I have a 2001 Malibu and noticed in the expansion tank that I was growing brown rust sludge in it. I know this stuff can form if the car is only used for short trips, but I travel to and from work 50 miles each way, so the engine does get properly warmed up.
I also noticed something must have got clogged as the brown stuff is sitting in the engine bay near the engine mount so I am presuming the pressure blew it out the relief pipe at the top of the expansion bottle? Am I guessing right? Do i have the dreaded failed gasket senario? The level in the coolant wasn't low.
I took the expansion tank out and cleaned it all and now the problem is refilling the coolant to the right level. I know I am meant to fill it up to the mark on the bottle where it say 'Full-when cold' but I am having problem seeing the fluid in the bottle as the transparency of the is now opaque. Any yep I bought the GM Dexcool stuff.
Do I fill it to an inch below the expansion bottle neck and this should suffice?
Any help appreciated.
David