"BLOOD" in my coolant

[BlackFighter]

Recently my oem radiator took a dive and i replaced it with a Mishimoto full alum one. I read that we should be using Subaru coolant due to our blocks being alum. so I dropped of the car at a shop for a week to have suspension work done and replace the rad. Told the guy to flush the system and replace it with Subaru coolant. Today i come out to check the coolent for no reason at all and this is what i see. "BLOOD". Oil is clean and not leaks. Any help? Did the shop miss match coolant and not flush the system? Is it ok to drive?






The red stuff is less dense then the green coolant and floats to the top.

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[LBell05STI]

What does it smell like? Ifs its sweet its most likely just mixed coolant. If it has a sour egg smell and a sweetness about it, it may be oil mixed in.

Also why not just do a coolant flush to be safe? That way you know it will be 100% coolant and if its mixed again that would raise an eyebrow.

[VERSION7]

Why dont u ask them....

[Unabomber]

What has zero bearing for coolants? Color. They can make coolant ANY color, so you need to contact who did this for the info you seek and if not, then dump it all down the toilet and refill what what you know to be the correct fluid.

[UK-Wagon]

Red coolant is Toyota Coolant, Orange typically is Dex Cool for GM cars. Flush it all out and I would recommend Subaru Long Life (green) or Subaru Super Coolant (blue).

Either they messed up or someone there doesnt like you and put ATF in your coolant!

[BlackFighter]

No i trust this guy and he is the owner. (And likes me). When i dropped of the parts with the car he already had 2 Subaru coolant jugs so i know he bought the right stuff. I used Peak 50/50 coolant before. If he didn't flush it and just drained it with a little left over, could the two have mixed and caused some kind of a chemical reaction? It smells like coolant.

And it was the Subaru Long Life (green) coolant as you can see.

[UK-Wagon]

Was the peak 50/50 the yellow universal kind? even if it was I dont see how it could be red if you never used red. Unless you are using the internal oil cooler inside the radiator as a power steering cooler. It could be leaking inside..... Some guys use that cooler for the P/S which comes standard on koyos for cars with Automatic Transmissions. The lines are down on the bottom, but you should know this if you installed it.

[AZP Installs]

My guess, and it's only a guess is that there was some residual from the Peak fluid. It should be ok, but I would do a drain/fill just for safety sake.

-mike


11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.
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[KOJAK-02-WRX]

Don't some places have a special machine to flush the coolant system? Maybe that is just some residual flush solution.

[BlackFighter]

yes, but not all. need to find out if the shop flushed or just framed.

[BlackFighter]

so do you guys think this is two coolant missed together or residue and not oil or exhaust gasses? i know that it is a 2.5l section question but the mods moved it here.

[Elbert Bass]

The fact that it separates indicates it is not coolant. Oil will float on water - red is usually tranny fluid - tranny fluid is an oil.
Not saying it is tranny fluid, but it is obviously some type of oil product...

[BlackFighter]

Well it was cold. Could it separate at cold temp but when worms up mixes together? Does coolant come in different densitys?

[BlackFighter]

Could it be production oil from the Mishimoto production line, a little was left in some how?

[BlackFighter]

.........

[scarney1988]

If your not sure, and he wont give any answer. Drain, and refill with proper coolant and be done with it.

g-luck

[Rob.Prairie]

Best bet is to flush it.

[d0ugch0i]

what everyone else said. drain it and refill it. better safe than sorry

[erik11876]

Same flush machine they use for ATF? Could be the culprit

[CaliImpreza]

ATF is red. The radiators in Subies cool ATF fluid. When I messed with my OBW I had a bunch of ATF mixed with coolant in my drain pan. Either your new radiator has an internal bust and ATF is getting in the coolant or your shop got it mixed somehow. Drain and refill, see what happens.

[fastnoypi]

Originally Posted by CaliImpreza

ATF is red. The radiators in Subies cool ATF fluid.

OP has an STi, i highly doubt it came as an automatic, like an OBW.

[deathbomb843]

its the subaru coolant additive that all dealerships add when flushing the radiator, its goopy just like that

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by deathbomb843

its the subaru coolant additive that all dealerships add when flushing the radiator, its goopy just like that

I don't think it is. Can't say I've studied what it looks like after I dump it in but it's not red like what he is showing.

[Elbert Bass]

Originally Posted by deathbomb843

its the subaru coolant additive that all dealerships add when flushing the radiator, its goopy just like that

Unfortunately that is incorrect. I use Subaru Coolant conditioner daily. The Subaru conditioner is a light brown opaque color - not clear red as shown by the OP photo. Subaru conditioner also dissolves and mixes readily with coolant - it's not going to separate like that.