i was told that the radiator is aluminum, so there shouldn't be any rust?
but lately, as i was checking for coolant level, my coolant is a nasty sand/beige color fluid, and the smell in my engine bay after a fair amount distant of driving.

anyone know about this issue? as i did my search, and my warranty was due earlier this year.

thanks for the help guys

 

What color coolant are you running currently?

 

Are you indicating that the coolant smells of burnt oil? If so, you have oil in your coolant indicating a blown head gasket, cracked head or block. Have your coolant checked for hydrocarbons. As a further question, when was the last time you had your coolant changed?

 

Just an FYI. The radiator may be aluminum, but the engine block is a large lump of cast iron that can rust.

Your coolant should not be that color. How many miles on your MINI?

The smell could be from a leaking thermostat housing. It is a common problem.

 

crashton: my mini current has 75000km, 04 model, i will get my mechanic to take a look at the thermostat too, thanks~

miminut: wow, that sounds really bad! but hopefully nth that serious, and shouldn't the CEL come on if i hv a blown anything? but i will look into that. and i haven't change my coolant at all, as my friends told me i don't need to? it's bad for the engine..etc? are they wrong?

 

At your MINI's age & mileage I'd recommend you have your mechanic flush your cooling sytem & put in a fresh mix of coolant.

 

Chuck do you think that it could also be the oil cooler unit at the oil filter?

 

Your coolant and brake fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles. Coolant additives wear out over time. These additives prevent corrosion of aluminum and iron parts. What you may be seeing is rust, corrosion of iron block and head, as your additives in the coolant have stopped doing there job. The original coolant had a dark blue green color. Have a mechanic POWER FLUSH your cooling system. Don't settle for a drain and refill as over a third of the old coolant will remain in the block. Do a search and find out which Zerix coolant works for Mini's, the Mini stuff is hidiousely expensive.

 

thanks for the info and tip guys.. !
i will talk to my mechanic and figure sth out

 

Without seeing the coolant it is hard to tell. If it has oil in it it will look like chocolate mousse. The oil would also look like that. I hope for jerjer's sake it is just old gunky coolant.

Like mininut says have the system flushed. A drain & fill isn't going to clean out the system.

 

Does steam come out of your exhaust or does it smell like coolant?