Cooling system muddy...

[mcmain0121]

Howdy.
I didnt want to put this in chit chat and have it get missed, but its not actually for my FJ60, or a Cruiser for that matter. I just value ya'lls opinion, so thought I would give this a shot. I posted something similar in the diesel section as there was somewhat of a related thread there. Here goes...
Not my FJ60 but a friends’ car I may acquire, ('98 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T, the price is right!) has a bit of an issue. It had gotten oil into the water via some tube, an Audi specialty shop said, and that there was some tube that allowed this to happen, NOT a head gasket. Apparently it’s something they can test for? Anyway, there was a bunch of slimy gelatinous muddy crap in the expansion tank. I cleaned that all out and installed and ran it. I'm guessing that there is more of this crud in other parts of the cooling system. So, I was looking for something to put in with the coolant to help break it down so I can flush that stuff out. I was thinking some kind of detergent, but not sure as I don’t want to tear into everything since it runs like a champ. Don’t want to disassemble a ton of the thing, but may just to radiator hoses, etc. I'm waiting on my buddy to look at the invoice from the shop to tell me exactly what it said.
Thoughts and or ideas?
Thanks!

 

[Michael Hanson]

I would just use water, and flush 2or 3 times in a week. I would think that would be cheap and safe. MIke

 

[EUROTECH1986535]

Use water and drain while hot

 

[nota944mechanic]

I would buy one of those Tools that check for combustion in the coolant. It's relatively cheap and is easy to use. It uses a blue colored liquid that changes color if it mixes with combustion gasses.

I would skip this "deal" if I were you. I worked at a shop that specialized in European vehicles for 8 yrs, and those 1.8Ts were nothing but trouble for their owners (broken timing belts @ 60k, sludged up oil pumps, etc.).

All 1.8Ts will eventually lose their oil pumps. The techs at the Audi dealership that was next door to us said that German field engineers came to the dealership a number of times to inspect bad oil pumps. Of course, they decided that it was our crappy American oil and not their fault. WTF?

If u really want an Audi, hold out for the 2.0 engine. It's much more reliable.

 

[mcmain0121]

Forgot that I had posted here on this one... Updating this; I spoke with a German car guy (owns a shop here locally, seems to know his stuff damn well) and instructed me to do what I had kinda already determined was a good course of action. I removed the thermostat housing and thermostat. It was full of the emulsified oil. I left the t-stat out and put it back together. I got some powdered Cascade dish soap that had Dawn in it as well. I dissolved that in hot water and cycled through about 2 gallons at a time, through the car. I filled it up, ran the car up the freeway and back. Put it on ramps and drained it. Continued this process probably about 10 times until there was no oil coming out in the coolant. Installed new t-stat and put in the correct coolant with distilled water. Been driving the hell out of the car since, no problems at all to date, knock on wood!
Interesting statement about the 1.8T engine... I've heard the opposite that they can last a damn long time. I got the car with about 186K on it, and its almost to 192K now. Ive taken it on about 3 long road trips and commute in it every day.
Anyhow, if anyone else comes across an issue similar to this, use the Cascade/Dawn soap with hot water, should work really well. Doesnt mess with gaskets or seals either...