Crap in coolant expansion tank

[Tom92SCm]

So while trying to locate the source of an annoying front end noise, I looked into the coolant expansion tank and noticed some particles that had settled to the bottom of the tank. The VUE has 36,000 miles and filled with the factory Dex-Cool. I know that Dex-Cool crap is suppose to be 100,000 mile coolant, but I've also heard of head gaskets blowing out from the coolant getting too acidic from being left in there too long. I hope this crap isn't an early sign of that. I think I may be flushing my coolant soon.

And I think the source of my noise is a bad/noisy strut mount.

[greyhound bus]

As I just stated in another post, I do not like Dex-cool at all. I have heard nothing but trouble from techs and from my local radiator shop, and my personal experience has not been good. A word of warning to ALL: IF you run Dex-cool, make damn sure the radiator (not just the coolant tank) is completly full. I have seen a couple cases of the drop out sludge from Dex-cool plugging the hose to the coolant tank. As the cooling system pressurized, it would push coolant into the tank, but when the system cooled down, it couldn't suck the coolant back into the radiator. This leads to a low coolant situation which is bad enough, but I have been told by reputable sources that a low coolant level allows the Dex-cool molocules to mix with air and create corrosive acids. I reccomend that people periodically pull the overflow hose off the radiator and make sure coolant flows back out of the hose. If you get ANY crud in your tank, pull the tank and hose off the vehicle and flush them out.

[Ritz]

So while trying to locate the source of an annoying front end noise, I looked into the coolant expansion tank and noticed some particles that had settled to the bottom of the tank. The VUE has 36,000 miles and filled with the factory Dex-Cool. I know that Dex-Cool crap is suppose to be 100,000 mile coolant, but I've also heard of head gaskets blowing out from the coolant getting too acidic from being left in there too long. I hope this crap isn't an early sign of that. I think I may be flushing my coolant soon.

And I think the source of my noise is a bad/noisy strut mount.

It's not only the mileage, but the time that affects the coolant life. 3 years is the absolute limit I'd want to see DexCool in any car. In mine, I'm flushing it and replacing it with non-Dexcool after 2 years.

Also use a quality flush to dissolve all the crap that dexcool will leave behind since that slime in your expansion tank has also coated the innards of your cooling system.

Cheers,

[djb383]

Could someone post the service manual proceedure for flushing and re-filling the Honda V6 cooling system? Thanks.

[1saxman]

It's always a good idea to periodically check the surge tank to make sure the coolant level changes from hot to cold, indicating a full, functional system. Immediately after getting home after a run of at least ten miles, open the hood and note the level, marking it with a Sharpie pen. The next morning, check again. It should be at least 1/2" lower.

[burnout]

Could someone post the service manual proceedure for flushing and re-filling the Honda V6 cooling system? Thanks.

I dunno if this is mentioned in the manual, but theres a secret coolant bleeder screw above the oil filter on the back of the block. (to the left of the VTEC solenoid)

[djb383]

I dunno if this is mentioned in the manual, but theres a secret coolant bleeder screw above the oil filter on the back of the block. (to the left of the VTEC solenoid)

Thanks for the tip. Got any more advice with regard to coolant re-fill.

[MaxSL2]

The 'crap' are coolant seal tablets added at assembly. Their residue will not do any harm and are largely just powdered ginger. That said, I do still change out the dex just as often as the old green just to be safe.

Dex-Cool likely will not cause problems if left 100K in any saturn except possibly the Relay, as all the others have a "surge tank" type system with a dedicated air bleeding hose from the engine to the surge tank.

The Relay of course has a older-style pressure cap on the radiator and an overflow tank, which does not ensure that air pockets will bleed out of the cooling system automatically.

Besides air pockets causing sludging, another believed problem with other GMs using dex has been that the plastic/rubber gaskets were not durable enough. This theory may be why the 3100/3400 engines were so bad with intake gaskets. Apparently one of the additives in Dex acts as a plasticizer and breaks down the rubber-like beads around the holes on those gaskets.

[Ritz]

The 'crap' are coolant seal tablets added at assembly. Their residue will not do any harm and are largely just powdered ginger. That said, I do still change out the dex just as often as the old green just to be safe.


What's up with that? They're so confident of the integrity of the system that they install "leak stop" at the factory? Powdered ginger? Do I even WANT to know what that's about? Did David Carradine design the cooling system? :D

Cheers,

[burnout]

I can understand if they add the ginger tablets to vehicles that have a REPUTATION for having intake gaskets going bad (Basically the 3.1/3.4) , but why screw with a perfectly good honda motor? :tear:

First the dexcool, and now this? I'm ecstatic! :D

[mellissam]

The 'crap' are coolant seal tablets added at assembly. Their residue will not do any harm and are largely just powdered ginger. ......

Ginger? Are you for real? Now my car is taking antibiotics...cancer fighting drug...oh, and the kicker, motion sickness rememdy...LMAO
So, should I change it out when? As Ritz has done, 2 years? Eventually, after a year, I plan to take it to the dealer and let them have a go at Silven (oil change, tire rotation, general checkup.....)
What is the best stuff to use? I want the best for Silven, so any suggestions, please let me know...Ritz, I have your fav bookmarked...not sure if they have it up here...:canada:

Ginger. Used to treat nausea, vomiting, headaches, chest congestion, cholera, colds, diarrhea, stomach ache, rheumatism, and nervous diseases. Ginger is a proven anti-nausea, anti-motion sickness remedy that matches or surpasses drugs such as Dramamine. Helps thwart and prevent migraine headaches and osteo-arthritis. Relieves symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Acts as an anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory agent in humans; is an antibiotic in test tubes (kills salmonella and staph bacteria), and an anti-ulcer agent in animals. Also, has anti-depressant, anti-diarrheal and strong antioxidant activity. High in anti-cancer activity. :hmm:

[MaxSL2]

Yes it is to prevent coolant diarrhea. :hmpf: ;)

Seriously though, I believe it is used pretty much across the board at GM and also at some other mfrs. becuase it seals possible points of seepage like hose connections (and their fine OEM pinch clamps ;) ) or radiator seams. This somewhat "organic" type of sealer is not as likely to damage water pumps or plug somthing important up as the "block seal" stuff or the metallic powders.

It is also the same stuff put in those brown Bar's leaks pellets sold in six packs at a parts store or Walmart.

There was once a GM TSB that besides mentioning the residue seen actually reccomended putting another crushed up pellet in with new coolant after a flush job.

If you just drain and refill I woudn't reccomend more than 1/2 another one becuase it just makes more "gunk" show up.

FWIW: Some of the 3800 series II cars really get gunky looking as another TSB once had the techs. putting like 4 more of those things in to existing coolant when the upper intake leaks were worked on. :ugh:

[mellissam]

My Saturn Dealer keeps sending me a notice that my VUE is overdue for a checkup (annoying)...anyway, I read at the bottom, they have an Engine Coolant Maintenance offer, which, at the princely sum of $99.95 (CDN = $80USD) they will flush and replace my coolant with DEX-COOL. In fine print it says recommended every 240,000km or 5 years, "when properly maintained in acordance with Owners Manual and maintenance schedule."

Hmm, have to check the owners manual.....:ugh:

[Ritz]

My Saturn Dealer keeps sending me a notice that my VUE is overdue for a checkup (annoying)...anyway, I read at the bottom, they have an Engine Coolant Maintenance offer, which, at the princely sum of $99.95 (CDN = $80USD) they will flush and replace my coolant with DEX-COOL. In fine print it says recommended every 240,000km or 5 years, "when properly maintained in acordance with Owners Manual and maintenance schedule."

Hmm, have to check the owners manual.....:ugh:

If you plan on keeping your VUE for the long haul, ignore that timeline and change your DEXcool sooner and replace it with a silica/phosphate free replacement that still meets Dexcool specs. Dexcool does not have the best reputation for long-life service in spite of what your manual and service manager are saying.

Cheers,