My sisters Toyota hilander overheated due to bad radiator cap leading to burnt gasket.
Gasket changed but radiator produces grey colored dirt both in the tank and reservoir. What could it be? Also since repairs radiator requires water top up.
Mechanic advising radiator change but I feel changing the bad cap will do it.

What says d professionals?
GAZZUZZ

Oil Don mix with water forming a that grey foam your system needs to be flush by filling running and draining the system several times till it's gone then refill with coolant replace bad cap too. If you still have oil in water or water in oil then the repair didn't work

b2212:
My sisters Toyota hilander overheated due to bad radiator cap leading to burnt gasket.
Gasket changed but radiator produces grey colored dirt both in the tank and reservoir. What could it be? Also since repairs radiator requires water top up.
Mechanic advising radiator change but I feel changing the bad cap will do it.

What says d professionals?
GAZZUZZ

The whole cooling system need to be flushed in and out to you eliminate any contaminant that is responsible for the greyish colour and the issue of consistent water top up is a sign of leak in the system (not necessary the Radiator) Go for cooling system pressure test to identify the leak or else the car will overheat again in event of long idling.

sultaan:
Oil Don mix with water forming a that grey foam your system needs to be flush by filling running and draining the system several times till it's gone then refill with coolant replace bad cap too. If you still have oil in water or water in oil then the repair didn't work

thanks but if it was oil it will have a milk like presentation. it has happened to my ford e350 where from the oil cooler water was mixing with the oil the look was different.

honmusa:

The whole cooling system need to be flushed in and out to you eliminate any contaminant that is responsible for the greyish colour and the issue of consistent water top up is a sign of leak in the system (not necessary the Radiator) Go for cooling system pressure test to identify the leak or else the car will overheat again in event of long idling.

was told today that they noticed the radiator was leaking yesterday so guess replacement ti load niyen. meanwhile like you said a system flush will be required.

thanks a billion.

God bless Car Talk

b2212:

was told today that they noticed the radiator was leaking yesterday so guess replacement ti load niyen. meanwhile like you said a system flush will be required.

thanks a billion.

God bless Car Talk

Don't change Radiator yet ,try to get the exact point u have a leak cos it might not even be the Radiator self

honmusa:

Don't change Radiator yet ,try to get the exact point u have a leak cos it might not even be the Radiator self

thanks boss. a visual inspection will do or specialised test so i can call to tell them?

b2212:


thanks boss. a visual inspection will do or specialised test so i can call to tell them?

Specialised equipment called Cooling system pressure tester .If they don't have ,u can come over to my workshop @ Gbagada if you are in Lagos .we have the equipment
call autologic 08061166316.

b2212:


thanks but if it was oil it will have a milk like presentation. it has happened to my ford e350 where from the oil cooler water was mixing with the oil the look was different.

A brown engine oil in coolant might show up and milky foam, but a sludge up black oil running through water and rust will not show up as foam, in cars the only this that can possibly mix with coolant after a failure is engine and transmission fluid. Because they are both usually cooled by coolant