BigBallsMcFalls

Until you get the atf cooler guaranteed to be good and won't break
----------------------------------
keep an eye on the temp gauge in the dashboard. when it mixes that
thing will go to the top

and

do this often...weekly at least: check the ATF dipstick for any water drops or foam

and the radiator cap for any evidence of oil
---------------

IF you get:

any overheating
any sudden codes on the dash
any AT lights on the dash

stop immediately and tow it somewhere until problem is found out
if the transmission is milkshaked, flat-bed tow is the only way to go.

---
you can milkshake and have no idea it is happening until

you notice the temp climbs from middle to top. then the temp will peg,

shifting will become clunky (a highway downshift for instance)

at this point any further driving could grenade the transmission.

you smell coolant (milkshake bubbling out of the overflow tank)

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it is more likely that this will not happen to you. because the
damage is so costly.....these warnings from those boys who got milkshaked.


I'd tell you, but I'd have to charge...

ahtub

im actually here in sacramento CA. temps here are getting warmer as summer is coming soon. still some late showers but temps here are in the 60-70 highs. so do you guys think this milkshake would happen to me with these temps outside? i bought this 4runner from Redding which is about 2hrs away from here. thanks for all the replies so far, i'm learning a lot about this milkshake stuff and to be honest, it's scaring the out of me cause i dont want it to happen to me. i think im going to buy the koyo radiator to replace the radiator that i have on right now cause i have no idea when it was changed out or if its still the original. here is a link to ebay. its pretty cheap 106.95 and 19.90 for shipping. but since they're here in sacramento too im trying to ask and see if i can pick it up locally.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-97...Q5fAccessories

Compressed

I'm thinking about doing a new radiator now too on my '97 runner with 135k. Pretty good preventative maintenance decision considering the repercussion's of a failure.

Using the ebay example $127 plus $20-40 in toyota red coolant and maybe a new thermostat is not a bad investment to avoid >$1500 worth of damage

BigBallsMcFalls

correct. I had the loot and had the time. and I looked up radiators on the 'net
and checked what needed to be done. but did nothing.

I chose to ignore the 'board'. and I got nailed HARD.

ahtub

hey i was wondering if i could use the radiator that i have on right now since its still good and just bypass the tranny cooler lines into an external cooler? and yeah plug up the holes for the tranny line on the radiator?

Ron Helmuth

ahtub yes that would work but read up on a variety of the tranny cooler threads to be sure as I am a manny tranny guy myself.

psraff

That's all I did. I'm sure that's what most did as well. Running it almost a year and no problems at all.

eddieleephd

I would say so.. Really couldn't see any reason not. The only thing is you will have to drain your stock cooler and plug it and install the aftermarket!

ahtub

thanks guys for the replies. so if i changed out the radiator to a new koyo. would that just prevent the milkshake thing considering from what i've read is that the tranny cooler in the radiator is the main problem that just ruptures and mixes the coolant and the atf fluid together which equals milkshake syndrome.....so wouldn't putting a new radiator in just solve that problem for a good 8-10 years ? instead of having to do the external tranny cooler?? yeah i need some clarification cause i just bought a new koyo radiator from the ebay link i posted up there and im planning on putting it in within a few days after the rain goes away but i dont want to spend more $$$ on a external tranny cooler if i dont have to since i got this new radiator already......lmk your inputs if i would still need to buy the external cooler or no.

anybody know where i can get a DIY radiator replacement step by step? i've searched on here but i didn't find one....once again thank you.

BigBallsMcFalls

yes it will solve the problem.

the problem was a fault in how Toyota built certain original
radiators, but since it only happens well after warranty, Toyota may or may not have corrected the issue moving forward to new models (I am sure they did though). koyo, may never ever have the problem, at least not the same way a Toyota
radiator would fail.



just replace it again in, I'd say 100,000 more miles. cheap insurance is what is it.

any radiator with 150,000 miles or 10 years old is considered 'old' and you are already lucky to get
that far without radiator issues regardless of vehicle

eddieleephd

I agree with BigBallsMcFalls.....