Why is my coolant brown? If you seek the answer to this question, you have the problem many other drivers also experience. Let us discuss it to help you clear the issue.
As you drive your vehicle every day, it’s better to know some simple stuff about it, and the radiator’s liquid is one of them.
Besides the issue of coolant blowing out of the reservoir, you’ll likely face the brown coolant issue once in your life if you leave it contaminated.
There’s a lot more to talk about the matter. Keep reading to figure it out!
About The Coolant
What Does It Do?
This kind of liquid is in charge of preventing your car from overheating.
It runs through many components, such as the radiator, water hoses, water pump, and internal engine parts, to keep their temperature from rising too high.
The fluid consists of 50% of antifreeze and 50% of water. If you don’t keep it clean or provide the engine sufficiently with this kind of liquid, the engine gets hotter.
Thus, driving with brown coolant leads to terrible damage and expensive repair.
How Should A Clean Fluid Look Like?
The usable clean fluid should have green, red or orange color but not brown antifreeze. Plus, the main thing is it should be translucent.
Why does my coolant look brown? The longer you use the fluid, the more brown and opaque. When you have a brownish color liquid, it means it’s at its worst level and needs to be flushed.
Why Is My Coolant Brown?
Brown coolant in reservoir can be the result of contamination, corrosion, or the air getting into the radiator.
No matter the reason, you should remove as many contaminants as possible and offer your car the correct fluid. Going for a flush is a good suggestion.
So, what are the reasons for the brownish antifreeze?
Addictives Dropping Out
Why is my coolant brownish? Coolant includes a base, additives, and water. The base of propylene glycol or ethylene glycol is supposed to freeze and protect the engine from overboiling.
Meanwhile, the additives are responsible for preventing scaling, cavitation, and corrosion.
It’s not recommended to mix two incompatible reservoir liquids; otherwise, the mix of antifreeze will make the additives “drop out” and cause brown radiator fluid.
Corrosion
Corrosion is the most common reason for antifreeze brown.
Since the radiator is made of metal, and the antifreeze can degrade, the chemical reaction between the two elements creates some reddish deposits.
When the antifreeze can’t function well as a protector, the brown sludge or slime sets in, and the whole cooling system and flow to the engine are blocked, leading to leaking or overheating the engine.
If you ignore the issue, you need to invest more money in repairs.
Contamination
When the coolant looks brown, it can be the consequence of oil mixed in the antifreeze. This contamination is caused by a damaged cylinder or faulty head gasket.
In auto transmission cars, the engine cooling system also works to ensure the coolness of the transmission.
If something goes wrong in the system, there will be a high chance of antifreeze mixing with the transmission liquid.
Improper Coolant
Why is my antifreeze brown? Improper radiator’s liquid is one of the reasons.
It’s important to fill the radiator with the proper fluid. One of the common mistakes that some people make is adding water to the reservoir.
Once you do this, the oxidation can cause brown rust to the metal parts, thus, causing a lack of fluid flowing and damaging the engine.
Air In The Radiator
The antifreeze looks brown. It can be caused by rust in the cooling system due to the air flowing into the radiator. When the fluid cools the engine down, it contracts; thus, air pockets appear.
That’s why we need an overflow tank to cover the air space created during contraction. Otherwise, the air will enter through the radiator pressure cap, making the cooling system rusty.
Common Sign Of Deteriorated Antifreeze
If you want to know your coolant brown color or not, pay attention to some of the signs below:
- Leaking fluid
- Low cooling fluid level
- Smoke out of under the hood
- Heating vents blow cold or cool air.
- The engine temperature indicator reaches red.
- The Check Engine light is on.
- The low coolant warning light is on.
Coolant Flush – The Solution For Brownish Fluid
When To Do It?
When your coolant is brown, you can have it flushed. Look up in your manual to see when the suggested time for the procedure is. Besides that, you should regularly check the fluid’s condition.
For those who don’t have the faintest idea about automobiles, bringing your beloved car to an experienced mechanic is your go-to choice.
In some auto repair shops, the mechanic will use the test strips to see if the liquid is able to do its job or needs a flush.
The service may also offer you a diagnosis of other parts of the system such as the cooling fan, water pump, drive belts, radiator, radiator hose, and even radiator cap since an issue with this small cover can lead to the problem of coolant reservoir boiling but engine doesn’t overheat.
How Much Does It Cost?
The price of the flush normally ranges from $100 to $150. It mostly depends on the car’s capacity, the shop’s location, and the level of service.
For example, if you choose the service to use soap or chemicals to flush the system before refilling, the price will be higher.
Drain And Fill Vs. The Flush
Drain and fill means to drain the contaminated antifreeze out of the radiator and fill it with a fresh one. However, cleaning the radiator is just a fraction of the job.
The method, unlike the flush, can not totally remove the dirty and aging liquid from the cooling system.
You’d better choose the repair shop with a machine to liquidate all the contaminants from the engine cooling passages, water pump, and water hoses.
Therefore, you can get rid of the problem that my coolant is brown.
Conclusion
Why is my coolant brown? Now you know what causes the issue. Remember to pay more attention to your liquid to free it from contamination is a key to avoiding the problem.
Cooling systems in general and brown fluid in radiator in specific make up 40% of the reasons for malfunctioning engines. They are one of the main causes of larger problems such as overheating.
Therefore, you should not neglect the abnormal fluid to save your car from further repair and your pocket from expensive spending.