Crud in the Coolant System

retmil46 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:31 pm

Yesterday, I finally got the time to drain down the coolant system and clean out the coolant reservoir.

Between the reservoir and what came out the radiator drain, got a double handful of what looked like black sand and other crap. One chamber of the reservoir was completely full of the stuff. I had to clear the radiator drain hose a couple of times because it kept clogging up, there was so much of it in the bottom of the radiator.

This is at 7000 miles. At 1400 miles, I noticed the black crud in the reservoir, took it to the dealer, they said everything was fine and the system didn't need to be flushed. I finally decided to check things out for myself.

They're not going to be happy with my next visit, when I show them the jar with all that crud in it, and demand they flush the cooling system like they should have 6000 miles ago.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

After reading your description, I checked my coolant tank, even used a flashlight to shine through it. Clean, no trash, sand or black crud. Sounds like someone at the factory forgot to flush the block after it was cast. Good thing you didn't rely on the dealer advice and flushed it yourself.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:07 pm

Someone else I believe mentioned this problem here, but anyway as I told whoever was that there had been a service note or TSB out about this problem. I saw this somewhere and it might be listed here Recal List, but I seem to remember that a tech told me about the problem. I do remember it called for a flush of cooling system and changing the oil & filter because of casting sand in engine coolant and possibly in the oil. I think that is why I remember it, the oil change required because I seem to remember it required a double oil & filter change.

I could be wrong on the oil part, but honestly I don't think so. I was going to check on it and I forgot about it. I have to go to the dealer tomorrow, I will ask around and see what I can find out and get back to all here.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:49 am

Mitchell,

From your description it sounds like residue from casting the block or head.
Is this residue abrasive to touch?

I am betting you'll be the first to come in showing the service manager this stuff.

My dealer says there is nothing wrong with 55 mph tranny shudder either.

They'll be time when no one enjoys working on their trucks at home.

Back to the topic, my coolant has dropped a little in 10,000 miles. The dealer did a pressure check on the system and it passed. Oh well.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:42 pm

oldnavy, I mentioned it before a couple of weeks ago, on a thread concerning the frequency of oil changes.

What I found fit the pattern you mentioned then. I changed the oil for the first time at 900 miles, to get rid of the 0W40 oil. There was a lot of grit and sediment that came out with the oil. So much I had to snake a rag up inside the drain hole and wipe out the area around the hole inside the sump, and use a wire brush on the hole threads and the plug before the plug would even begin to go back in. I changed it again at 3700 miles, prior to the trip to Texas, in part because of what i found the first time, and also because of the contaminated fuel I ended up with, considered it suspect after having run part gasoline thru the beast. That time I didn't notice any sediment or dirt in the oil. To quote an old saying, I'd rather be lucky than good, and may have inadverently saved myself some major grief. Glad I didn't do any prolonged high speed driving that first 900 miles.

Just wish I'd followed my instincts a lot sooner on the coolant side. But i didn't get the service manual CD until just before my trip to Texas, and I didn't want to tear into the beast without some kind of guidance. Plus the contaminated fuel issue sort of precluded everything else prior to the trip. And it really wasn't until i compared my friend's CRD side by side with mine that I realized the dealer was full of it and what was going on with my cooling system wasn't normal. 20 K miles on his and the surge tank still clean as a whistle.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:06 pm

retmil46 wrote:

oldnavy, I mentioned it before a couple of weeks ago, on a thread concerning the frequency of oil changes.

What I found fit the pattern you mentioned then. I changed the oil for the first time at 900 miles, to get rid of the 0W40 oil. There was a lot of grit and sediment that came out with the oil. So much I had to snake a rag up inside the drain hole and wipe out the area around the hole inside the sump, and use a wire brush on the hole threads and the plug before the plug would even begin to go back in. I changed it again at 3700 miles, prior to the trip to Texas, in part because of what i found the first time, and also because of the contaminated fuel I ended up with, considered it suspect after having run part gasoline thru the beast. That time I didn't notice any sediment or dirt in the oil. To quote an old saying, I'd rather be lucky than good, and may have inadverently saved myself some major grief. Glad I didn't do any prolonged high speed driving that first 900 miles.

Just wish I'd followed my instincts a lot sooner on the coolant side. But i didn't get the service manual CD until just before my trip to Texas, and I didn't want to tear into the beast without some kind of guidance. Plus the contaminated fuel issue sort of precluded everything else prior to the trip. And it really wasn't until i compared my friend's CRD side by side with mine that I realized the dealer was full of it and what was going on with my cooling system wasn't normal. 20 K miles on his and the surge tank still clean as a whistle.

Talked to the tech and he said it was a service note and not a TSB and was for all vehicles. Probably because it effects so few and would easly be seen when preping a new vehicle there was never a TSB and is something that just happens everyonce in awhile.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:36 am

Hmmm, just remembered something tonight at work. I've still got the two used oil filters on hand, stuck down in the storage shed, the original from when I changed the oil at 900 miles and the other when changed at 3700 miles. I imagine I could cut those open and see just what kind of crud was in the oil system as well.

So when I go to the dealer, I'll have evidence from both the cooling system and the oil system. At the very least, want to get this documented for warranty purposes down the road. And at the worst, depending on what was in there, whether or not they owe me a new engine or new vehicle.

Crud in the Coolant System

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