a gopd way to check and see if it is the head gasket leaking is to start the car up with the radiator cap off and rev the motor like you would be driving it. if you notice any bubbles, especially a constant stream of them, in the radiator fluid then it is almost certainly the head gasket. however the lack of bubbles does not mean that it is not the head gasket. and yeah, any sort of brown or tan sludge in your coolant is bad and means you are getting oil into your coolant. head gasket or water pump are the most likely sources.