radiator sludge

[risingernicole]

Can anyone tell me how to get the sludge crap out of my resevoir tank? It looks like hell and now my temp has been starting to creep up. The intake gaskets have been changed already. Anybody help??

[94sportsedan]

Yeah, unbolt it bring it into house and continue to run hot , hot, water into it from your faucet.

[richtazz]

welcome to the world of DEX-COOL. IF I were you, the next time your car needs a thremostat or or other cooling related part, I'd dump the dexcool and go back to the green stuff. Just be sure that you flush the cooling system VERY thoroughly to ensure all dex-cool is removed.

[risingernicole]

Originally Posted by richtazz

welcome to the world of DEX-COOL. IF I were you, the next time your car needs a thremostat or or other cooling related part, I'd dump the dexcool and go back to the green stuff. Just be sure that you flush the cooling system VERY thoroughly to ensure all dex-cool is removed.

Right now, we are like nil on funds. Is there any cheap cleaning additives I can just put in it until I can afford to flush it?

[jimmytroanoke]

Originally Posted by risingernicole

Right now, we are like nil on funds. Is there any cheap cleaning additives I can just put in it until I can afford to flush it?

Rule number one: Don't add anything to your radiator but antifreeze and distilled water. NO stop leak. Maybe some prestone super flush. If you use a chemical flush you really have to work to get it out because just draining your rad only gets half the fluid. Put a flush tee on one of your heater hoses and back flush until you get clear water. You will get a better clean out if you disconnect the bottom hose - flows better than drain cock. The sludge is from having air in your system at some point. There are 2 air bleeds on top of the motor. use them when you refill. Put the car on ramps to raise the top of the radiator. the reason the car is such a bitch to bleed is the top of the rad is so much lower than the top of the motor. I have talked to several GM techs who all said stick with the Dex Cool if the motor was so equipped. Just dont do the 150000mile thing as advertised. Change it every 30k just like green.

[BNaylor]

I get the stuff every year in the coolant reservoir tank even after a flush. I still run Dex-Cool. Its obvious that Dex-Cool and air don't get along. The reservoir is not airtight or sealed. As long as the sludge is not in the radiator and remainder of the cooling system, I remove it, clean it out with a baby bottle brush, put it back on, and then add 50/50 mix of Dex-Cool and purified water. If the engine is overheating thats another issue.

[ru35angel]

I back flushed my system myself sooo easily using the cheap and affordable $5 prestone back flush system....! I had the sludge and instead of using the flush/clean chemicals I just let the warm water run through until it was crystal clear! Seriously easy!