Like the topic says, when I open my radiator cap, I can see metal flakes in the radiator. There aren't any in the overflow tank though. Is this normal?

Thanks

mike

 

did you just recently replace your head gasket? if so, di you use any type of coating on the gasket?

 

I replaced it last summer, and after that I flushed my radiator and noticed the metal flakes. I thought I got rid of them, but there are more now. What's the problem? Thanks

Mike

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boostin b16 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did you just recently replace your head gasket? if so, di you use any type of coating on the gasket?</TD></TR></TABLE>

will copper spray really make flakes in your water system? hmm

edit- i didnt mean to be offensive, sorry if it came out that way. no sarcasm is there, its an honest question.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18EG6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

will copper spray really make flakes in your water system? hmm

edit- i didnt mean to be offensive, sorry if it came out that way. no sarcasm is there, its an honest question.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes it will! after MOST head gasket replacements you will notice a moderate amount of copper spreay appering to be gold or metalic flakes in your cooling system. they will accumulate under the radiator cap!

sounds like to me you are fine ... could be just spray gasket flakes!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boostin b16 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yes it will! after MOST head gasket replacements you will notice a moderate amount of copper spreay appering to be gold or metalic flakes in your cooling system. they will accumulate under the radiator cap!

sounds like to me you are fine ... could be just spray gasket flakes! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Problem is, I didn't use any copper spray on the head gasket. They look like aluminum flakes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by swrdply400mrelay &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Problem is, I didn't use any copper spray on the head gasket. They look like aluminum flakes.</TD></TR></TABLE>


...uhhhh.... ouch! your guess is as good as mine. but i dont think that is good!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boostin b16 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


...uhhhh.... ouch! your guess is as good as mine. but i dont think that is good! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea...I'm thinking it's not a good thing either. Anyone else? Bump for me

 

is it metal flakes or oil? if it's oil, most likely you have a leaking headgaket.

 

Metal flakes, I've seen oil before.

 

Could it be my radiator crapping out on me?

 

if it happened first after you flushed your coolant system, maybe do it again. could be crap from the heater core or who knows what. antifreeze or not that stuff will still corode a bit and the flushing chemical stuff will loosen it up a bit!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by swrdply400mrelay &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Metal flakes, I've seen oil before. </TD></TR></TABLE>

oil in the reserve means leaking headgasket

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IMPULSE B18C-T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

oil in the reserve means leaking headgasket</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, this is why I changed the headgasket, and now there are metal flakes. I'll try flushing it again. Will the metal flakes hinder any cooling effects? Such as retain more heat, block passages in the radiator, etc.?

Thanks

mike

 

Flush out your cooling system and try running through some coolant system cleaner and see if the metal flakes are still there.