Mixing Sierra (Propylene Glycol) with any other coolant (Ethylene Glycol) is a recipe for a mess. The gritty stuff in the coolant system can be from a number of sources with a common one being poor quality water. The worse cooling systems are the ones with long term slow leaks. As coolant leaks out the minerals and debris are left behind. As it is replaced more is added along with fresh oxygen to get the corrosion process going. It is also possible the stuff you found is some type of stop leak. As for the engine being repairable it most likely is. Why did the gaskets fail? The cause will tell a lot. Dennis
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of David White Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2011 11:11 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Coolant sludge? Can anyone describe what coolant sludge would look like? I had both head gaskets fail at the same time and I've pulled the engine and removed the heads. I notice that there about a quarter inch of "sand" in the bottom of the coolant reservoir. Is this the famed sludge? This 84 1.9L had a mixture of the green Sierra and the Zerex G-05 phosphate free stuff, probably about 50/50. The heads look like they have been leaking for awhile, not alot of pitting under the gaskets though, just gasket failure. Should this engine now be a boat anchor or can it be saved? David in Idaho |
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