Creamy light brown/tan gunk in coolant tank

[gcorteen]

Thanks JFP in PA. Can the radiator be cleaned oil without removing it just as well as it could be if it was removed? I am now being told that the only way they can get everything out of the radiator is to take it out for flushing which involves taking off the front of the car.

[JFP in PA]

Depends upon how badly "gunked up" it is; if the passageways become plugged, you have no choice. I have never had to do this, but I have heard of it on a car that was run for a very prolonged period with the intermix problem. You do not have to remove the nose, just the front bumper to get at the radiators. Would be a good time to also clean out the radiator area as they tend to pick up just about everything from leafs to dead birds in there.........

[gcorteen]

Update: Oil cooler was replaced and coolant was flushed, but I was told that they were not able to get all the oil out and I would see residual oil for awhile. I was told to drive it and it should become obvious if it was only the oil cooler that was the problem or if I have a bigger problem as well. I have driven 500 miles since the oil cooler replacement and flush and the car is running 15 degrees cooler than before land everything seems great. I do still see residual (hopefully) oil in the coolant tank and I dip a paper towel in the tank and soak it out. The amount of oil is a small fraction of what it was before. When I look in the tank I can see the chamber next to the main chamber always has more oil in it. Is there a way I can clean out the entire coolant tank and not just the main chamber? Thanks.