So ... here it is. 2000 4Runner 4X4 Auto 190k on the odometer. Bought the truck 6 months ago, did my usual once over. Test drove it on city streets and highways, ran strong! Checked all the fluids, nothing alarming what-so-ever. Not a single issue until a frightful Monday morning en route to work at 0530 on the highway. 20 mins of driving, no issues then finally the check engine light catches my eye. I look to the left and see my temp pegged out, I immediately let off the gas, and start coasting down. Temp drops down to normal again, still coasting to a stop. I need to get off this busy highway, just pushing it a bit more I accelerate maybe another 100 ft to give me the momentum to get to an off ramp. I get there, felt what I thought was a gear slip.... engine stumbles and stalls. Chocolatey milk substance in my transmission, chocolatey milk substance in my radiator and all over the engine bay. Radiator overflow tank blew off.

I tow it to Checkered Flag Toyota in Virginia Beach, mostly because it was very close, and I was leaving for two weeks the following day. I have them do an inspection, since it's essentially free. Their diagnosis is a bad head gasket ... BTW, I'm still waiting on the results of their "compression test." They also recommend pulling the block to see if the CAST IRON block has warped. I get it .... but barely. I then ask, why would you guys look at the head gasket firsy, when I pointed out to you personally that the same fluid in my radiator was also in my transmission? Their response ... Oh, we'll look at that too.

3 days later, "You also need a new transmission."

Here I sit today (I'm really just looking for some re-assurance that I am attacking this from the correct angle):

I've removed my truck from the stealership and have decided to do the work myself.

--I've also decided to first focus my efforts on the head gaskets. I'll do my own compression test first, but if they all hold 140ish I don't think it's necessary.

--Drain the transmission fluid, flush it, drain it, flush it again and refill, replace filter.
--Replace the radiator as it looks like it's original.
--Re-fill with OEM toyota coolant, not what ever was in there before. I honestly dont recall, but I do know it was green.
--Drain oil pan, as well ... though I didn't see any signs of coolant in the engine, change filter and replenish.

What else should I do?? Of course, if I end up having to dig into the heads, I'll do the timing belt and water pump.

 

How rugged and durable are these transmissions?

 

Have you been playing Power Ball ??

Have you won yet

It all depends on just how Hot !! things got .

Since the Milkshake mix does not Lubricate well things tend to get hot fast

The same with the head Gaskets

If things got Hot enough that the Gaskets failed did it get Hot enough to crack one or both heads

It comes down to " Do you feel lucky"

This is one of those hands on cases while they are some what the same each one is different

Remember not all Dealerships are the same !!

Best of Luck

 

Sorry to hear it got you, too.
Assume the engine is ok(for now) if it holds 140 psi. Your tranny health is the real question. You might consider a full flush done multiple times.
Based on some of the milkshake threads that I have read the odds are not in your favor of a long transmission life. Time will tell.



An easily seen and to the point sticky could save other Runner owners........

Glancing at the stickies real quick, I see that the 3rd to last one is no longer valid(search engine of all search engines) and maybe a MILKSHAKE sticky should replace it.
Looks like some sticky cleanup is needed. Many could be combined together.....


there's 15 stickies now....
The fsm one is a very important and all the others could go in a single FAQ list thread.
The one labeled "All 95-00 Tacoma Drivers Read This!" needs to be renamed and to the point....."RUSTY FRAME recall".

but I digress...............

 

There have been very few people who come out the other side of a milkshake with just a massive fluid flush.

You have several factors working against you. While 190k miles aren't the end of the world they also aren't the most stout conditions to survive this trauma.

You ran your truck hot enough that it effected performance. The likelihood of your transmission needing a rebuild is pretty high. The likelihood that you got the motor hot enough to blow the headgasket is also pretty high.

Sorry.

 

Found this at the bottom of the radiator. Heavy corrosion!

Day 1. Only able to remove plugs/wires, intake box, hose and throttle body. Radiator shroud and fan as well as AC, power steering, and alternator pulleys.

Day 2 goal is to get to the heads as well as remove the radiator.

 

Heads are off and are getting a decking and valve job. $450.

Draining the trans tomorrow and flushing it.

New radiator is in its way.

So far so good. No significant warp age of the heads or the cast iron block.