So went and got my oil changed today (I'm not doing it myself on any car I can't get under without a jack personally). The guys said I had pretty bad coolant, asked me when I last got it changed, and of course I have no idea as I didn't buy it too long ago. Yeah yeah, stupid me, never bothered to check. Anyways, the sheet says heavy rust in coolant. I know it is possibly to do a flush and all, but how can I actually make sure it is cleaned out? I wouldn't mind doing it myself, but if taking it somewhere would be easier I'm for that too.

 

there shouldnt be any rust in the coolant you have an aluminum rad and the entire engine is aluminum (i may be wrong but the only steel in the cooling system is the impeller for the water pump)... anyways i pull the rad and run the hose through it for about 15 min then i pull the stat and re install the the housing and flow water through the upper hose and let it flow out the lower for 15 min then use the prestone flush going by the directions

 

I think your repair shop friends are pulling your chain. As Basic said, the entire cooling system is either aluminum or plastic, aluminum may corrode and plastic crack, but they won't cause rust. You should change the coolant at least every two years, just to keep the corrosion from happening. The other thing, you mentioned not going under the car because you have no jack; never go under a car with just a jack holding it up, unless you are strong enough to do a bench press with the car after it drops on you.

 

Are you sure they weren't looking at some of that brown sludgy stop leak gunk that a previous owner could have put in the cooling system to mask a leak?

 

The coolant looked normal, but possibly. The dipstick was a bit sludgy.

 

i think they were trying to pull you for some extra cash

 

Well it was at Citgo...they even said all they can do is flush it, but it needs a cleaning.

 

Did they use that Dexcrap like they did in the 96? I could see where someone might call that color rust. If it is original coolant you have some sludge sitting at the bottom of the radiator.

Even flushing is not going to clean it 100%. Even with the radiator upside down and the water flow reversed it did not want to come out of my 96. In the worst cases I have seen radiator shops give up and just recommend replacement. If it is not overheating now then the flushing it is a good way to go but just keep in mind if you even have the radiator out plan on spending some time cleaning it out