jason62

iTrader: (2)

Advice please
Was doing my routine checks, on oil and water.
And noticed that the water in the expansion tank is light grey in colour!
Now dreading what this could be??
There's no loss of fluid, or gunk in expansion tank.
No over heating either.
I did open the rad cover, no gunk or sludge in there either.
Will try to extract some fluid from there tomorrow, to see if it's grey too.

I was told the car had a new rad earlier this year, and can't remember if there was antifreeze in it on viewing the car. ( but I'm sure it would of, as car was previously owned by a mechanic)

Just don't need any serious probs at this time of year, car is booked in to have cooling system flushed and refilled.

Any ideas and pointers would be great, as it could be something minor, and will put my mind at ease if it is.

Car had cosworth gaskets, and forged pistons added on rebuild in 2010/36k ago.
All this is on a 56 hawkeye, with PPP and a few other mods!

Thanks guys
Last edited by jason62; Today at 02:15 AM.

ZaKv1

iTrader: (8)

if it was me 1st thing i would do is take the rad out and flush it, then flush the system, replace all coolant and keep a eye on the color to see if it changes ..

2nd would be compression test just to rule out HG. A milky gray color may mean the oil is mixing with water , can be a sing of blown HG best to check to put your mind at ease

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Before doing anything, get a sniff test done. Cheap and quick, it will answer the dreaded question immediately.

ZaKv1

iTrader: (8)

(noob question )


is a sniff test not the same as a compression test ?

PJA

Sniff test is where they use exhaust gas analyser / probe in the header to detect exhaust fumes in the water system. Compression test involves plug removable / gauge insertion to measure individual cylinder pressures.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

As above.

ZaKv1

iTrader: (8)

Thanks

tomk86

when I first took my project on - I had thick grey sludge in the overflow filler - this was the result of somebody having previously used "stop leak" in the past.

May not be the right answer but always a possibility

XDevil666

Light grey, possible mix maybe, is the water that colour if you pull some out in a glass?

My bottles like a rusty Orange colour! Bloody mixed coolant really should flush it and clean the whole thing out, but my water is clear

jason62

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for your input guys, I've had the rad flushed and refilled.
Turns out it didn't have any anti freeze in it, which is odd as the car was previously owned by a mechanic.

But still gonna keep my eye on it, to make sure it doesn't change colour.

piehole1983

iTrader: (7)

Mine was owned by a mechanic too. I decided to change my coolant just for the sake of it. What came out was pure orange with rust. No antifreeze at all. I flushed it for ages until totally clear and refilled with the correct coolant. No issues afterwards.