Coolant Tank Question?

[Guest GIANT]

just wondering if someone could tell me if their xr6t coolant tank has changed colour???

mine has gone a brownish colour, the coolant is also brown!!! it has about 1500klm on it!!??

will get it to the dealer if it is not normal!!

thanks in advance guys

Russell

[F6 RAPID]

Yep, my turbo ute which is only 4 days old and 500kms, the coolant tank is starting to go brown now. It looks as though it is burning??

I am glad you mentioned it. I thought it was just my eyesight!!

[HellionXR6T]

Guys,

Good point, might be worth mentioning.

I just have the XR6 N/A and I have not noticed any discolouration of the coolant tank (also known as the egg carton...lol). Brown did you say? slightly off 'green' colour, done 4600k's now. Definatley a heat factor with the 'turbo's'.

Turbo6, you are just a hoon. I'll start calling you "Chermside Boy"...lol. Just kidding dude, hope you are enjoying your new beastie, what am I saying, of course you are. Continue to enjoy B)

[ktford]

yes guys this will continue, mine's got 2100 klm's & is doing the same only more yellowish. Big Al's (a mate of mine) has almost 20,000 klm's up & his is also quite yellowy in colour. I assume that is will be caused by the extreme heat from the Turbo after shutdown, maybe this could be halted by a Turbo Timer if someone was to fit one!

[F6 RAPID]

....this could be halted by a Turbo Timer if someone was to fit one!

Mate, doesn't matter. I actually idle down myself (used to it !) and it is still turning brown before my eyes.

Being brand new and tight, they would be running a little hotter than when they have a few thousand kays under their belt.

Ed, yes, I am a hoon - you have obviously seen me drive! I can't help it, my right foot is the heaviest part of my body........

[harasn]

Guys the brownish colour that your seeing in the coolant header tank is nothing to do with excessive heat of the turbo. any car will do it! The cause is casting sand from when they manufacture the blocks sticking in the block untill its under pressure and the water moves the sand. This was a big problem with the old 5 litre V8's. Best to get the coolant and radiator flushed if its really bad at early km's but other than that I wouldn't worry. Even those that have not seen the coolant header tank change colour, if you get a mirror and look up underneath the header tank you will see the brown sand sitting on the bottom. Hope this helps. One day they will figure out how to get the casting sand out, till then :(

[F6 RAPID]

The cause is casting sand from when they manufacture the blocks sticking in the block untill its under pressure and the water moves the sand.

Thanks harasn.

Remember when you squeezed the coolant pipes on the affected old v8's? You could feel the "cracking" of the sand inside the pipes where it had all collected!

Man, 500kms old and it has happended already to me. Oh well, just as well I enjoy tinkering and spending money - albeit unnecessarily, on my ute!

[Cashie]

My NA has about 1800kms and the tank looks new.

I hear what you are saying harasn but I am leaning towards the yellowing of the tank being caused by turbo heat.

The ones I've seen are all on turbos and it is the plastic that appears to have yellowed not just the fluid.

Giant, are you sure the coolant is actually brown as well, if so, I would definitely follow harasn's advice and get it flushed.

I may be wrong though.......

[harasn]

I hear what you are saying harasn but I am leaning towards the yellowing of the tank being caused by turbo heat.

The ones I've seen are all on turbos and it is the plastic that appears to have yellowed not just the fluid.

I may be wrong though.......

the plastic is what gets stained but its got nothing to do with the turbo and extra heat in the cooling system. the thermostats still open at 92 degrees weather or not its a turbo! to burn the coolant to make the header tank turn brown, the header tank would not be able to hold its shape, it would melt and go soft, even with being bolted into place. as I said check with a mirror the bottom of your tank and you will generally find the stuff on the bottom. on the old au v8's we used to have to pull the radiator out and remove the end tanks and get it cleaned. I don't think the 6 block is that bad. doesn't look nice when you see the dirty coolant in a new car but!

[Guest falchoon58]

The discolouration of coolant is indeed casting sand which has loosened and is now circulating around all of our engines cooling system. The problem is not new and not just a problem with V8's of the past. It has affected every 6 cyl produced. Ford does'nt take any notice due to the fact that the dealers do NOT claim warranty work( because they don't attempt to fix the problem) for the problem, and by the time it clogg's the radiator the cars are well out of warranty and the after-market has to fix the problem. Its not un-known to find EL-EL falcons with their radiators 1/3 full of casting sand. Ever wonder why 6 cyl Falcons go through so many head gaskets. (AU head bolts do NOT fix the problem) Get your dealer to flush and re-fill your cooling system, and request that they up the coolant ratio as they will fill it to the lowest ratio spec, which will soon drop below the 33% limit(do to contaminants) and will begin the corrosion process.