Not to start the DexCool debacle, but needless to say I have an issue with a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix (3.1L automatic). Its not my car but someone I know has owned it for a few years now and awhile ago it was recommended to have the cooling system flushed when the car was taken to an oil change place around town here. Nearest I can figure the coolant was the original factory install all the way up until about 2009 when this was recommended, and the system was flushed accordingly. It was expensive but whatever, they flushed the car with a solution I expect to be a regular off the shelf flushing agent, installed Prestone's AMAM based coolant, and the car went on its way.
Now I actually have very little issues with what was done to the car, besides the cost, since I've now been bestowed the responsibility for doing more maintenance on the vehicle for the owner. They save money, I make a few bucks, so its a good deal. Problem is the cooling system still has quite a bit of that nice muddy covering inside it, all chunky with about the consistency of ceiling plaster with too much water in the mix. With winter coming up I was asked to check the coolant strength and if it should be flushed again. Coolant strength is fine but when drawing it into the gauge I was met with a dim yellow fluid with some odd chunks of debris. The overflow bottle and the radiator fill neck also has a familiar dirty coating. I don't believe any of this is from the newly installed coolant, its likely remnants from the last coolant failing in the system.
So the question is. anyone have familiarity with cleaning out this junk? I can understand flushing water through the system should help, but much of it "sticking" to the walls inside the cooling system is making this a concern, since the original flush obviously never really got the last %50 or so of the debris out. The overflow bottle is easy to remove and clean out but the radiator and the block is another story.
I might try Cascade automatic dish washing detergent, since I'm aware that was an old school trick to get oil out of contaminated systems, but obviously I'm open to any advice from people who might be familiar with this.
Now I actually have very little issues with what was done to the car, besides the cost, since I've now been bestowed the responsibility for doing more maintenance on the vehicle for the owner. They save money, I make a few bucks, so its a good deal. Problem is the cooling system still has quite a bit of that nice muddy covering inside it, all chunky with about the consistency of ceiling plaster with too much water in the mix. With winter coming up I was asked to check the coolant strength and if it should be flushed again. Coolant strength is fine but when drawing it into the gauge I was met with a dim yellow fluid with some odd chunks of debris. The overflow bottle and the radiator fill neck also has a familiar dirty coating. I don't believe any of this is from the newly installed coolant, its likely remnants from the last coolant failing in the system.
So the question is. anyone have familiarity with cleaning out this junk? I can understand flushing water through the system should help, but much of it "sticking" to the walls inside the cooling system is making this a concern, since the original flush obviously never really got the last %50 or so of the debris out. The overflow bottle is easy to remove and clean out but the radiator and the block is another story.
I might try Cascade automatic dish washing detergent, since I'm aware that was an old school trick to get oil out of contaminated systems, but obviously I'm open to any advice from people who might be familiar with this.
