cooling system?

30pack · 04-04-2004, 11:05 PM

I checked my coolant in my 96 sl2 and low and behold there was what looked like "crap" in my coolant resevoir. I mean it actually looked like someone had taken a dump in my resevoir tank. Now i have read about oil getting into the coolant ie. "cracked head" but i don't think there was any oil in it. It had orange maybe redish looking sludge flowing thru the sytem. It actually kinda looked like red clay or somethin. Now i guess my question is if anyone has ever seen this happen and what maybe could have caused this? Would this happen if the coolant system has never been flushed? I bought this car in January and it has 107,000 miles on it. Any insight would be much appreciated.
I went ahead and flushed and cleaned the entire system out today along with replacing the thermostat. Believe me i spent most of the day making sure i got the system pretty darn clean. I have had no overheating problems at all or any problems whatsover with this vehicle.

wolfman · 04-05-2004, 12:07 AM

DOHC "2" series are not prone to the same issues as their SOHC "1" series cousins. If the fresh coolant stays clean, it had probably just been to long between changes, or the previous owner got carried away with a stop leak type product at some point. A tan/brown somewhat waxy residue is actually considered normal in a Saturn. A factory coolant conditioner using Ginger root being the cause.

donisaacs · 04-05-2004, 11:12 PM

I too, have had the red clay without any problems. The first time I saw it, I took the car to saturn to have the system flush.. I was waiting for Saturn to tell me there was a problem.. Instead they flush the system and all was well. That was many years ago..

30pack · 04-05-2004, 11:28 PM

yeah what sux now is that I now have a small coolant drip coming from somewhere, i've gotta check it out. Apparently there's not a whole lot of coolant leaking out but I plan on getting all new clamps for my hoses(which are in good condition). I think i'll prolly pick up some of those pellets that GM sells to put in the system to help with leaks so hopefully that will remedy my problem.

04-04-2004, 11:05 PM	#1
30pack Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 46 30pack's Photos	cooling system? I checked my coolant in my 96 sl2 and low and behold there was what looked like "crap" in my coolant resevoir. I mean it actually looked like someone had taken a dump in my resevoir tank. Now i have read about oil getting into the coolant ie. "cracked head" but i don't think there was any oil in it. It had orange maybe redish looking sludge flowing thru the sytem. It actually kinda looked like red clay or somethin. Now i guess my question is if anyone has ever seen this happen and what maybe could have caused this? Would this happen if the coolant system has never been flushed? I bought this car in January and it has 107,000 miles on it. Any insight would be much appreciated. I went ahead and flushed and cleaned the entire system out today along with replacing the thermostat. Believe me i spent most of the day making sure i got the system pretty darn clean. I have had no overheating problems at all or any problems whatsover with this vehicle.

04-05-2004, 12:07 AM	#2
wolfman Super Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 12,066 wolfman's Photos	DOHC "2" series are not prone to the same issues as their SOHC "1" series cousins. If the fresh coolant stays clean, it had probably just been to long between changes, or the previous owner got carried away with a stop leak type product at some point. A tan/brown somewhat waxy residue is actually considered normal in a Saturn. A factory coolant conditioner using Ginger root being the cause. ... Old Saturns never die, people KILL them, so check your damn oil! "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein

04-05-2004, 11:12 PM	#3
donisaacs Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Auburn, WA. Posts: 177 donisaacs's Photos 1995 SC2 2002 L-Series 3.0L Sedan	I too, have had the red clay without any problems. The first time I saw it, I took the car to saturn to have the system flush.. I was waiting for Saturn to tell me there was a problem.. Instead they flush the system and all was well. That was many years ago.. ... Remembers if the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy….

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04-05-2004, 11:28 PM	#4
30pack Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 46 30pack's Photos	yeah what sux now is that I now have a small coolant drip coming from somewhere, i've gotta check it out. Apparently there's not a whole lot of coolant leaking out but I plan on getting all new clamps for my hoses(which are in good condition). I think i'll prolly pick up some of those pellets that GM sells to put in the system to help with leaks so hopefully that will remedy my problem.

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