I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A VAUXHALL VECTRA TODAY AND WHILST CHECKING ALL THE FLUID LEVELS I NOTICED THAT THE WATER IN MY RADIATOR RESEVOIR WAS A DIRTY BROWN COLOUR, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THIS MIGHT BE AND HOW I CAN PUT IT RIGHT?
THANKS KEN DOWDING

KEN, October 2008

ok, look under your oil fill cap on the engine, if there is a milky substance, could be your head gasket, or if you car has bee stored in the winter, it may be your rad is corroded to a point where its rust.....one interesting thought was, that the fans on the water pump is corroded to a point where they are breaking apart, either way, get a head gasket kit tester, before going to all that work

terry, May 2010

It is very unlikely to be rust it is usually caused by a leak stopper like rad weld, so before flushing tour system have a good look around the engine and radiator for brown stains which will indicate where the leak was coming from.To flush will cause the leak to start again

onabudget, October 2008

THIS SOUNDS AS IF NO ANTI FREEZE IS IN CAR. THE BROWN IS RUST FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE, DRAIN RAD, TOP UP CLEAN WATER ADD ANTI FREEZE, ASK IN SHOP HOW MUCH YOU WILL NEED FOR YOUR CAR, JOB DONE, ANTI FREEZE DOES A LOT MORE THAN JUST TO STOP WATER FREEZING, IT CAN STOP A LOT OF EXPENSIVE ENGINE WEAR , AS WILL HELP STOP YOUR HEAD GASKET WATER WAYS FROM RUSTING.

KEITH JOSLIN, October 2008

don"nt worry about it . its normal unless its bubbles out all over the place. to satisfy your self you could drain the water out and refill the radiator not forgetting to put some anti freeze in as its getting that time off the year

pops, October 2008