Why is there rust-colored coolant in my Wagon Rs reservoir tank?

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Why is there rust-colored coolant in my Wagon Rs reservoir tank?

I checked the coolant reservoir of my Wagon R 2020 model, and the coolant appears rusty o r muddy in color. A mechanic told me it might be due to a corroded water pump o r poor-quality coolant. Can a faulty o r rusting water pump cause this issue? Should I flush the cooling system and replace the pump?

Gari Specialist asked on 24 May 2025 17:03:27 pm

1 Answer

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Gari Master - on 24 May 2025 17:05:34 pm

Rusty o r muddy coolant is a sign of corrosion inside the cooling system, often due to:

A corroded water pump housing

Use of tap water instead of proper coolant

Old o r contaminated coolant left for years

How the Pump Affects It:
A worn-out o r corroded water pump can shed metal flakes o r rust, which mix with coolant and turn it brown.

What You Should Do:

Get a coolant flush done immediately

Inspect the water pump housing during flush

Replace the pump if there are signs of internal corrosion

Use only long-life coolant LLC like Caltex, ZIC, o r Toyota Red

Tip: Never use plain water in the cooling system—it causes rust and ruins the pump.