Brown radiator fluid??? I have a '89 Chevy Suburban that started leaking fluid. ?

[NCSMALLBIZ.COM]

I found that the leaks were coming from were the hose and the thermostat housing meat and also at the bottom radiator hose as well. The hoses are new, its just the fluid is getting around the clamps. I took it off and saw that the fluid was brown and soupy inside the thermostat housing. This made me think that the head gasket was blown, but there is no sign of anything in the oil and its not smoking or smelling weird. Could it just be a nasty radiator system or is it worse?

 

[Frank H]

its your head gasket..... no doubt.

 

[bestwrencher]

New fluid starts out orange, old oxidized fluid can turn brown, most likely need to change fluid and repair slight leaks, when oil and coolant mix, usually turns a thick milkish color. Be careful if you use a chemical flush to change fluid, can uncover more leaks, I usually just drain old fluid, rinse with water, then add new dexcool

 

[kelly_f_1999]

well brown mostly rust but sorry if its brown and soupy most like head gasket dont have to show but any one sign and coolant and oil mix in radiator is one sign you try try flushing the radiator by draining what you have and then remove bottom hose open cap stick water hose in crank motor adjust water flow so most of it goes in radiator but dont think it wil help

 

[John B]

Sounds like the hoses were changed for a reason,got overheated
maybe ? when an engine gets overheated even slightly,all the
natural rust in the block and heads comes loose and turns the
coolant like this.
I would take off the top and bottom hose,take out the thermostat
and rinse out both the block and radiator very well,then install
new thermostat and put hoses back,refill and see if you have
anymore problems ,you may not have any,try it and see.

 

[Jase]

dats nasty lol ok if ur fluid r brown n u already got all the hoses changed u should also change the thermostat and water pum n radiator n put new fluid into it it would make a way better change u can feel when u drive dont ad radiator cleaner or shit like that ill pop ur hoses because it eats the rubber in high heat trust me i kno i went threw all the hoses 1 by 1 lol
but seing how its a 89 suburban it up to u man i kno time r hard but if u still think it reliable then fix it if not try craiglist it n sell it