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I just changed the coolant in April and put the yellow gex stuff in. The coolant in the top of the radiator/thermostat area is already a deep rust color. Is this normal? Or is something wrong with my radiator?

If there is rust in the cooling system, that means that pure water was in there at one time or another (or close to pure). Antifreeze has anti rusting inhibitors, and this wouldnt happen if the system was properly filled. You might have to replace everything in the system if its bad enough. Do the hoses at a minimum.

I like your extreme, "everything is going to blow up" type of responses OB.

You probley should thoughly flush the coolant system. Then replace with fresh coolant.

I hate our coolant bottles in our cars, really can't tell when its empty and when its full.

yeah, I don't like the bottles either.

I guess the main question, is why it would be this way after just 2 months? Is there any other reason than pure water in it? I haven't ever put pure water in it but whoever had it before may have.

The only way for the rust to begin to form is by oxidizing via pure water. I'm no chemist but I cant think of any other way for this to happen in a cooling system. I'm pretty sure oxygen is required to form rust as well. However, seeing as how a cooling system isnt a sealed hydraulic system, air isnt the enemy. Lack of additives are the issue. Try flushing it at least once or twice (give a few days in between) and see what comes out with the coolant. Do the hoses show any signs of damage (i.e. swelling, moisture etc)?

Are you shure its rusty?
Remember, the coolant in the BLACK thermostat housing looks like its brown.....or atleast when the orange dcx fluid is in the black housing it looks brown...

BlackRoseRacing wrote:Are you shure its rusty?
Remember, the coolant in the BLACK thermostat housing looks like its brown.....or atleast when the orange dcx fluid is in the black housing it looks brown...

Also if you didn't flush the old stuff completely it could be affecting the color. To add to the problem is not all of the new coolants are compatible. I would get one of those antifreeze checkers that pulls coolant up into it and see what color it appears to be and if it is clean or cloudy looking. You can also check for acidity with a digital volt meter. Just stick one lead into the filler opening and the other on the enginge block/head. If there is at least one volt change the coolant. The higher the voltage the higher the acid content. this is one of the better ways to check your coolant life.

When you flush your system, is it alright to just stick a hose in the hole on the block to flush it out? I did this on my old Neon, and it worked just fine. I let the water drain completely, then refilled with the green stuff (99 neon)

yeah keep tabs on the water pump. antifreeze has lubericants that keep the pump running smooth. as you might already guess, water starts to kill your pump by rustig seals in the pump and engine.

It's not the pink/orange stuff, it's the Zerex yellow stuff - which is specifically for Chrysler vehicles. I did empty it all out when I changed it. I unplugged the bottom and let it drain, then plugged it up again and filled it. I might go ahead and drain it again at the end of the summer and check it.

If ya got some rusty lookin stuff just change it again.

flushing with a hose won't hurt anything, just make sure you get most of the water out, before you add the coolant back in. Since its only gonna see fresh water for 10 minutes or so, and it wont be running.. it will not hurt anything..like i said just make sure its filled up afterwards with coolant not water.

Flying_NEB wrote:It's not the pink/orange stuff, it's the Zerex yellow stuff - which is specifically for Chrysler vehicles. I did empty it all out when I changed it. I unplugged the bottom and let it drain, then plugged it up again and filled it. I might go ahead and drain it again at the end of the summer and check it.

You didn't drain the motor of all its coolent then. If you did this with the front of the car jacked up then the motor wass even more tilted back then it allready is with the car down. This will cause a small amount to pool in the back of the motor. Wethere its enough to make it change color I don't know. But next time Flush it and drop the car to make sure you get it all out. And last time I checked the Chrysler spacific Coolent was orange not yellow.

Zerex coolant is more of an Apple Juice / Urine color

yeah - fun urine color

I was looking for a fun emoticon - I can't believe someone actually went through the time to create all these things.