Dark Antifreeze in coolant recovery tank.

[Brons2]

I decided to drop the factory fill oil at 1000 miles. So with 999 miles, I crawled underneath and let all the old oil out (which BTW looked VERY clean, although that is not really a barometer for the condition of it). After the oil was drained and the filter was changed (PITA by the way, have to remove the skid plate) I started filling the new oil.

I noticed that the coolant tank oil looked very dark. I went and got my shop light and shone it on the side of the bottle. It still had a green hue, but it was a VERY DARK green hue. Concerned, I took both the coolant recovery tank cap and the radiator cap off and looked down inside. The coolant in the recovery tank looks gross. The coolant in the radiator looks nice and green, much lighter than than which is in the recovery tank, and seemed ok, when I shined my light down in there.

So, I am wondering, do any of you all have dark coolant in your recovery tank? I do take a lot of short trips, my work is only about 2 miles away. The oil and the coolant in the radiator proper show no signs of contamination. I'm gonna take this to the dealer to look at, but if they say it's nothing, I'm gonna get some Nissan coolant and drain/refill the recovery tank and watch it closely.

I know the job of the recovery tank is to skim the crap that is on top, but what is in the recovery tank seems like a lot of crap for 1000 miles.

I had already ordered an oil analysis kit from Terry Dyson for my 1st oil change, and now I am really glad that I did. The spectroanalysis will show if there is any antifreeze in the oil, even in concentrations less than 1%.

signed,
-worried.

[vector6]

mine is the same way... looks crappy in the overflow... not really to concerned about it though, as long as it doesnt overheat or freeze in the winter.

[S.RayRay]

New cars often come from the factory with low (or no) coolant in the rec. tank and are topped off with strait coolant, no mix on the PDI.... pos why so dark

[honeykeeper]

just checked mine..same..clean and green in the radiator and oily and spoily in the reservoir?????? By the way guys.....I had to add coolant 3 times in the first month...I don't think they got the air pockets all the way out at initial coolant fill-up......It takes some time to get all the air out......I could see the top of the rad..core each time.now is full.

[OnebadSE]

Same here. Dark ans looks sort of oily in the recovery tank. I'll have Nissan change it next time I'm there.

[Brons2]

I am glad to see everybody else's looks the same. I am going to get a gallon of the Nissan branded anti-freeze and dump out the stuff in the recovery tank, then refill 50/50 with the Nissan antifreeze/distilled water and keep an eye on it.

[honeykeeper]

Hold -On......checked it tonight with my flashlight in the dark..hold your light from below the fluid level and aim up slightly...with the proper angle it shows to be very clean-green.....if you look straight in from the top or have a light at the wrong angle it will give the illusion of being dark and oily on top.......try-it....I bet everyones here is clean-green......to test.draw the top few ounces out with a turkey baster.and pour into a glass......you'll see......that was an easy one!!!

[Brons2]

Mine has a visible oily sheen on the surface. It looks gross. I am still going to dump out the recovery tank.

[honeykeeper]

Try the baster first!!!!! And if you do get rid of the coolant..recycle it!!!! Let us know what you find.

[t j derr]

Better check w/ kitchen management. There maybe a problem if maintenance doesn't do that!!!!!

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by t j derr

Better check w/ kitchen management. There maybe a problem if maintenance doesn't do that!!!!!

I'm afraid I don't understand your meaning.

Kitchen management? I am single if you are referring to the female side of the house.

My truck should not need cooling system maintenance as it only has 1100 miles.

Please clarify your post.

[honeykeeper]

Hey Brons2....what did you find??????

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by Tom Mincarelli

Hey Brons2....what did you find??????

It's still in there, but at least my oil analysis said that there was NO antifreeze in the factory fill oil.

The Nissan antifreeze is over $18 at the stealership. Yuck.