Burned smell transmission fluid??

[fightman80]

Hey guys,

While driving around Toronto this week, I've noticed a burned transmission oil smell coming from my truck. I checked my transmission fluid, and it seems dark, and smells strong as well.

Can this be just a sign that I need to replace my radiator or add a tranny cooler? Is this a precursor to the "pink milshake"?

I've checked my radiator fluid, but can't see it in the top cap, and none in the reservoir... I'm gonna head over to an autoparts store and get some rad fluid, and look into getting a drain and fill on the transmission, but thinking I should probably replace the rad while I'm in Toronto.....

What do you guys think?

 

[Limbwalker]

How long has it been since your last tranny fluid change? Just sounds like its time to change it... as for it being a precursor to the milkshake, I cant say. I can understand the concern, though. If the fluid getting burnt seems premature, Id say a tranny cooler is a good idea either way (and a new radiator if youre gonna keep it in series) but all tranny fluid smells like crap when it gets old or overly hot

 

[LittleCaesar]

It just may be old; a simple drain and fill (up to 4qts) would probably be just fine.

As far as the radiator is concerned, I'd changed mine (OEM) just out of plain fear due the possibility of the pink milkshake. I also found that it had a small crack at the top. In the arena of risk vs reward , it was easy for me to make a choice whether to spend $150 then or $1000+ down the road.

Good luck.

 

[fightman80]

Brought it to a shop here in Toronto.... recommended to me by another member here. Looks like a Tranny flush, fill, and a new radiator is most likely gonna happen tomorrow.

 

[fightman80]

Well, got the truck back.... $530.00 later.... and it's not fixed. :/

Had to stop driving it, and couldnt' get to a shop on time before they were closed... so spending the night in a small town, until I can get it on the lift, and have it checked out.

It's starting to look like it might just be a seized brake shoe.... from being oil soaked from that shotty axle seal repair that was done by the machine shop this past summer.. :/

Gotta jack it up, and check the brakes in the morning..... I'll keep you all posted.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Well, that just sucks, plain and simple.

When you have some extra $$$ (easy to say without having kids), get a new OEM rad cap.

 

[fightman80]

Would be a whole lot easier to afford, if I didn't get raped by mechanics.... always hated getting work done by mechanics... :/ but kinda hard to work on your own stuff when you're living out of a hotel, and don't have any tools with you... :/

 

[02SE]

Maybe buy a tool set to keep in the 4Runner, and then you can do the work yourself.

I once installed a new clutch in a Motorcycle, in a Motel room.

 

[fightman80]

Well, made it safe and sound.... alot has happened since my last post..

When I got to the shop the next morning... my suspicions were confirmed... I had a seized rear brake shoe, from my leaky rear axle seal. I had them free it up, and clean them off, so I could get it to my dad's.

Once there, I called the garage that did my rear axle seal last summer, and them re-do it. Turns out, that they, and the 2 other people who did that axle seals in the past few years, had not pressed the retaining collar to the proper depth, and wasn't sitting up against the seal. I had them install a new set of shoes while they had the axle out, and drove it home.

On my way home, the smell came back!! Thinking now that it's one of my shitty front calipers.... so gonna take a look at it in the morning.