Man am i pissed its freezing outside and Im 1 hour away from home and my truck starts slipping gears....I pull over immediatly and look under the truck and ATF is everywhere...
Pop the hood and the freakin coolent overflow is leaking ATF/trans fluid!!! I decided ASAP to turn off the engine and have it towed home ($130.00.)

Can anyone expand on this, any clue as to the total cost (ballpark) of what this will cost to fix myself?


What is the official cause of this brain damage?

what steps do I need to take to properly correct this issue, just a radiator or am I in for a ride?

thanks,
Mark

 

You need a new radiator. The transmission fluid goes through a cooler that is in the radiator. The trans cooler is leaking into the radiator forcing the "strawberry milkshake" out of the overflow tank.

Paul

 

Is the trans cooler shot as well..? Im also suspect that i messed up my trans with this nonsence...

 

After replacing the radiator you will need to flush the coolant & trans fluid. I would probably have the trans fluid replaced again after driving for a few hundred miles.

Paul

 

strawberry milkshake is not good, means your transmission cooler in the radiator busted.

You cannot rebuild the tranny, or at least I wouldnt recommend it, because there is no way you are going to get all of the water out of the trans. Time for a new tranny, radiator, and torque converter, and you need to flush the cooler lines.

Sorry for the bad news

 

The trans cooler is integrated into the radiator. When you order a new radiator you will be asked if it for a manual or automatic trans.

Paul

 

bro that is worse than bad news... Im not sure any water is in the trans as the dipstick showed no fluid what so ever? Im really Hopeing that the coolent didnt enter the trans...

 

if its slipping the damage is done!! Flushing isnt going to get all of the water out, just put a bandage on it. Flushing doesnt really get all of the fluid out, because there is almost 5 quarts in the tourque converter

 

The cause is the tranny cooler inside the transmission cracked or broke causing the coolant and tranny fluid to mix.

My estimate would be $2-5k depending on what you do

 

Probably, but a transmission is a lot more than a few power flushes. I would try it & see what happens.

 

Hey,
at the 1st signs of slipage I pulled over and decided quickly to have it towed after I seen the coolant and ATF mix... not sure if that will help, yet we shall see?
also, I thought that the tranny cooler was in the radiator?

 

that's pretty crazy. I would try flushing, if that doesn't work find a used trans at the scrap yard

 

My sisters AT was low on fluid and it slipped. Topped it off and the slipping stopped. Maybe you don't have damage yet...

 

The trans cooler is in the bottom of the radiator. The trans lines are under higher pressure than the radiator so water intrusion may be limited. Pull your trans dipstick & see what the fluid looks like. When power flushing the tech will connect the machine to the cooler lines & pump fluid through the tranny hopefully flushing any coolant as well.

Paul

 

I agree 100% as the 1st thing I checked was the trans dip stick and not a drop of fluid was to be found and Im betting that it has to do with the low fluid level...not sure I will tear into every thing tomarrow?

any clue as to what a new radiator costs?
any ideas of a good Aftermarket radiator brand as an option?

 

The thing is, those clutches are only made of paper, if you think about it, and what does water do to paper?? Plus all of the little pieces of corrosion in the coolant getting stuck in the valvebody, I mean a human hair can cause one of those to stick! ATF is some wierd alien fluid, with all kind of detergents, etc, and it doesnt mix with water at all!!!



The tranny cooler is in the radiator, it (the cooler) probably cracked/broke.

Low fluid is way different than milkshake.

I mean he can try flushing it, but honestly I dont think its going to fix it for long term use. I may be wrong, but in my experience with automatics, once the milkshake happens, its time for new tranny, tourque converter, and radiator. And please dont forget to do the torque converter, I know they are relatively expensive, but it needs to be done.


On a lighter note, ATF makes your skin soft, and it will clean a hell of a lot of grease off anything!

 

Google is a wonderful thing:


http://discountradiators.iarbiz.com/5jXidsSl0gQ=

http://www.radiator.com/price.php?ma...carmodel=&vid=

http://www.radiatorswarehouse.com/it...?category=1089

http://www.go-part.com/9602-toyota-4...r-p-24437.html

 

Well you may be a lucky one, but once you turn off the engine, the pressure goes down in the lines, allowing coolant in. Fill up the tranny and see what the fluid look like, if in doubt wipe the dipstick with your finger and tap it on your tung (Sp?) if it has a sweet taste there is coolant in it.

 

I'd skip the tongue test

I'd see if i could remove the trans cooler lines from the radiator & splice them together (you may need a short piece of hose to do this, DON'T drive this way) You may be able to drain the lines at this time, but this will keep any more coolant from entering the cooler lines.

Paul

 

lol tasting is a legitimate way to test ATF, im going to start a thread about it and see what everyone else thinks