Sludge in coolant tank

[LeBuick]

Just bought a 2002 park ave that still has 6 months of factory warrenty left. There is lots of sludge in the coolant overflow resevoir so I took it to the dealer. They say that is normal. Is that normal or should I press the issue?

[tman]

DEX-COOL goes bad after awhile, especially in rough driving conditions. How many miles you got?

[LeBuick]

24K. It's a 2002 PA w/24K miles. Since it is still under warrenty souldn't they do a flush or analyse if any oil is in the sludge?

[wrightz28]

Sounds like a head gasket. I would have them look at it extensively. If it ends up being a blown HG, that "sludge" is accumulating in other sopts as well and potentially clogging up the radiator and heater core.

[LeBuick]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

Sounds like a head gasket. I would have them look at it extensively. If it ends up being a blown HG, that "sludge" is accumulating in other sopts as well and potentially clogging up the radiator and heater core.

I just made a Wednesday appt at a different dealership across town. Maybe they will be more customer oriented???

[tman]

Don't let wrightz28 scare you, DEX-COOL goes bad, and tell them to flush it and fill it, under warrenty. If they don't threaten to tell the Better Business Bureau, and report their dealership to GM. That ought to straighten them up, and if it doesn't, let the BBB and GM know.

[wrightz28]

Tman,

I'm not trying to scare him, I am just speaking from experience of having to correct other technicians mistakes in misdiagnosing a HG problem when the next winter rolls around and the customer has to pay for another system fluch (best case) or new heater core and reflush due to obstruction (worst case). Let alone multiple unneccessary service time.

Hindsight, I'm just stressing to have it diagnosed right the first time.

[jwalk1a]

wrightz28 has a good point. I had the same gunky build-up in my radiator. See what could happen if you don't fix it and inspect your major gaskets:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?p=2874619

[LeBuick]

Originally Posted by jwalk1a

wrightz28 has a good point. I had the same gunky build-up in my radiator. See what could happen if you don't fix it and inspect your major gaskets:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?p=2874619

Did you get any takers on that Haynes manual? If not I sure would appreciate having it.

[LeBuick]

Got me old car back from the dealership, the guy did a great job of cleaning the outside of the overflow tank but left all the sludge inside. He also washed it, sprayed scent inside, topped off all the fluids, gave me a free 21 point inspection and let me know how "awesome" these $35 per wheel wheelcaps would look on my car.

I brought it to the attention of the service manager and he said it was $115 to clean the inside. That was the charge for a flush. i explained that I appreciated all the time the guy gave my car today but this is why I left the car and I asked for a manager.

The shop foreman came out, opened the radiator cap and said, "oh, you've been mixed. The previous owner must have put the green stuff in and that is why I am sludging so bad".

He then recommended some kind of acid flush treatment that they won't charge me for if I get the $115 standard flush. Does this sound right?

[wrightz28]

Well, yesh, you definately should not mix dex-cool with standard ethlyn glycol mix. Mostly you lose the corrosion inhibitation of the dex-cool and it does cause some sediment build up over and extended period of time.

I would still be wary as to A they first said sluding is normal, no. And B you bring your car in for a cooling problem and they give it to a poirter to be cleaned,? This is why I got out of the buis. I swear it getting so ridiculous. They may be right, but at this point I don't know if I'm as flustered or more than you because I've seen so many times from the other side of the fence.

What I'd say is, fine, they may be right, I'd ask them, what kind of time frame do I have if this needs to be corrected further (comeback policy)? I.e., they flush it all out and next winter, guess what: it's back because it was misdiagnosed. And, since they want to play around with service charges for your now lovely clean car with such spiffy wheel caps, how about they throw in a compression check to verify the head gaskets are ok free of charge as compensation for you don't have your car back since it took them so long to detail it and not diagnose it?

-OR-

Get your car out of there and go get a second look at from someone else.

Either way, I would not bring it back to them for further maint. and definatlye do as suggested by tman and contact the BBB and GM (Buick)

Good luck!

[edicted]

Just an FYI - Dex Cool and Mobile 1 don't mix. I had the plastic plenum break and I had this nice black fluff goo come out of my engine when they pulled the plug trying to figure out where the coolant and oil were going.. yup.. nice black sticky fluff goo lubing the inside of my car.