My radiator/coolant light keeps blinking on my 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue.

[slimm263]

My radiator/coolant light keeps blinking on my 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The coolant level is full in both the radiator and reservoir. I can feel coolant moving through the top hose into the thermostat housing. The fans are working. The only indication of a problem is the color of the coolant which is a murky light brown with a dark brown gunk forming inside the radiator cap.

[LittleHoov]

That definitely sounds like you have oil mixed in with your coolant. How is the car running otherwise?

With your engine, id suspect a leaky upper or lower intake manifold gasket, or both, they are the one major problem your engine has in addition to the upper manifold itself.

There is a link at the top of the Intrigue forum that covers these a little bit, ill also PM you with some additional info.

[slimm263]

Thanks for the quick reply…its actually running pretty well…no smoke or any visual problems

[slimm263]

Thanks for the quick reply…its actually running pretty well…no smoke or any visual problems

[remark123]

If it isn't the manifold gaskets, it could well be a small leak in the radiator neck at the upper hose connection, it is buried behind the shroud and is hard to spot. I say this because I had a similar problem, but I did eventually notice the smell of coolant, and the overflow bottle did start to run lower. I got the flashing low coolant light when engine speed was over 2000 RPM, the water level in the radiator would drop low enough to trigger the sensor for the low coolant. If you are not losing coolan though, it probably is the manifold, especially if you are finding oil in the coolant. One other thing, check the brown gunk, are you certain that it is oil? It could be some of the remannants of Dexcool, especially if you have added regular antifreeze without completely flushing the system... Ask me how I know