What is in my coolant reservoir?

xTourniquet · 11-16-2012, 01:59 AM

My coolant reservoir has some sort of weird black crap in it, and it is impossible to wash out. Any ideas what it could be?

This substance is covering the whole interior of the tank....

HinshawWRX · 11-16-2012, 06:58 AM

Gunk buildup from the cooling system over the years, fairly common.

noside · 11-16-2012, 07:14 AM

its normal happen to mine after about a year of ownership.
You can get a lot of it out if you just take the res off and blast it with brake cleaner.

scby rex · 12-01-2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noside

its normal happen to mine after about a year of ownership.
You can get a lot of it out if you just take the res off and blast it with brake cleaner.

its a plastic part, just rinse it with water, no need for blake parts cleaner.

Uncle Scotty · 12-02-2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noside

its normal happen to mine after about a year of ownership.
You can get a lot of it out if you just take the res off and blast it with brake cleaner.

brake cleaner on the wrong things makes them disintegrate

you might have got lucky once.....brake cleaner is NOT an all purpose cleaner and should NOT just be sprayed around like water

xTourniquet · 11-16-2012, 10:59 AM

Thanks! I didn't know if it was something I should be concerned with or not.

Nereaga · 12-01-2012, 08:04 AM

Would you suggest a new rad or a flush for this?

Boostedbob · 12-01-2012, 08:44 AM

I know Subaru puts some weird stuff in the coolant as well, just a heads up I had the same black crap, but I also had oil in my coolant ended up warping my heads with a "blown" HG.

Not saying yours is but just keep it in mind.

ZOMBIE RX7 · 12-02-2012, 10:06 PM

Super common. Just had mine flushed and now it's fine.

esteve · 12-02-2012, 11:48 PM

Yeah, that's Subaru coolant conditioner/stop leak (aka Holt's Radweld) making a big mess of the overflow tank. Mine looked just like that. If you don't know about it like if it's your first Subaru, then you can easily mistake it for a HG problem or something.

shello007 · 05-16-2013, 04:06 PM

Any update on this situation. After cleaning, did the problem return?

11-16-2012, 01:59 AM	#1
xTourniquet Scooby Newbie Member#: 177477 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland Vehicle: 2006 WRX Limited Aspen White	What is in my coolant reservoir? My coolant reservoir has some sort of weird black crap in it, and it is impossible to wash out. Any ideas what it could be? This substance is covering the whole interior of the tank....

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11-16-2012, 06:58 AM	#2
HinshawWRX n00b Moderator Moderator Member#: 140114 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Jolly ol York of VA Vehicle: 06 18G Semi Built SGM WRX	Gunk buildup from the cooling system over the years, fairly common.

11-16-2012, 07:14 AM	#3
noside Scooby Newbie Member#: 241254 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Vehicle: 2010 STI DGM	its normal happen to mine after about a year of ownership. You can get a lot of it out if you just take the res off and blast it with brake cleaner.

11-16-2012, 10:59 AM	#6
xTourniquet Scooby Newbie Member#: 177477 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland Vehicle: 2006 WRX Limited Aspen White	Thanks! I didn't know if it was something I should be concerned with or not.

12-01-2012, 08:04 AM	#7
Nereaga Scooby Newbie Member#: 339393 Join Date: Dec 2012	Would you suggest a new rad or a flush for this?

12-01-2012, 08:44 AM	#8
Boostedbob Scooby Newbie Member#: 336241 Join Date: Oct 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Colorado, New Mexico Vehicle: 08 Sti OPB	I know Subaru puts some weird stuff in the coolant as well, just a heads up I had the same black crap, but I also had oil in my coolant ended up warping my heads with a "blown" HG. Not saying yours is but just keep it in mind.

12-02-2012, 10:06 PM	#9
ZOMBIE RX7 Scooby Newbie Member#: 213871 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Midland Michigan Vehicle: 2007 WRX TR UGM	Super common. Just had mine flushed and now it's fine.

12-02-2012, 11:48 PM	#10
esteve Scooby Specialist Member#: 28716 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Los Angeles Vehicle: 2006 STI	Yeah, that's Subaru coolant conditioner/stop leak (aka Holt's Radweld) making a big mess of the overflow tank. Mine looked just like that. If you don't know about it like if it's your first Subaru, then you can easily mistake it for a HG problem or something.

05-16-2013, 04:06 PM	#11
shello007 Scooby Newbie Member#: 195405 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newark, Delaware Vehicle: 2003 Wrex Wagon Midnight Blue	Any update on this situation. After cleaning, did the problem return?