pendrag

mt_goat

scottishb

Wow. I'm gonna have nightmares about this.

85 PICKUP

Just do the bypass or replace the radiator. The tranny cooler and extra line cost be about $80. I also did a drain and fill for another $20. So for $100 you can have cheap peace of mind.

Radiators are only around $135 for a decent one from radiator barn. With coolant probably not looking at more than $150 or so.

If you made it 100k on your original radiator you should be good to go for another 100k.

I already did the bypass, but I may replace the radiator this summer just for maint reasons. Mine has 164k on it and it appears to be original.

TimZ

I replaced my original radiator with 110k miles with a KOYO. I installed a trans cooler in line with the stock cooler set up electing not to bypass. I will treat the radiator as a regular maintenance item and revisit replacing or bypassing in say 7-8 years.

BigBallsMcFalls

mooseT

Ugh... I got a milkshake pouring out of my coolant tank today. Didn't notice it until the 4Runner started revving up & the gear slipping when going into first gear from a stop. Drove probably around 40 miles or so with it mixing coolant with transmission fluid before I could check out what the problem was.

Looking around, it looks like people recommend a radiator from one of these two places, any thoughts?
http://www.performanceradiator.com/
http://www.go-part.com/9602-toyota-4...8-p-23842.html

I'm leaning toward the KOYO because it is actually cheaper in this case and doing quick searches show that people are happy with these in their 4Runners.

mt_goat

And another one bites the dust.

mooseT

Yeah, it's too bad how people (like me) tend to not know about apparently common problems like the milkshake until we have it happen to us and start searching the forums.

Bought my 2001 4Runner 9 months ago, it just hit 140K miles. After spending several hours online yesterday researching this problem and buying parts, those people who get the milkshake always get it at around 140K miles.

MarkAidan

Yep, my '99 just hit 138K the other day and it also happened to me. My 4Runner was running great this past Friday, as always, so I took it in for the yearly emissions/safety inspection in PA - only to receive a call first thing Saturday morning about the infamous 'strawberry milkshake' in the radiator over-flow. I told the shop to immediately park it, and DO NOT attempt to restart and/or inspect my vehicle.

So this morning I went to the shop to personally look-over the damages, and there it was... a nice little milkshake in the over-flow and some radiator fluid on the ground. The shop manager immediately said I needed a new engine, because the head gasket(s) were blown and I leaked anti-freeze in the engine block. I proceeded to ask the "ASE Certified Master Technician" if he knew about the trans-cooler located in the radiator, and that it may actually be transmission fluid in the over-flow reservoir - not a blown head gasket(s) as he adamantly argued. That discussion went as well as it possibly could have, so I took my keys and left the inspection station hoping (and praying) he was full of s**t.

I drove directly to the Toyota Dealership (in my Accord, of course) and explained the situation. The service manager confirmed my suspicions and said that I definitely need a new radiator and a massive ATF flush job - and, quite possibly a rebuilt transmission if that does not work out.

That's about as far as I got with my problem today... I am thinking about letting Toyota perform the work, but you never know if they're going to come back and say the tranny is definitely done - even if it's not. But while I was at the dealership I asked for a "ball-park" estimate, in case the tranny was in fact done, and they quoted $1890.00 for the re-manufactured tranny, $660.00 for labor and another $300.00 for misc. shop fees and fluids. Ouch!

I'm thinking about doing the job myself and if all else fails, take it back to Toyota and give them 1/2 my soul to cover the bill. Although, after 12 years of ownership this is the first time my 4Runner has given me any problems. So I still love it, even if it costs me $2K-$3K to get it back on the trails. That's a heck of a lot better than another car payment!!

badattitude

While that is true most of the time, I experianced the dreaded milkshake last August. The dealer flushed 60 quarts of ATF and replaced the radiator (koyo A1998) and the trans is strong 10,000 miles later. I also flushed the cooing system twice. Your tranny guy has a point but somtimes the trans can be saved.

I recommend flushing the trans very very well. Then change the ATF again every 2,000 miles for the next 6,000 miles and see if you get lucky. Back up plan is to look for a used trans from a junk yard or ebay only of yours actually fails.