How to tell if "pink Milkshake" is happening when both fluids are red?

Tatonka · Apr 1, 2018

I know that there a bunch of threads about strawberry milkshake but Ive searched this specific question and have not found a clear answer so...

Opened the radiator cap on my new-to-me 1999 and found red fluid. Have read about the dreaded "pink milkshake" and so panicked a little at first...but it is not frothy nor is the tranny fluid. Did a quick search and found out that the recommended toyota coolant is red.

So I think I am okay but ...how to know for sure when both the AT fluid and toyota coolant are red? Nothing will turn pink (I think) if they mix. I imagine it is much easier to diagnose if you run a different color antifreeze but my truck was Toyota mechanic maintained so recommended (red) coolant was used.

Am I safe as long as things are solid red and not frothy?

This is not something I want to worry about so I have already ordered a B&M tranny cooler and will separate the two ASAP, but in the meantime I want to make 1000% sure that it is okay to drive my 4runner.

fourwd1 · Apr 1, 2018

Yes, your description sounds ok.

Tatonka · Apr 1, 2018

fourwd1 said:
Yes, your description sounds ok.

Yeah hoping so. WTH would Toyota run both fluids in red? Do you guys run a different colored coolant just to be able to watch this? What a thing to have to worry about - My B&M tranny cooler arrives Tuesday and Ill have it in ASAP.

So once I have things separated and assuming that I will eventually need to replace this radiator what makes more sense?

1. Take advantage of the added available space (by virtue of not having the AT cooler integrated into the radiator) and upgrade to a larger capacity radiator, or

2. keep the same radiator so that there is a backup cooling source to switch over to should the B&M unit be damaged?

WVhillbilly · Apr 1, 2018

You should be able to smell trans fluid if it's in the coolant.

csp · Apr 1, 2018

Clarity. You can't see through a milkshake.

19963.4lsr5 · Apr 1, 2018

The pink milkshake will show up in the trans first usually because the cooling system is at a higher pressure then the return line to the trans pan.

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alumarine · Apr 1, 2018

It will look like a red or pink milkshake.
It will not look like red antifreeze or trans fluid.

Tatonka · Apr 1, 2018

Thanks for the feedback guys. Feeling safe...for now. Still going to get that B&M unit in ASAP.

thegipper · Apr 2, 2018

For reference, here are some samples of my tranny fluid when I got my truck after I did multiple drain/fills.

Now this was after my brother flushed the transmission with gallons upon gallons of fluid after he left got a pink milk shake.

The problem is the coolant that gets in the transmission is very hard to remove. Unfortunately instead of doing the manual flush, I was just doing drain and fills. It took about 7 drain and fills until the fluid came out normal.
Again, this was after my brother flushed the hell out of the tranny when he got the pink milk shake.

The key is the lack of clarity in the fluid. It's called a pink milk shake because that's exactly what it looks like.

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WVhillbilly · Apr 2, 2018

Now I want a strawberry milkshake.
Bastards.

phattyduck · Apr 2, 2018

Tatonka said:
Thanks for the feedback guys. Feeling safe...for now. Still going to get that B&M unit in ASAP.

So much fear on this issue on the forums.... If your cooling system has been taken care of, you shouldn't have pink milkshake issues. My radiator was free of issues internally at 270k miles when I changed the radiator (I opened the old one up to check for corrosion on the trans cooler fittings).

As others have said, you will KNOW it if it happens.

When oil (transmission fluid) and water (errr, water and ethylene glycol) mix, it turns opaque - even if the two original fluids were translucent and looked fairly similar before mixing.

-Charlie

3bears · Apr 2, 2018

both are red, both are nearly clear.
however....one is an oil base one is a antifreeze water base
oil and water don't play nice
when oil and water mix you get sludge
you get a milk shake
if you have two liquids in this case as yours, and they are both clearly red, and not thick pink with the radiator or trans dipstick you should be golden

exception.....if you live in the outbacks like me, and you don't drive a car to optimal temps often...then you could see a white milkshake on the oil dipstick and oil fill cap...that is condensation and not related to the transmission/radiator cross contamination or pink milkshake
I see it occasionally on my big ass power stoke diesel ford work truck

How to tell if "pink Milkshake" is happening when both fluids are red?

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