Hey, my coolant light has been going on when I started my car for a while now. So, I changed my coolant today and followed all the right steps...plus I have done it before with no problems. I drained all the coolant out and flushed the system with a couple gallons of distilled water. I refilled it with Prestone antifreeze/distilled water mix and took it for a drive. When I came back to check the levels, there was like a yellow mustardy type paste inside the whole tank. I immediately took it to mazda and they said that they have to replace all the hoses,radiator, etc....totalling $3000. I thought that was outrageous. They said it's because I mixed coolants...but I flushed the whole thing and there was green antifreeze in there and I put green back. Does anybody know what happpened and if there is a way to fix it that doesn't cost so much. Any input would be helpfull. Thanks

 

Back away from the dealer real fast......


Get the cooling system flushed at a place with the flush machines...and refill.

$3000....GOD.....they must think you are really stupid

 

I'm wondering what the yellow stuff was. Also I don't think you need to flush with distilled just use it in the final mix. Garden hose works great for the flush.

 

Hard to say....something may have precipitated out?? Worst case it could be oil.

If that's the case..the low coolant was a symptom of a leak.....and not the cause....