Black swirls in Coolant Reservoir

blackwarbeast · 03-15-2009, 11:17 AM

Hey guys, I was outside fooling around with the truck today and noticed the engine coolant reservoir was empty so I opened it up and filled it back up the the cold level. Afterwards I looked inside the reservoir and there are black swirls in with the coolant. They look like black particles and are also along the sides of the remaining empty parts. I shouldve have cleaned the tank out before filling it but wasnt thinking I guess. Anyone know what the black stuff is and if its serious??

leolkfrm · 03-15-2009, 11:28 AM

sounds like it's time to flush the system clean the tank and put in new

merlin5577 · 03-15-2009, 11:28 AM

It could be anything from rust particals to oil to dead bug parts. Best bet is to do a cooling system pressure test (to check the head gaskets) and a coolant flush (if the gaskets check out) to get the **** out.

blackwarbeast · 03-15-2009, 11:57 AM

is it expensive to get a pressure test done? Also if it ends up being the head gaskets could it be related to my rusted exhaust?

blackwarbeast · 03-15-2009, 12:02 PM

Also not too long ago I had a complete coolant flush done on it at the local Monro shop.

merlin5577 · 03-15-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackwarbeast

is it expensive to get a pressure test done? Also if it ends up being the head gaskets could it be related to my rusted exhaust?

A pressure test is just a compressor that attaches to your radiator, through the cap, and pumps it up to 15-16psi. If you have to tool its pretty easy, but should be cheap for a shop to do it.

leolkfrm · 03-15-2009, 03:32 PM

Clean out the reservoir then and keep an eye on it to see if the black returns, did they put green ao dexcool in it when they flushed it? what was in it before they flushed it? hopefully they did not mix them and start the black coolant problem

blackwarbeast · 03-15-2009, 05:44 PM

They put green in it which is what it had I believe. Im not as concerned about it now I read somewhere that places put sealant tablets in when flushing it to help seal any small leaks. Is this what it could be? The black stuff looks sediment-like, or like little flakes.

gmctrucks · 03-15-2009, 07:02 PM

First open your radiator cap when cold and start truck wait for thermostat to open up and check for bubbles in the water that could a sign of a bad head gasket. Also check to see if you have signs of oil in the radiator water or antifreeze. Even a bad used gasket from the radiator cap might cause black to come off the black gasket and fool you good. I hope it's something very small.
Good luck! GMC
PS-I remove my upper radiator hose and place the water hose in the radiator with the heater on high just to flush my whole system before I add antifreeze and distilled water to the radiator. Using distilled water is much better than just regular tap water oh even clean out your recovery tank so that it will be super clean as well. I also know that the auto parts store has a radiator acid flush but im afraid of them. Keep us posted.

bradrhale · 03-16-2009, 11:51 AM

i think you are making this out to be too much. that coolant sits there in that resevoir for long periods of time and over time will develop a little debris in the bottom. it can be anything from bugs like was mentioned to radiator hoses breaking down over their life to who knows what. really dont imagine it is related to your exhaust inquiry.

03-15-2009, 11:17 AM	#1
blackwarbeast Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 52	Black swirls in Coolant Reservoir Hey guys, I was outside fooling around with the truck today and noticed the engine coolant reservoir was empty so I opened it up and filled it back up the the cold level. Afterwards I looked inside the reservoir and there are black swirls in with the coolant. They look like black particles and are also along the sides of the remaining empty parts. I shouldve have cleaned the tank out before filling it but wasnt thinking I guess. Anyone know what the black stuff is and if its serious??

03-15-2009, 11:28 AM	#2
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	sounds like it's time to flush the system clean the tank and put in new __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

03-15-2009, 03:32 PM	#7
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	Clean out the reservoir then and keep an eye on it to see if the black returns, did they put green ao dexcool in it when they flushed it? what was in it before they flushed it? hopefully they did not mix them and start the black coolant problem __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

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03-15-2009, 11:28 AM	#3
merlin5577 Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 675	It could be anything from rust particals to oil to dead bug parts. Best bet is to do a cooling system pressure test (to check the head gaskets) and a coolant flush (if the gaskets check out) to get the **** out.

03-15-2009, 11:57 AM	#4
blackwarbeast Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 52	is it expensive to get a pressure test done? Also if it ends up being the head gaskets could it be related to my rusted exhaust?

03-15-2009, 12:02 PM	#5
blackwarbeast Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 52	Also not too long ago I had a complete coolant flush done on it at the local Monro shop.

03-15-2009, 05:44 PM	#8
blackwarbeast Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 52	They put green in it which is what it had I believe. Im not as concerned about it now I read somewhere that places put sealant tablets in when flushing it to help seal any small leaks. Is this what it could be? The black stuff looks sediment-like, or like little flakes.

03-15-2009, 07:02 PM	#9
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	First open your radiator cap when cold and start truck wait for thermostat to open up and check for bubbles in the water that could a sign of a bad head gasket. Also check to see if you have signs of oil in the radiator water or antifreeze. Even a bad used gasket from the radiator cap might cause black to come off the black gasket and fool you good. I hope it's something very small. Good luck! GMC PS-I remove my upper radiator hose and place the water hose in the radiator with the heater on high just to flush my whole system before I add antifreeze and distilled water to the radiator. Using distilled water is much better than just regular tap water oh even clean out your recovery tank so that it will be super clean as well. I also know that the auto parts store has a radiator acid flush but im afraid of them. Keep us posted.

03-16-2009, 11:51 AM	#10
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,025	i think you are making this out to be too much. that coolant sits there in that resevoir for long periods of time and over time will develop a little debris in the bottom. it can be anything from bugs like was mentioned to radiator hoses breaking down over their life to who knows what. really dont imagine it is related to your exhaust inquiry.