Coolant fluid brown

1. gzer0686 Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 3

   #1 30th January 2011, 15:02

   Hi,
   
   Recently acquired a '99 Saxo 1.4 auto, very low milage (33k) and seems to run absolutely fine. Only thing I've noticed is on a cold start the engine sounds a little nasally an runs a little sluggish but this goes away in a matter of minutes once engine has warmed up.
   
   Noticed odd drops of oil on the drive and it appeared to be coming from the area just above the alternator. My old man checked the oil and it appeared to have been overfilled (had about a litre too much in there). The excess was drained off today and checking the rad he noticed brown gunk (looks like oil) in the cooling system. He drained the rad today and replaced it with fresh coolant & water but has already turned brown again, although no thick gunk in there like before.
   
   A lot of what I've read online suggests head gasket gone, but no other of the usual symptoms of head gasket problems are present, no white smoke, engine runs fine. Also would a head gasket have problems after such low millage?
   
   Leaving in on the drive with white card under tonight to see if there is any fresh oil.
   
   Any thoughts/advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
   
   Many thanks.
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 30th January 2011, 15:32

   Take the radiator cap off & sniff the coolant if it smells off petrol then the head gasket has gone,check under the oil filler cap too for brown gunk.If these 2 things prove negative then flush out the cooling system till the water runs clean then refill with 50/50 mixture of water/antifreeze and bleed the cooling system.
   
   Steve.
3. gzer0686 Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 3

   #3 30th January 2011, 15:49

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by stevo67 Take the radiator cap off & sniff the coolant if it smells off petrol then the head gasket has gone,check under the oil filler cap too for brown gunk.If these 2 things prove negative then flush out the cooling system till the water runs clean then refill with 50/50 mixture of water/antifreeze and bleed the cooling system. Steve.

   Thanks for the reply Steve, both those negative, no other signs of head gasket prob e.g. water in oil etc. Have flushed it once today, but already brownish again. Will see if it gets worse.
4. VJOFurio Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 641

   #4 30th January 2011, 15:56

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by stevo67 Take the radiator cap off & sniff the coolant if it smells off petrol then the head gasket has gone,check under the oil filler cap too for brown gunk.If these 2 things prove negative then flush out the cooling system till the water runs clean then refill with 50/50 mixture of water/antifreeze and bleed the cooling system. Steve.

   Sound advice!
5. gzer0686 Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 3

   #5 31st January 2011, 18:25

   *Shameless bump*
   
   Checked car this morning, no oil on card underneath. Been out and about in it all day and after it had ben run for a while and then had it parked up for a couple of hours, there was a small patch of oil again, coming from left hand side as facing bonnet (near the alternator). Seems to only leak after been running.
   
   Any advice/thoughts on what/where the leak could be coming from?
   
   Thanks in advance.
6. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #6 31st January 2011, 18:54

   Possibly your rocker cover seal is leaking.
   
   
   Steve.
7. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

   #7 31st January 2011, 20:00

   Are you sure it's not gearbox oil leaking from the n/s driveshaft oil seal or even the input shaft seal?
   
   Sorry - forget that - I saw left hand side and I thought you meant n/s (gearbox end)..
8. user_35014 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Helensburgh Posts: 1206 Cammed Ph2 VTS

   #8 1st February 2011, 08:17

   Use some degreaser on the engine, wash it off, lave it to dry. Then run it and look for where the oil is coming from.
   
   You dont need to have water in the oil necessarily to have your headgasket gone, it can still weep oil. Also note that sludge in the oil cap doesnt mean you have a bust headgasket. You can quite easily get it in this weather with short runs from condensation in the engine.
   
   I would suggest if its from the alternator side it could be a cam seal or rocker cover leak, which is running down that side. There really isnt that much other stuff on that side to be honest. Put some white paper or card down perhaps to rule out auto oil or power steering fluid by the colour.
   
   If the headgasket had gone it would be a bag of shit all the time, not just the initial startup.
   
   As for the coolant, take the top radiator hose and an engine hose of your choice off and put a hosepipe in there with hot water going through it. Leave it run until the water coming out the other end runs clear. Repeat with the bottom radiator hose.
   
   Then rmeove the expansion tank and put it in the dishwahers, or fill it full of rice and boiling wanter and shake to clean it. Make sure its empty, clean and rinse, refill with 50/50 coolant of your choice and run up to temperature.