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Brown coolant?

5.6K views 10 replies 2 participants last post by  Covert  
#1 ·
Hi, I have just got a 2011 1.8 petrol Zafira design after writing off my Astra. It has been serviced on a regular basis and runs well, it
Was delivered Friday evening from South London to Peterborough by the garage due to all the Covid restrictions I took the car following video calls and a little trust. Due to heavy snow I have only today looked it over in day light, all seems well but the coolant looks brown? Is this normal, an issue, just needs a flush and fresh or hiding a bigger problem? Thanks in advance
Ashley
 

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#2 ·
If you touch the coolant or put a screwdriver on the bottom of the reservoir does it feel oily or does it just feel and look like water? how does the engine oil look on the dipstick? check it few times, I think it's prob just very old coolant, I'd use a chemical flush and put some fresh coolant in after draining.
 
#3 ·
Thanks I will try that, it had an oil change done on Friday prior to delivery so the oil looks good, it’s done 150 miles to get to me Friday and I have taken it for a 10 miles drive this evening, I will wait for it to cool down and then put a screwdriver in it and see, if it’s just old coolant is this something I need to have flushed and changed this week or can it wait a few weeks? Thanks for the help

tha
 
#7 ·
No today was my first look, I just took it for a blast up the motorway and then removed the coolant cap and had my son rev the engine to 4/5000 RPM to see if it boiled over and it didn’t, it has now gone like this, no drop in the level after after driving it, a mate said that’s how to test if it’s the head gasket but could be a myth or he is on a wind up? 😂
 

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#8 ·
pre poke

During poke

revving after a drive
 
#10 ·
Thanks, just had a look in day light after it cooled from driving to work, it looks clearer oddly. The cap has come in half and the top seal seems loose so maybe that could be the issue? Its booked for a flush Sunday. On a side note is this white stuff normal? Car has me paranoid now
 

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