What's wrong with my car?

DEXCOOL! Time to install a flushing "T" in one of the heater core hoses and flush the cooling system. If your heat has been luke warm instead of hot you might also want to remove the heater hoses from the heater core and run the harden hose directly into the heater core in both directions. DexCool is the worst antifreeze I've ever seen and the first thing I do is flush the cooling system and replace the DexCool with a green antifreeze. Buy straight antifreeze instead of the 50/50 mix. Once the cooling system is flushed and the water drained out at the lower radiator hose you need to add 1/2 gallon of straight antifreeze to compensate for the water you can't get out of the motor. Dilute the remaining antifreeze 50/50 with water and top up the radiator. To get the air out of the system set the climate control to the hottest setting and run the motor for 20 minutes with the radiator cap removed from the radiator. Top up the coolant as the air bubbles purge from the system.

Distilled water is not necessary in the cooling system. It is recommended for serviceable car batteries.

Generally when the coolant is that dirty and sludgy looking, it's because the coolant has probably never been changed.

Look in your owner's manual, use the type of coolant recommended and change it at the interval specified.

Most coolant needs to be changed every three years at a minimum.

Being almost 20 years old would do it. You might want to drain the coolant and flush everything out and replace it with fresh coolant

When was the last time you had the Dexcool coolant drained, flushed and CLEANED from the cooling system to get the rust and corrosion out?

UNFORTUNATELY gm has had LOTS of LAWSUITS over the use of DEXCOOL coolants and it's effects on GM GASKET materials! They were sued for nearly EVERY ENGINE they made from 1996-2003 and LATER! As time gos by, the COOLANT eats up gaskets, and this turns into wandering SLUDGE within the system! I DO NOT USE DEXCOOL or PRESTONEin ANY gm car! The NEW ones from GM have AUDI PINK coolant in them for a GOOD REASON! o AVOID LAWSUITS! DEXCOOL has been shown to dissolve PLASTIC COOLING SYSTEM PARTS and eat up INTAKE GASKETS as well! There is such a thing as CHEMICAL ENGINEERING< and GM is on the BOTTOm of this area! SLUDGE is NOT GOOD and can also indicate that your HEAD BOLT SEALANTS are breaking down as well! I CONVERT all GM cars to EUROPEAN STANDARDS, event eh PLUGS, COOLANT and ENGINE OILS! I have a SYSTEM that really works for them! GOOD LUCK!! i do NOT use any GM spark plugs EITHER! They waste FUEL and fil converters up with CARBON and SOOT! rgmuske@yahoo.com

RUST! All automotive cooling systems rust eventually. You'd better use the new wifi diagnostic tool to diagnose if you are sure that you can solve it by yourself, or you can also consult a professional mechanic. Easy and Quick. Applicable to all types of car. You must always monitor your car's current state. The below website may be helpful for you to find the tool. hope it is helpful to you.

RUST! All automotive cooling systems rust eventually. That's why the auto manufacturers recommend that you drain and flush your cooling system every 2-3 years and fill with new coolant that has rust inhibitors in it.

Drain, and flush your entire system. Use manufacturer recommended coolant and distilled water only