Weird build up in radiator - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

RickyTheStorm · 09-10-2010, 11:38 AM

So I went and took my radiator cap off this morning and discovered this... not sure what is going on, any info would be greatly appreciated.

Mag-Tex · 09-10-2010, 12:05 PM

If that goo was in my brand-new Camaro, I would take it back to the dealer.

If it was in my old truck, I would flush it out then add new coolant. Then monitor the new coolant.

SSLarry · 09-10-2010, 12:18 PM

If anyone has kids, they have seen that before.

Russell James · 09-10-2010, 12:22 PM

Stick a magnet in the goo, and see if a big glob sticks to the magnet. If it does, that would indicate iron oxide and something is corroding. If it doesn't, one possibility could just be cooling system sealant that has floated up.

In dexcool everything floats. So anything in there will float to the top right under the rad cap. In older cars with the green stuff, most cars had a little crud in there, but nobody ever saw it because it sank to the bottom.

I'd do the magnet test, and also spread some out on a white paper towel and get a high res pic. Once you get the liquid out of it, and spread the grit out on a white paper, it will be easier to identify. When I was a tech, that's how we CSI'd the crud.

In a newer car, I'd just suspect cooling system sealer - just wipe out the excess. In an older car, could be either iron oxide, aluminum oxide or both. The magnet test and what the particles look like close up on white paper will help tell.

hoffmk2003 · 09-10-2010, 12:32 PM

Ahh Deathcool strikes again. Get used to it that stuff is nasty and makes all sorts of a mess. Its normal believe it or not. Make sure you change that stuff 5 years or 100k. Or say goodbye to your intake gaskets and head gaskets. Been regasketing 3400 V6's because of deathcool for the last 10 years of my life on my cars....its GMs way of getting you in for service. 100k coolant that eats all your intake gaskets........thanks GM

RickyTheStorm · 09-10-2010, 12:51 PM

Unfortunately I cleaned it all up already :-(, I didn't like it hence got rid of it lol. If I see it again I will do the magnet and white paper towel, etc. I am half tempted to flush and replace with straight up green stuff.

Russell James · 09-10-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyTheStorm

Unfortunately I cleaned it all up already :-(, I didn't like it hence got rid of it lol. If I see it again I will do the magnet and white paper towel, etc. I am half tempted to flush and replace with straight up green stuff.

Dexcool is fine, I've had many cars with it for many years without a single problem. The problems occur when systems are not maintained, and allowed to get low.

There were some vehicles a few years back that if they got a little low, and had an air space under the metal radiator cap - you'd get corrosion like crazy on the under side of the rad cap. Then the corrosion attacks the gaskets. I think most of the newer stuff is less suseptible to that air gap problem, better cooling system designs and less easily corroding metal parts.

I really think all that is in the pic is cooling system sealer. When new cars are built, tablets or a powder is put in the cooling system to help seal everything up. Sometimes a little excess then floats back up and shows up under your rad cap.

advfire · 09-10-2010, 01:15 PM

I love living in Florida - We use straight water down here - Best coolant God ever invented

ffrcobra_65 · 09-10-2010, 01:17 PM

the radiator neck (pic 1 and 2) does not look like from a 2010 Camaro. So what car is this from?

Maverickhpr · 09-10-2010, 01:21 PM

Is it just me but I now have a hankering for carmel lol

RickyTheStorm · 09-10-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

the radiator neck (pic 1 and 2) does not look like from a 2010 Camaro. So what car is this from?

umm 2010 camaro, looks like mine always has and my buddies does, no changes to it
There was a matte in front of the neck, but other than that it is a 2010 camaro radiator

SSLarry · 09-10-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by advfire

I love living in Florida - We use straight water down here - Best coolant God ever invented

Water has a lower boiling point than mixture. Water also corrodes radiators without mixture.

Morepwr · 09-10-2010, 04:05 PM

That looks like the residue that builds up if some kind of stop leak has been put in the cooling system.

Caspers2SSRS · 09-10-2010, 04:09 PM

This makes for interesting reading on the matter if anyone's inclined, its informative and seperates fact from beliefs and opinions ..............

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc.../chem03987.htm

09-10-2010, 11:38 AM	#1
RickyTheStorm Drives: '10 Camaro 2SS,04 Colorado,06 ZX6R Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 524 View My Garage	Weird build up in radiator So I went and took my radiator cap off this morning and discovered this... not sure what is going on, any info would be greatly appreciated. Attached Images __________________ Vararam CAI, ARH Headers, Flowmaster Exhaust, Nitto NT555Rs, Custom CAM and Tune - 11.981 @ 116.27 IOM - 2SS/RS - Auto - IAP - Sunroof - Ordered 10/13 (#7 at dealer) 3000(accepted to production ): 4/19/09 3300 (scheduled for prod ): 5/11/09 3400 (broadcast ): 5/16/09 3800 (produced ): 5/22/09 4150 (invoiced ): 6/01/09 4200 (shipped ): 6/01/09 5000 (at dealer ): 6/12/09 6000 (delivery to me ): 6/12/09

09-10-2010, 12:18 PM	#3
SSLarry Drives: 2SS LS3 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 1,309	If anyone has kids, they have seen that before. __________________ 2010 CGM 2SS LS3, born: 4/10

09-10-2010, 12:32 PM	#5
hoffmk2003 The Hof Drives: 2010 IOM Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jamestown, RI Posts: 825	Ahh Deathcool strikes again. Get used to it that stuff is nasty and makes all sorts of a mess. Its normal believe it or not. Make sure you change that stuff 5 years or 100k. Or say goodbye to your intake gaskets and head gaskets. Been regasketing 3400 V6's because of deathcool for the last 10 years of my life on my cars....its GMs way of getting you in for service. 100k coolant that eats all your intake gaskets........thanks GM __________________ #6 Bolt on Fast List...best ET 12.01@117 mph http://www.streetfire.net/video/best...ro_2240734.htm

09-10-2010, 12:51 PM	#6
RickyTheStorm Drives: '10 Camaro 2SS,04 Colorado,06 ZX6R Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 524 View My Garage	Unfortunately I cleaned it all up already :-(, I didn't like it hence got rid of it lol. If I see it again I will do the magnet and white paper towel, etc. I am half tempted to flush and replace with straight up green stuff. __________________ Vararam CAI, ARH Headers, Flowmaster Exhaust, Nitto NT555Rs, Custom CAM and Tune - 11.981 @ 116.27 IOM - 2SS/RS - Auto - IAP - Sunroof - Ordered 10/13 (#7 at dealer) 3000(accepted to production ): 4/19/09 3300 (scheduled for prod ): 5/11/09 3400 (broadcast ): 5/16/09 3800 (produced ): 5/22/09 4150 (invoiced ): 6/01/09 4200 (shipped ): 6/01/09 5000 (at dealer ): 6/12/09 6000 (delivery to me ): 6/12/09

09-10-2010, 01:15 PM	#8
advfire Drives: 2010 SS Black Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Parkland, Florida Posts: 171	I love living in Florida - We use straight water down here - Best coolant God ever invented __________________ 2SS- M6 - 849 RWHP, 757 RWTQ - YSI -Supercharger - Comp Cams Stage 3 Blower Cam -54-471-11 - (In-239/624 - Ex 255/624) MTI - CAI - Meth Injection Systems using 50/50 mix - Kooks 1 7/8" Headers with 3" catted X-Pipe - Kooks muflers to tips - LSR Short Throw Shifter - NGK TR6 Spark Plugs - 160 degree thermostat - LSR Sway Bars (Front & Rear) - BMR Subframe Connectors bolt-on - DSS - lingenfelter 9" w/ 4.10P - PFADT coilover front/back - BMR Spherical Toe rods / Trailing arms - Posi lock -

09-10-2010, 12:05 PM	#2
Mag-Tex Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 55	If that goo was in my brand-new Camaro, I would take it back to the dealer. If it was in my old truck, I would flush it out then add new coolant. Then monitor the new coolant.

09-10-2010, 12:22 PM	#4
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Stick a magnet in the goo, and see if a big glob sticks to the magnet. If it does, that would indicate iron oxide and something is corroding. If it doesn't, one possibility could just be cooling system sealant that has floated up. In dexcool everything floats. So anything in there will float to the top right under the rad cap. In older cars with the green stuff, most cars had a little crud in there, but nobody ever saw it because it sank to the bottom. I'd do the magnet test, and also spread some out on a white paper towel and get a high res pic. Once you get the liquid out of it, and spread the grit out on a white paper, it will be easier to identify. When I was a tech, that's how we CSI'd the crud. In a newer car, I'd just suspect cooling system sealer - just wipe out the excess. In an older car, could be either iron oxide, aluminum oxide or both. The magnet test and what the particles look like close up on white paper will help tell.

09-10-2010, 01:17 PM	#9
ffrcobra_65 Account Suspended Drives: SuperCharged 2SS/RS IOM MN6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA Posts: 5,094	the radiator neck (pic 1 and 2) does not look like from a 2010 Camaro. So what car is this from?

09-10-2010, 01:21 PM	#10
Maverickhpr Drives: 2016 Hyper Blue 2LT RS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hillsboro OR Posts: 289 View My Garage	Is it just me but I now have a hankering for carmel lol __________________ Camaro it's not a car it's American Muscle

09-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#13
Morepwr woohoo Drives: Silverado, 70cutlass, 57chevy&more Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 558	That looks like the residue that builds up if some kind of stop leak has been put in the cooling system. __________________ I am not useless, I can still be used as a bad example!

09-10-2010, 04:09 PM	#14
Caspers2SSRS Caspers2SSRS Drives: Summit White 2010 2SS/RS Camaro Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere north of a midlife crisis. Posts: 2,865	This makes for interesting reading on the matter if anyone's inclined, its informative and seperates fact from beliefs and opinions .............. http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc.../chem03987.htm

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