gunk in my radiator

1992 OLDSMOBILE 88
6 CYL • AUTOMATIC
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FRESHCCS
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1992 oldsmobile 88 royale edition, two days ago i changed the oil and the oil filter, yesterday after about 30 mins of driving it would bearly drive over 10 mph and felt like it was choking.. so i got home let it rest (it was not over heating) i checked to water and the radiator was full of this rusty looking gunk.. could you tell me what it could be and if its serious.. thanks
Jan 17, 2011 at 3:50 PM
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WRENCHTECH
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Did this gunk just appear recently? Have you looked at it before this. Check the oil level and the trans fluid level and see if one of them is low or contaminated.
Jan 17, 2011 at 4:28 PM
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FRESHCCS
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it was like this before, ive been slowly giving it a tune up i had just changed the oil and the oil filter, the next day it was like this, the gunk is like watery chocolate, i just looked at the oil and trans, the oil has water in it, so is this a blown head gasket..
Jan 17, 2011 at 4:59 PM
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WRENCHTECH
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
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  • ASE Certified Mechanic
If the oil has water in it, that is serious. It could be a blown head gasket but if there was no previous overheating, it's not real likely. It's much more likely to be a bad intake manifold gasket or if it has one, and bad engine oil cooler. Either way, DO NOT drive it until the engine is repaired, not even around the corner.
Jan 17, 2011 at 5:04 PM
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