bad news from rad guy
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
Likes: 1
From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
bad news from rad guy
so i pulled my radiator and took it to a guy across the river that i know does good radiator work and asked him to rod out my radiator to get the brown stuff gm added to it out and he said they didn't start that till 96, i thought i read it was all of these
?
anyway i leave the rad and head home to do a couple other things on the car like replacing the hoses and found the spring in the upper rad hose was rusted into about 40 pieces that i could find and countless other parts
while i was doing this the rad guy calls and tells me that he pulled the tanks and the core was too clogged to rod out
i don't doubt him at all after seeing the brown stuff coming out. so i get a brand new rad 
which i was trying to avoid the expense of 
?anyway i leave the rad and head home to do a couple other things on the car like replacing the hoses and found the spring in the upper rad hose was rusted into about 40 pieces that i could find and countless other parts
while i was doing this the rad guy calls and tells me that he pulled the tanks and the core was too clogged to rod out
i don't doubt him at all after seeing the brown stuff coming out. so i get a brand new rad which i was trying to avoid the expense of
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
DexCool
Had this stuff in a 96 Impala SS one of the worst product so far
My advise to you if flush your system clean and go with the grren stuff
we all did and have had no problems with doing so.if you have heard a groggle coming from the dash it most likely the heater core clogged from this stuff it turns into a clay like substance i end up changing heater core, radiator, waterpump, thermostat and hoses running the dexcool i beleave there is a class-action lawsuit on this as we speak
keep all your receipt.maybe GM will reinburst for the repairs
good luck
My advise to you if flush your system clean and go with the grren stuff
we all did and have had no problems with doing so.if you have heard a groggle coming from the dash it most likely the heater core clogged from this stuff it turns into a clay like substance i end up changing heater core, radiator, waterpump, thermostat and hoses running the dexcool i beleave there is a class-action lawsuit on this as we speak
keep all your receipt.maybe GM will reinburst for the repairs
good luck
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
There shouldn't be brown stuff or anything else left in the radiator since 1996, let alone 1986. Maintenance!
And speaking of maintenance, an extremely thorough flush is a great idea at this time. Dexcool shouldn't be a problem, because it wasn't introduced until 10 years later, but you never know.
Unless you need vastly greater cooling than a stock radiator can provide, stick with an aluminum core, OE, replacement radiator, for the best value. Modine makes a great, replacement radiator at a reasonable price. They are available at NAPA and some other parts stores.
RACE ON!!!
And speaking of maintenance, an extremely thorough flush is a great idea at this time. Dexcool shouldn't be a problem, because it wasn't introduced until 10 years later, but you never know.
Unless you need vastly greater cooling than a stock radiator can provide, stick with an aluminum core, OE, replacement radiator, for the best value. Modine makes a great, replacement radiator at a reasonable price. They are available at NAPA and some other parts stores.
RACE ON!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 9
From: Troy Ohio
How you like the Dewitts?
Originally Posted by vader86
The one sold at TLD is going to run around $200 with S&H included.
I put in a DeWitts last weekend.
I put in a DeWitts last weekend.
Hey Vader, how do you like the Dewitts? I'm real close to ordering one!!!!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
Likes: 1
From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
so the brown could be old coolant, or mixing coolant, or stopleak, or GM's tablets?
had him order a rad and decided to get a new water pump too (flow kooler from summit) since summer is just on the horizon and i have been sticking the garden hose in every water hose and pipe i can find, my driveway is now nice and brown under the car, couldnt get brown out of the surge tank so i ordered a nos one from tld and was surprised it was only $25 i don't plan on modding the car so i went with stock rad
had him order a rad and decided to get a new water pump too (flow kooler from summit) since summer is just on the horizon and i have been sticking the garden hose in every water hose and pipe i can find, my driveway is now nice and brown under the car, couldnt get brown out of the surge tank so i ordered a nos one from tld and was surprised it was only $25 i don't plan on modding the car so i went with stock rad
Last edited by rightofway; Mar 26, 2006 at 07:48 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 895
Likes: 1
From: Austin TX
The brown stuff could also be caused by electrolysis in your coolant system. Might want to test it with a multimeter, you may have a bad ground somewhere, and it is findings it way through your coolant system.
