The digital dashboard shows 2 or 3 notches on the *NORM* section of the gauge, way below half...
Takes a while to get heat, and the coolant is kinda brown. I'll have it flushed & replaced, and thermostat too (probably stuck in open position)
I don't really care about a blown thermostat (easily fixed), but I don't like the brownish coolant...
Thanks...
If this vehicle originally came with the orange-color, 'long life' coolant (Dexcool, I believe is one of the brand names), and regular ethylene-glycol green coolant was later added, that could explain the brownish color. Mixing the two is considered a bad idea -- and not only because of the resulting color... Google the archives of this group for more details -- the subject has been discussed at length a year or two ago.
Good Luck!
I just took another look (i Hate those -20C temps :)
It seems like miniature rust particles, my guess is it's overdue for a coolant flush. (might also explain why the engine runs cold and takes about half an hour to get to 22C in the car)
BTW, the green stuff goes in there according to the owner's manual.
91,000KMs on it
I'll take care of it next weekend, thanks...
Like X-Eliminator said, do a complete flush on your system. meaning take all your hoses loose, and run water straight through the block till it comes out clean. Do that with the thermostat out, and use the thermostats hole as the water inlet. That will allow you to back flush the engine.
Then run straight water through your heater core, and "backflush" it. Meaning run water through the hose that came off the bottom of your water pump. That will help to dislodge any particles that might be in there.
Then while your hoses are off of the radiator, run fresh water through the inlet hole and let it run out the bottom till it comes out clear. I let the water run into a bucket just to see if any particle settle out. If I see particle after the water is clear, I keep flushing till no more particle.
When yer done put it all back together... I did this on a 91 Ford Bronco last spring, and some of the lines were so full of deposits it took me almost 2hrs to flush the whole system. The bronco owner hasnt had any complaints since then, she even said the truck runs better during cold weather now. Her intake heater lines were plugged with mud, and the amount of crap that came out of her block was phenominal. A good flush does an engine real good.
Ford Tech
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