Can you "spot" a pink milkshake tranny on the dipstick?

S

Spicy McHaggis

New member
Going to check out a '99 4Runner LTD with 190k on the odometer tonight. So far it looks good. Frame and body are rust free and solid (that's worth like a million bucks here in Michigan!). Decent maintenance records. Owner just replaced the ignition coils. New Tires. Interior clean. Etc...

I've got no reason to believe there's an issue with the tranny, but after owning a 2002 Isuzu Trooper with THE worlds crappiest transmission (and yes, mine failed!), I'm super cautious about dropping $3-4k and then having to rebuild a tranny.

So - can I tell if there's a pink milkshake going on inside the tranny just by looking at the dipstick? Are there other methods (obviously DRIVING will tell me a lot), other than draining?

Thanks!
Andy
 
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Obviously any signs of water in the fluid, such as hints of light pink or foamy fluid, are bad.

I'd be slightly concerned if it had a new radiator and records of multiple back-to-back transmission fluid changes...although that could also be routine maintenance. As with any used vehicle, your intuition and a little honesty from the current owner are what counts.
 
Spicy McHaggis said:
Going to check out a '99 4Runner LTD with 190k on the odometer tonight. So far it looks good. Frame and body are rust free and solid (that's worth like a million bucks here in Michigan!). Decent maintenance records. Owner just replaced the ignition coils. New Tires. Interior clean. Etc...

I've got no reason to believe there's an issue with the tranny, but after owning a 2002 Isuzu Trooper with THE worlds crappiest transmission (and yes, mine failed!), I'm super cautious about dropping $3-4k and then having to rebuild a tranny.

So - can I tell if there's a pink milkshake going on inside the tranny just by looking at the dipstick? Are there other methods (obviously DRIVING will tell me a lot), other than draining?

Thanks!
Andy
Click to expand...
YES, pink milkshake shows on a dipstick, easy to spot.
 
Toyotayoda said:
YES, pink milkshake shows on a dipstick, easy to spot.
Click to expand...

Unless it's been flushed once, twice or thrice in an attempt to conceal it.

Ask others on here, a pink milkshake that hasn't gone on long can be salvaged, usually only for a while though, rarely does one survive the 'long haul' after being 'pinked' yet some have.

Luck and enjoy! :cowboy:
 
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