jkirk

Well, I found the answer to my oil in radiator problem. I believe it to be automatic transmission fluid leaking into the radiator. The tanks that seperate the fluid in the radiator must be leaking, and the combination of the tranny fluid, antifreeze, and water reaching 180 degrees turns it all into a brown, mix like diarrhea lol. There must be just enough pressure from the tranny pump to keep water from seeping back into the transmission. That would be really bad and costly. Any opinions? Anyone else ever encounter a problem like this?

MTL_4runner

Sounds like you need a new radiator.
That is the only place where those 2 fliuds even get close to one another.

rimpainter.com

You could also try some Malox in there and see if that cures the diarrhea problem.

jkirk

LMAO MALOX! I SHOULDN'T BE THAT LUCKY!

4Legz

ive seen a few of these..

we replace the radiator and flush the tranny completely...

put about 100 miles or so on it and flush it again.

--havent seen any return problems, but these were all caught early (when trans started slippin)

hope this helps,

mike j

4Legz

by the way...

if its brown in color, your coolant and or transmisson fluid is dirty.

when mixed, it should look like a strawberry shake =)
(that is if you are using red coolant)

MJ

TechWrench

Yeah, it's not as unusual as you would think. Generally, what happens is the coil in the radiator tank that the trans fluid flows through for cooling springs a leak. When you first start up, the oil pressure in the line is higher than the radiator pressure and oil flows into the radiator. But, after the water temp rises, the pressure in the radiator is now higher than oil pressure and coolant gets into the oil line and into the trans. If the radiator is not too old, a radiator shop could repair the leak, but it is usually better to go for a new one. You will also have to flush the engine and cooling system to get the oil out, and flush the trans. Don't wait too long, the water in the trans will do serious damage before long.

jkirk

I appreciate all the posts. I've been checking prices on radiators, and the best I have found is about $150. A local radiator shop suggested putting a tranny cooler on in front of the AC condensor and just plugging up the old inlets in the radiator since the rest of the radiator is still working fine. I haven't decided what to do yet.

MTL_4runner

If the oil and coolant mixed, the radiator is obviously damaged and it will degrade from there. Whether it be a flaw or corrosion, I would not trust it anymore and using a tranny cooler instead of circulating through the radiator seems like a serious band-aid. Unless you are heavily strapped for cash, get a new one. Don't risk a blown motor for a few bucks.