FordRacerGT

Whats up guys? I've got a 2002 GT with 108,000 miles. I was driving it the other night when i noticed the coolant temp gauge was slightly more on the cold side than it usually is. Slightly less than halfway. I decided to let the engine cool and check the coolant. I found a mess of brown mud like gunk in the reservoir tank. I had ford do a complete coolant flush a couple of years ago and the coolant has been great up until now. It runs perfectly fine and isnt doing anything weird which is what gets me. I pulled the radiator and drained the coolant and didnt see any oil in it. Also drained the oil and it is normal with no coolant mixing in. Is this just in dire need of a coolant flush again or could it be a gasket? It had a tiny bit of smoke come out the exhaust the other night under decent throttle but its like 20 degrees where i live and the smoke dissipated almost instantly so i dont think its that. I am definitely putting fresh coolant and oil in either way but im just trying to get some ideas on anything else it could be. The coolant had dried up into chunks that looked like mud in the tank. Any and all feedback is welcome! Thanks.

Thatsweetstang

Take pics. Also it's probably dirty coolant. A lot of customers always think they have blown head gaskets. Coolant likes to turn brown because it starts to rust the cast iron block when it's properties break down. With out getting too much into it just pull your petcock, the drain at the bottom of the radiator, then add water, take it around the block a couple times, repeat until clean water comes out, then add strait 100 percent antifreeze. I like to run 75% antifreeze because I loose coolant and add water, eventually I'll be 50 50 mix. Around 25-35% water will still be in the block after draining so just add antifreeze. Best if luck. If it is a head gasket, sorry man

Thatsweetstang

Also you can take off your reservoir, plug the holes, and add degreaser, then start shaking to clean the tank. Afterwards just run lots of water to get the degreaser out.