Thread: Coolant sludge - why??

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Probably from an assortment of leftovers from the manufacturing process of the heads and block, plus whatever dirt and dust got in the system prior to the engine being fired up....

Main reason is you are using a 50/50 mix,which means water and antifreeze. Just because you have antifreeze in a system does not mean you have total corrosion protection. Water will make rust and scale eventually and as the 2 mix will start to also get somewhat acidic. That combination will also get more muddy with time and cycling of the motor. Cycling is the motor getting up to heat and then cooling down after it's turned off.

Just like an air compressor. Heat and cooling down makes the water......soupy like.

Probably both right though I can say that it is not very acidic at a pH of 9+. And as far as cycling - that engine probably doesn't 100 starts in about 2000 miles. I do need to get some more test strips or a pH meter to keep track of the antifreeze deterioration in my vehicles