.

It used to be a free repair from Ford but it isn't any more.

Install the kit it only consist of some tees and hoses and flush your system.

You should be fine after that.

Also if you take the splash shield off the bottom of the car you will see the radiator drain on the drivers side.


You can research the brown sludge situation at


http://www.tauruscarclub.com/modules.php?name=Content

Mike
:smokin:

What is the underlying cause of the "brown sludge" problem? Is part of the block rusting out? I've done more work on my car and found the point of the leak, as well as the fact that the water that has collected in the block is chocolate-milk muddy again, though it was clear when I finished flushing the block yesterday.

As far as the point of the leak, it's right there where the head, block, and the "front cover" all join together. I'm gonna have to let a "true" mechanic hit this one. I was really hoping it would be the water pump, but it's immediately outside it. Your link is a dud, so maybe you can explain it. :D

What is the underlying cause of the "brown sludge" problem? Is part of the block rusting out? I've done more work on my car and found the point of the leak, as well as the fact that the water that has collected in the block is chocolate-milk muddy again, though it was clear when I finished flushing the block yesterday.

As far as the point of the leak, it's right there where the head, block, and the "front cover" all join together. I'm gonna have to let a "true" mechanic hit this one. I was really hoping it would be the water pump, but it's immediately outside it. Your link is a dud, so maybe you can explain it. :D

The link worked for me. I performed a search on 'sludge' once I got to the site.

The link worked for me. I performed a search on 'sludge' once I got to the site.
Module not active. :mad:

Module not active. :mad:

www.tauruscarclub.com
got to forums then maint and repair then search brown coolant

Here is the direct link

http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22141&hl=


Mike

:smokin:

OK, among other things, that does tell me that I do have the bypass hose already installed. :D Think that maybe I could just be loosening up a lot of crud or do I need to solder a few more grounds onto my heater core and/or engine? :eek:

I've heard that Tauruses have been bad to go through heater cores. Maybe this is why and I'm busting it before it becomes a problem. :D My heater and everything works fine at the moment, but I first must fix/have fixed this leak. If it's not leaking out around the front of the water pump from a bad gasget (and I'll probably know for sure tomorrow), it's coming from where the head, block, and the front cover all meet. If it's at that triad junction, I'll have to let a mechanic hit this one.

which engine does that 96 gl have? if its the 3.0... i just had the entire front of my ranger 3.0 off getting to the timing. i aswell had a few minor leakes on that but it wasn't nothing a tube of orange silicone couldn't fix. it was just an added precaution after changing the water pump gasket.

which engine does that 96 gl have? if its the 3.0... i just had the entire front of my ranger 3.0 off getting to the timing. i aswell had a few minor leakes on that but it wasn't nothing a tube of orange silicone couldn't fix. it was just an added precaution after changing the water pump gasket.
Mine has a Vulcan (3-liter OHV V6) engine, and I can get to my timing cog fairly easily, though I have to remove my altinator, water pump, idler wheel, and my tensioner wheel (which proved to be a major pain this time, but now won't be too hard for awhile).

...speaking of my water pump, I put a new one on and went overboard on the hi-temp silocone, so I know that's not the source of the leak. Maybe Friday or so, I can have a mechanic hit this one. I don't exactly feel like taking the whole freakin' engine down and I want a permanent fix, more than just silicone can do. :D