Metal flakes in radiator?

[el_superhombre]

My new car (92' MR2 G-Limited) has many small, copper coloured metal flakes around the radiator cap and a few floating in the radiator water around the fill line.

Does anyone know what this is and if they are a sign of corroding pipes or something bad? And, would a radiator flush be the best option to clear them away?

[tatsumaki]

Maybe the last owner through some stop leak down it?

Paul.

[sergei]

copper flakes? did it had headgasket done? many it is excess of copper coat?

[crispy'86]

Are they copper coloured and really tiny flakes or really rusty brown coloured and large? If they are tiny and a copper gold colour then chances are someone had put stop leak in the coolong system, possibly to stop the coolant pipes that run the length of the car, from leaking or other leaks. If they are rusty brown large flakes then the cooling system has more than likely been abused, pretty uncommon to have large flakes in the radiatopr that large but, you never know

[el_superhombre]

Are they copper coloured and really tiny flakes or really rusty brown coloured and large? If they are tiny and a copper gold colour then chances are someone had put stop leak in the coolong system, possibly to stop the coolant pipes that run the length of the car, from leaking or other leaks. If they are rusty brown large flakes then the cooling system has more than likely been abused, pretty uncommon to have large flakes in the radiatopr that large but, you never know

I am starting to believe that it might be stop leak. The flakes are tiny and are more of a bright copper colour than rust. Would you recommend a flush or would that just make my radiator spring what ever leaks the stop leak plugged?

[flygt4]

i'v eput stop leak in a radiator before. its bloody nasty stuff man

flush it and refill and see if it starts leaking. i doubt it will.

[tatsumaki]

Only one way to flush it properly dude, take it to a radiator shop and get them to flush it out properly ... get it back flushed.

When I was at Geartech even radiator that came out for cleaning/flushing got sent off to the radiator shop.

Paul.

[BlakeNZ]

it is a particular brand of radiator stop leak.

[crispy'86]

I am starting to believe that it might be stop leak. The flakes are tiny and are more of a bright copper colour than rust. Would you recommend a flush or would that just make my radiator spring what ever leaks the stop leak plugged?

That may or may not cause the core or tank to leak, it really depends where the leak was originally but, if you take the radiator into a radiator shop they should flush it and then pressure test it and report back if there are any leaks. What does the core look like in the radiator itself??

[tatsumaki]

What does the core look like in the radiator itself??

Probably the most important question to be asking here ^^^

Paul.

[el_superhombre]

What does the core look like in the radiator itself??

Probably the most important question to be asking here ^^^

Paul.

What exactly is 'the core'? Is that the fins of the radiator?

[tatsumaki]

Yes. You have the top tank and the bottom tank. The bit in the middle is the core.

Paul.