[Amirocassar]

Hey guys, I've been a bit concerned about the strawberry milkshake since the day I got my 4runner. As a college student, unemployed at the moment and just moved, I'm wanting my 4runner to be in tip top shape and just take care of it. The previous owners were pretty questionable, had a couple problems.

i.e: Oil filter was loose(way loose), engine was extremely dirty and not taken care of well, had an extremely rough idle(seafoam fixed that!), o2 sensors had to be changed, spark plugs were ORIGINAL(it's 2014...), leaking oil in the rear brake drum.

I've fixed all of these issues myself to lower cost plus I just enjoy taking care of my car, I take pride in the things I own. Oh and the roof had some severe sun damage, sanded it a bit and just painted it over the weekend. Couple dings here and there, one in the back bumper(which is either steel or aluminum and is probably damn near impossible to knock out), etc.

Question is, what is the main cause for this strawberry milkshake? I've read and read but some people don't seem to know what their talking about, while others say another. I mostly understand it, however; I've just been curious if it's mainly offroading and/or pulling heavy things that increase this thing to happen. This is pretty much a school-to work-to home and repeat truck. Just want to take care of it and have it last me for quite a while

Thanks!!

Oh and what's the rough cost to put one in yourself? 100 bucks? 200?

[Jaynhunt]

It's when the coolant and tranny fluid merge due to the radiator failing. You can avoid this potentially expensive issue with a b&m supercooler. I used 70268 I think is the part number. Cost me under 100 to do myself and is well worth not having to worry. Let me know if you have any questions. There are a ton of threads on it an how to install.

[jgue467]

Agreed, a little more background. I found my 15k lb cooler on ebay for about $35. It can happen under any driving (maybe not even driving) conditions. Not sure what percentage can develop this but the outcome can be a disaster (needing to rebuild tranny). If not already changed out, I would drain/fill (or better yet flush/fill) the tranny with fresh fluid. It'll like you more.

Do check out your radiator for any signs of weakness. Also my upper rad hose rubbed underneath where it touches the fan shroud, replaced it and cut hose slightly shorted to avoid that rub again.

any body ever crack-opened up OEM rad, if not, here we go! - YotaTech Forums Luck!

[KidVermicious]

Originally Posted by Amirocassar

Question is, what is the main cause for this strawberry milkshake? I've read and read but some people don't seem to know what their talking about, while others say another. I mostly understand it, however; I've just been curious if it's mainly offroading and/or pulling heavy things that increase this thing to happen.

There is no "main" cause, there is just one cause, and it's got nothing to do with how you use your truck.

The stock transmission fluid cooler is internal to the radiator. Sometimes it will corrode from the inside, and your engine coolant and radiator fluid mix. The resulting foamy mess is the strawberry milkshake. You can prevent it by replacing your radiator as preventative maintenance, or by removing the stock transmission fluid lines from the radiator and routing them to a standalone cooler. There's lots of very good threads on how to do that.

[RichmanA2]

You need this, badly.
3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide

Knowledge has been dropped.

[coues7]

This is something I've worried about too. When I flushed my radiator, the overlfow bottle had a little bit of white sludge at the bottom.....not sure what that was, but since then I've had that worry in the back of my mind.

[jgue467]

deposits from the tap water mixed w/coolant? How did/does the inside of the radiator look? clean, crusty? when you install ur cooler you an also flush/refill tranny then comes the diffs and greasing the driveline. Now enjoy!

[Westminister]

I have the strawberry milkshake! Currently draining my tranny and coolant. I'm not a mechanic but a noobie! One of my problems is that I can only work outside and it is CT in January. It snowed last night.

[Westminister]

Does any one have an easy way of removing strawberry milkshake from the coolant reservoir?
THX JH

[thegipper]

You can easily remove the coolant reservoir and clean it out. I believe there is just one bolt on top then the whole tank just slides up and out.

[96RedRunner]

Take notice of pin on the bottom of tank that goes in rubber grommet on inner fender when putting tank back in.

[BucksCo]

19:45 time stamp on Tim's video

YouTube

[Jason B]

Periodically open the radiator cap and look inside to see if everything is clean