Coolant has brown Sludge 2003 Alero

[TRSTACIE]

Hello all once again,

I am just having a wonderful day. I went to check out my engine compartment today and I checked the engine oil cap and there was no white residuw whatsoever in it. I did however notice that my compressor was hissing at me and there was green around the top of it where the hose bracket mounts to it. It looks like moss on a rock and its green. Anybody?? Clue? So now with my check engine light on and a code of P0442 and this green stiff around the A/C compressor and the brown sludge in my coolant I am needing some help. Is it my LIM like everyone else has had it happend too? Also, if it is, how hard is it to replace the gasket or should I just bite the bullet and have the dealer or a local mechanic fix it? I live in Denver, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Stacie

[BNaylor]

The first signs of bad LIM gaskets if you have the 3400 engine is coolant loss or coolant in the engine oil. The sludge can be due to the Dex-Cool coolant exposed to air or the sealing tabs GM uses in addition to bad LIM gaskets. Link below has the procedure to do 3400 LIM gaskets. When the Dex-Cool gets old it can cause sludge. Dex-Cool should be replaced at 5 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first or sooner.

Click here

Best thing to do is get each problem repaired or looked at starting with the evaporative emissions code you are getting.

On the A/C problem is it cooling OK? The green you are seeing could be a refrigerant leak.