Glitter in coolant?

bob850 · Post by **bob850** » 21 Apr 2017, 06:56

In my 1999 V70 that I just bought, which has a 2004 or 2005 S60 T5 engine in it, I replaced the radiator and heater core, since they were both leaking.

When I drained the coolant, there was a bunch of silvery specks in it, looks like glitter. I think it is aluminum since it did not attract to a magnet.

I'm guessing either the previous owner used "stop leak" at some point (which has similar looking particles), or the water pump is going bad in some way. I flushed the coolant and am going to see if it comes back in the coming days.

I was told the engine has about 80K miles on it, and the water pump is original as far as I know.

Any other ideas on what the glitter could be from?

Post by **abscate** » 21 Apr 2017, 08:01

There is a lot of Al in these engines Bob.

I wouldn't worry about it too much - maybe drain a liter of coolant in a few months and see if it is still there? Ill bet it is gone.

The pumps on these cars are robust and last 200k miles. If the coolant isn't really crappy and dirty it has been maintained, and I would run the original pump until the timing belt is due or more.

bob850 · Post by **bob850** » 21 Apr 2017, 08:49

Ok, thanks. I will continue to monitor it. We have two 850s and I have never seen this glitter in the coolant of their engines.

Post by **oragex** » 21 Apr 2017, 12:03

Mm. hopefully not metal particles. The original pump is solid, but a replacement non Volvo/Aisin/Hepu one is a ticking bomb. I can only see metal shavings coming from a water pump in the coolant, the only rotating metal thing that touches this fluid. Unless the coolant mixed with some transmission fluid inside a broken radiator.

bob850 · Post by **bob850** » 21 Apr 2017, 12:06

The water pump is a Volvo pump (says Volvo on it). I'm guessing its the original pump. They previous owner who replaced the engine said he pulled it from a 2005 S60 T5 with about 70K on it.

Post by **abscate** » 21 Apr 2017, 19:07

Rethinking. You can get a quick answer by flushing it for 15 minutes, the filling it with just water, running it around town for 30 minutes, then checking the water for glitter.

bob850 · Post by **bob850** » 30 Apr 2017, 15:57

So I replaced the water pump, flushed out the system repeatedly and the glitter keeps showing up in the coolant. I had already replaced the radiator and heater core as well.

So what's left? The only think I can think of that coolant flows through is the oil cooler and the turbo.

Any thoughts? What else could it be? Anything in the engine (head gasket or something worse)?

Post by **abscate** » 30 Apr 2017, 18:10

Stop leak residue is my best guess.

Check compression and check coolant, engine oil , and transmission dipsticks weekly.

If it isn't mixing, drive it and keep your 2 year coolant changes religiously

bob850 · Post by **bob850** » 01 May 2017, 07:15

Did a compression test last night, was fine, 180, 178, 179, 174, 180. I guess I'll just drive it and hope for the best.

Post by **vtl** » 01 May 2017, 08:50

Hard particles in coolant work as abrasive. You get the hard particles (calcium...) with tap water or cheap low quality "distilled" water. The one I got in CVS measured 70 ppm vs 14 ppm that my aging reverse osmosis system gives. Coolant breaks down quickly if mixed with hard water, internal wear accelerates.