Milk shake residue in coolant reservoir tank

[gnx547]

My friend has a 2010 Explorer with the v6 and inside the coolant reservoir tank there is some residue inside that looks like milk shake. There is also some on the cap and the lip of the radiator. She bought the Explorer brand new and it has only 50K miles on it and it does not burn coolant and the oil looks good after changing it. Did Ford add an additive to the coolant system from the factory? Which causes it to look like a milk shake substance. Has anyone bought a new 2010 Explorer and experienced this?

 

[Ronin8002]

I've got the same thing in my 2008. From what I've read on F150 forums it's some of the chemicals in the coolant coming out of solution.

 

[Bobmbx]

I wouldn't be concerned. It looks like a calcium/iron deposit. Are you topping off with tap or well water? You may have hard water, and if so its the same stuff you'll find in your toilet tank.

 

[mvallyman]

I have a 2010 V6 48K and my reservior looked just like yours. Drained the old coolant and it was fairly clean, most of the stuff in the reservior came off spraying it with the hose.

 

[Lukas2009]

Same here. Don't worry. Just clean it!

 

[Pang]

Make sure you top your radiator up with distilled water, what you're seeing there is prob just limescale or the like. Also you should do 50/50 mix of water and coolant. Coolant contains chems that help the longevity of your radiator.

 

[Flag Gibby]

I am starting to think that it is the corrosion inhibitors/additives starting to fall out of solution since there seems to be a major issue with that happening on the larger displacement Ford engines that use the same coolant.