1997 2.4L Radiator gunk

New Member here.

I have recently purchased a high mileage (336K) 2.4L Tacoma. Opening the radiator reveals that it is filled (at least at the top) with an orange gunk (it does not feel grainy at all). I have included pix below. The engine has been otherwise well maintained, it does not run hot at all. I'm guessing a full flush and refill with coolant is in order, but wanted to post here to take advantage of your experience and thoughts....is this a red flag that indicates more serious problems? or am I probably good with a full flush and refill....your recommendations on coolant are welcome.

thanks in advance.

 

I'd just buy a new radiator. I would never trust that one.

If this is an automatic, check the transmission fluid to make sure there is no coolant in the trans fluid.

 

It is not an automatic, but thanks for the heads up, I have added manual trans to my vehicle description.

 

Holy nasty shit

Looks like someone added some stop leak or other additives along the way, as well as mixed the coolant up

I'd drain all the fluid, pull the radiator (and replace) along with draining the block and flushing it all out before putting in new coolant, a new radiator, radiator cap, and thermostat (with new o ring)

Easy job, the time consuming part is clean up and burping it

 

The heater core is probably in the same shape… I would pull the thermostat and run it w/o when I flush it. It might take a few flushes to get her clean, then replace the radiator.

 

Sure looks like engine oil ! Mixed with coolant.

I had a oil cooler fail it looked the same way.(3406 kitty cat)

Since oil pressure is higher the oil pushed into the coolant.

i hope you checked your oil.

Did the engine overheat ?

 

Give ChrisFix a watch on YouTube. He did a radiator and heater core flush tutorial. Similar orange nasty water.

 

Pink coolant protects by coating all the aluminum with a thin layer of slime.

If you contaminate that stuff, it creates all kinds of interesting art projects......



Just flushing the red coolant under normal conditions, takes about 5 or 6 hot flushes over several days before you start getting clear water.....
just sticking in a garden hose and dropping a hose wont do it...I tried....

 

Oil is clean, no water...consistently running right below middle of the temp gauge (and it's hot as hell here in Lower Alabama)...Spoke to previous (and only) owner, he did put stop leak in.
The plan is to do multiple flushes over several days and reassess.

 

Temp gauge is a dummy.

Don't rely on it for temps.

 

Did he say why he used stop leak? I have never done it myself, but I thought that mixing certain coolants makes for what you have there. With how bad that looks, I'm really surprised you aren't having any cooling issues.

 

The oil level was normal for mileage since the last change>

Remember oil pressure is higher the oil will push into the coolant.

It looks like you got lucky in your case.

The heater core cleaning is going to be interesting.