AdventureSubaru Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Was doing a check on the wife's car today (2000 Outback, EJ25 SOHC 333,000 miles) and found the timing belt is showing some cracking, so I'll be doing that job next week when parts get here. I had to remove the coolant overflow tank to get to the timing cover and found an inch and half of this at the bottom of it. Never seen that sort of stuff before. Pulled the radiator cap and found a little more sludge. It's like a fluffy sponge cake consistency. Not oily. Radiator took maybe a quart of fluid to top it off. It has been performing normally and running at normal temperature. Any thoughts on this? Car seems perfectly fine. Just due for a new timing belt and found this weird stuff. Since I'll be draining the radiator anyway, I'm planning on a good flush at the very least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efseiler Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Heehee...yeah. Weird stuff has been known to grow in odd places. I don't know...silicates? All I know is brake fluid smells just like lemonade to me. Damien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Someone probably dumped a bottle of stop leak into the overflow and it solidified. Or someone didnt like their banana pudding... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 maybe a dexcool/glycol mix-up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureSubaru Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 Whatever it is developed fairly recently. We've had the car for a few years now. Always quality coolant and never any additives. Definitely going to swap the thermostat when I do the timing since there's gunk in the system. Hope it flushes out easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureSubaru Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 maybe a dexcool/glycol mix-up? http://autos.aol.com/article/coolant-color/ It sounds like that, but I've only ever added green stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosDiosDeVerde86 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I have NEVER seen that before. How the hell do pine needles get into your radiator? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 i had something similar in my 00 lego L when i swapped it out due to a bad rod bearing. i assumed it was due to the coolant conditioner, additive. but since the engine was coming out i didn't worry about it. you might pull the t-stat and see if there is any gunk there. that's where i found mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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