My coolant is reddish (rusty colored), oily, and has some kind of grit in it.

I am still trying to figure out what the gritty stuff is in my coolant.

Luckily (I think), the reddish stuff is not ATF. I checked the tranny fluid last night and it is normal both in color and slickness.

I think the gritty stuff is powder Alumaseal. Has anyone used it?

Two questions-
-does the gritty stuff ever go away?
-will it cause the coolant to be slick (not slimy, but slick)

I will be draining the radiator on the next warm, non-rainy day. I just wish I knew what the stuff is

__________________
Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I've used Alumaseal a number of times. I have no recollection of it doing anything to the coolant.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

it makes the inside of your radiator look like a coral reef

Seriously?

or are you joking?

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=Alumaseal+lawsuits&btnG=Google+Search

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Yes I'm serious and kind of joking but not really. I have used alumiseal on some high milage GM product 2.8's, Northstars, and so on. It does a great job fixing leaks cheap. The down side is that regardless of were the leak is the alumiseal wants to plug it. Basically how this stuff passes through the leak and comes in contact with out side air, when that happens the alumiseal hardens and sticks to the surrounding area (block, head, gasket, radiator, ect). So if this stuff comes in contact with air inside your coolant system it will harden an biuld up. Its a good bandaid for a beater that you want to nurse along for a nother couple of months, but never something I would put in my benz.

Interesting. Thanks.