Mud under Radiator cap

I'm assuming this is bad. Okay, I know it's bad. Anyone know where I should look first? Radiator was flushed clean about 2 weeks ago.
Thanks!

 

Looks like rust. If the radiator was flushed two weeks ago and water was used at some point prior and left in there too long without using some sort of protectant like coolant, then the damage is done throughout the rest of the cooling system. Rust in the cooling system spreads like cancer too. It doesn't matter how many parts you replace. If you don't replace it all then you risk re- dispersing all that rust through all the new parts all over again.

 

Well that is better than it being oil or transmission fluid I'm assuming. Tap water was definitely used in the past. I guess a few more flushes and perhaps a replacement of all the cooling system parts.
Thanks for the info!

 

Saying that is nothing more than rustvis being a bit optimistic. That looks bad, worse than just rusty water. Looks similar to when two different, non compatible coolant types are used.

What does it look like under that layer at the top of the radiator?

 

I agree. It is still worth investigating and making sure things are copacetic outside of rust.

 

Looks like head gasket leak sealer to me....
might want to proceed cautiously, there might be deeper issues.




Another reason not to use the pink crap......its doesn't play well with others....

no others.....and allergic to many alloys and composite multi-layer gaskets...


The coolant doesn't fail......its the protective additives that go south after 3 or 4 years.

Kinda like the brake fluid that gets slowly corrosive from absorbing atmospheric moisture over the years....and the lspv valve that makes sure that all gets circulated...over and over.....

 

I would replace the radiator.

 

Yum, oatmeal.

 

I would get it flushed out good....before throwing any parts at it....

For reference......on a regular one with that red coolant....it takes 5 or 6 flushes for it to even to start to give up the ghost....

The red seems to bond to the aluminum parts.....and cant just be washed away...