The VQ35DE has an aluminum block and heads, so where the hell is the rust coming from?

As coolant gets older, it creates a electric current that bill start a galvonizing process and attack the weaker metals it comes into contact with. Probably time for a coolant flush.

Yeah I know its time for a flush. I dont buy the "electrical current" theory, more likely the rust inhibitors break down over time. That still doesnt answer where the rust is coming from, since the engine doesnt have a steel block to rust.

Alls it takes is other types of metal. The alkalinity makes the current happen. It can come from just about any 2 types of metal. Plus even an aluminum block and head have some iron/steel parts. Like the sleeves and plugs. Core plugs are steel and the coolant runs right by them.

leper421 i see ur on long island what part?

um, are you sure it's rust? not just the newer orange coolant

evildky wrote:um, are you sure it's rust? not just the newer orange coolant

Its definitely rust, the coolant in opaque brown with sludge in it.

R350Zz33 wrote:leper421 i see ur on long island what part?

I'd rather not say exactly, but I'm off of exit 62 on the LIE

"sludge" in an 03? you know the history of the car? someone might have had a small coolant leak and added some bars leak, which will sludge up your whole cooling system and is even a nasty shade of brown, either way I'd start by fluching the system start over clean and check it monthly for odd color changes

i live in manorville. people meet up t the new stapes in shirely lots of imports and speed world fx in river head next to the dmv

evildky wrote:"sludge" in an 03? you know the history of the car? someone might have had a small coolant leak and added some bars leak, which will sludge up your whole cooling system and is even a nasty shade of brown, either way I'd start by fluching the system start over clean and check it monthly for odd color changes

I bought the car a little over a year ago from a Nissan dealer. It came with no previous records, although it supposedly passed a 1XX point inspection, which didn't catch the fact that the shifter bushing was shot, as well as the 5th and 6th gear synchros. The tranny blew up less than a month after I bought it, and was replaced along with the clutch under warranty.

I had my 240sx for 5.5 years, and did all my own work, including replacing the timing chain, pulling the engine, replacing the clutch, engine mounts, etc. I'm no newb when it comes to fixing cars. This is the newest car I've ever owned, and I've gotten kind of lazy with checking up on everything. I assumed that there can't be anything wrong requiring a lot of work. I've actually paid to have the oil changed (first time in over 6 years) up until this past weekend.

I had to add some coolant over the winter, as the reservoir was empty, and the heater would blow colder at idle than at higher engine speed. After that I didn't notice the problem until a few weeks ago when I looked at my reservoir tank and then at the radiator.

PS: my 91 240sx (sold to a friend) is still going strong with 190k+ miles. Damn good cars...
Modified by leper421 at 10:16 PM 9/22/2008

R350Zz33 wrote:i live in manorville. people meet up t the new stapes in shirely lots of imports and speed world fx in river head next to the dmv

Thanks for the invite, but I'm not into the whole car club / import tuning thing

i just really wanna meet some other z guys u know im sournded by honda's civics( Hold On Not Done Accelerating) And ricers. ok there are people that say may car ids rice just because its a imports from japan ect so i tell them the real meaning of rice. Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancements= rice

did you mix green coolant with the orange? that could make for some ugly coolant, I am pretty sure stock coolant is the 10k mile orange stuff, not sure why the coolant companies decided orange was a good color to use