Coolant problem.

Hey my mom has a 96sl1 sohc with 115K on it.
we got it used about 6 months ago with no problem. my only concern is that the coolant almost looks like its full of oil kinda sludgy nasty mess but yet it stays cool runs just fine. also the oild really never gets low and it stays damn near clean its whole life. any ideas maybe stop leak of some sort????? thanks for any help

I would just do a coolant flush. After that see if the "oil" look comes back. If so then take steps from there regarding the engine as that is where the leak it. Usually there are engine symptoms when there is oil in the coolant.
Coolant can get old and change properties as it gets older. This may be what you are seeing.

i agree flush!!did someone mix the old type of anti-freeze with the new type??

i agree flush!!did someone mix the old type of anti-freeze with the new type??


Dex-cool and standard green stuff are ok to mix. The mixture just turns a funky color.

Chances are the car has a cracked head.

No i dont think it does. it loses like no oil or coolant the coolant just looks like s*it. and it runs drive just fine

Right. They will contine to run and drive fine even with the cracked head.

Does the coolant sorta look like a chocolate milkshake?

Saturn has said that a certain kind of cooling system sealer tablet be used on some years...but the look of that residue and the oily mess a cracked head will leave are totally different.

Have you tried flushing the cooling system?

The only reason I was so quick to say that, is these SOHC Saturn's are known for cracking heads - and that year and milage are spot on for it. (Been there, done that).

The oil will get pushed into the cooling system (since the oil is higher pressure than the coolant while running); and vice-versa of course (when shut off). But the oil continues to look good because not enough coolant gets in to make it look bad (like a blown headgasket can).