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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:31 pm 
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Location: West Lafayette, IN
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE || 51k miles
One of my girlfriend's roommates has a 99 regal, and has been throwing a low coolant light.
The car has around 80k miles, and she just bought it a few weeks ago from a mechanic.

I went out to take a look at the car, and the coolant is non-existent in the reserve tank, and is about 5-6 inches below the radiator cap. This is when the car was cold at about 25 degrees.

The coolant on the radiator cap is a chocolate milk color and was like a mud consistency, and from what I could see, the coolant was a dark rust/chocolate milk color.

I think this is dexcool attacking, and I'm trying to figure about how to go about diagnosing the problem. At this point, I think it might need a complete coolant flush, along with a new LIM gasket. But that's just my hunch.

Can any of you shed some light on what I should do? :helpsmilie:

Thanks in advance.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:35 pm 
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You're on the right track. I'd flush the entire system with just water to get the big chucks out, and then drain and begin work on the LIM gaskets. After you get it back together, fill with Prestone "mix with any".

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:29 pm 
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Location: West Lafayette, IN
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE || 51k miles
The problem is that I won't be doing the work.
If it was my car, the dex would be out of it already.
Dex is coming out of my car next summer.

I just feel bad because I dont like to say "Something serious is wrong with your car"
but at the same time, better safe than sorry.

ugh.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:58 pm 
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lewis26 wrote:
I just feel bad because I dont like to say "Something serious is wrong with your car"

Don't feel bad about speaking the truth.

lewis26 wrote:
she just bought it a few weeks ago from a mechanic

Can you say, "shady" #-o

lewis26 wrote:
One of my girlfriend's roommates...Can any of you shed some light on what I should do?

Hmm, can answer that question better after you post pics of GF's roommate. :laughing3:

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:20 pm 
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Sounds like there's a leak. Dex is known to oatmeal up once it's introduced to air. Most likely there's a leak that led to air in the system. It'll probably take 3-4 good flushes and a couple weeks of running the car to get all the oat out.

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:03 pm 
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Year and Trim: 98 Caravan is the daily driver 215K
You need to determine where that coolant went. Internal leaks from a perforated Upper Intake Manifold or failed Lower Intake Manifold gaskets are prevalent problems with the L36 engine, and should not be ignored at the expense of permanent engine damage.

Read about it here:

UIM and LIM problems Described

How to Replace UIM/LIM gaskets

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:37 pm 
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Location: West Lafayette, IN
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE || 51k miles
It's not my car, so It's not my responsibility.

I'm just going to tell her about the problem, and recommend she take it back to the mechanic she bought it from, and have him do the repairs.

I'm going to tell her it needs to have the coolant flushed, and the LIM and UIM gaskets replaced.

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