I'd get a 'head check' done before just ripping into pulling it apart.

Try flushing it through heater hose, works better than trying to get the crap out by other means. then see if you have comp bubbles.

Thanks everyone.
I think I'm going to do
1) radiator clean with some proper cleaner. Do it properly and flush again. Needs it anyway and doesn't cost much
2) get a head compression test
3) get gasket done if necessary

Really appreciate all the opinions, will post with results once known!

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Mini-less ... for now

Quick update. Little old blue is in with the doctor now, but I did give it a proper flush out and clean with some radiator cleaner solution.
Seemed to work wonders as when I put the new coolant in, it stayed green as opposed to the brownish colour the first time.
I did get a tablespoon or so of white bubbles forming, almost like soap, so I've asked them to check it out at the garage.
Apparently this can just be air in the system after a change and happens with some coolants?

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Mini-less ... for now

Thanks for the update. The more feedback the more everyone learns. The good thing about this site is you will get lots of options and opinions and you can take your pick where to start.

Agreed! Endlessly frustrating trying to find answers when someone else has had an identical problem but the thread goes silent. Will confirm final diagnosis once the garage gets back to me too

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Mini-less ... for now

The foaming usually means there's crud in the system still. Just flushing through top isn't going to flush it properly, you need some pressure. The best way is to remove heater hose, Push garden hose onto pipe, ensure heater control (tap) is in 'hot' position and turn on water. Just be careful if you live in area with higher than normal water pressure as the system isn't designed for more than about 15psi. Take the rad cap off and allow water to flush out top and heater hose. When water flows clean, reassemble and check with just water, start engine, look for oil in water, bubbles that don't stop and also that radiator gets hot all over. You can check rad for blockages with temp gun or another way is run engine up to temp, switch it off and spray core with brake cleaner spray. The hot tubes (Working) will evaporate spray instantly and the dud ones (blocked) take longer. If all is good, then put coolant additive in.

Great tips thanks peterb, hadn't heard of using the heater hose before.

I'm hoping the cleaner did most of the work. If not is it only the kind of thing I'll discover some hot day in summer!?

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Mini-less ... for now

Lucky me, it was a filthy cruddy radiator. Greig had a good check and gasket was fine, and the clean was enough.
Chucked some of this in
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Produc ... 5mL/290448
And followed the directions.
New coolant brought up some white froth as described but apparently that can happen when different coolants are mixed. Which is what I did.

Guess the moral of the story is sometimes you can get lucky and it's not all as bad as it looks.

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Mini-less ... for now