Do you still have the original radiator on your 4runner

[Boognish_Forever]

Is the strawberry milkshake transmission killer that common of an issue? And if having the red coolant in it from day one help prevent it? My 99 4runner has 82,000 miles and before I bought it, it had 63,000. Unfortunately I’ve came to the conclusion low miles doesn’t mean much for trouble free issues, besides common maintenance like doing the timing belt and water pump . Now that everything is running smoothly for now, I keep thinking I should put an external transmission cooler so I don’t need to worry about this issue and just curious on your thoughts if you done anything about it or not before you had radiator or tranny problems.

 

[dreyday]

130k miles on original without issue but may be replacing it soon to make sure I don't have any milkshake problems in the future.

 

[Mr. Goodkat]

I bought my 2000 a month and a half ago with 203,xxx miles on it and it appears to be the original radiator. I have a B&M tranny cooler that will be going be going in VERY soon and next spring or summer I plan on replacing the accessory belts, radiator, hoses, grill, grill emblem, etc. I just want the trans cooler to get me safely through the winter without the pink milkshake of death.

 

[skepticninja85]

Replaced the original at 246k with a new oem denso unit from camelback toyota about a month ago
Its good peace of mind as the original black plastic top portion was brown and showing signs of age/cracking but no leaks

 

[Nate_GB]

I too replaced my original, Japanese built denso radiator around 200k miles and had no issues. The old Japanese built unit inspired more confidence than the brand new Taiwan built denso radiator FWIW.

 

[nchacon1984]

Still have my original @276K. Havent decided when to replace it. Maybe in the new year with a champion one.

 

[TheDurk]

200k on original, but I run a 5-speed so I'll run it until it dies.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I'd still say replace it.
It's cheap enough insurance, and only takes a few hours.

I didn't have a milkshake, but my top blew at 150k. I already had (and still have) a tranny cooler bypass, but still.

I'm not sure of the year of yours, but your 4runner is at least 16 years old. That's 16 years of heat cycling old plastic, which makes it brittle.

Even with only Toyota red, that still take its toll.

If you elect to not replace it, I'd recommend getting an OBDII Bluetooth scanner and phone app and monitoring your temps.
That's what saved me when mine blew. I was usually in the 180s, and noticed I was at 194 and counting. I got to a Walmart parking lot and was at 205 when I popped the hood and saw the crack. I let it cool down, went in and bought some JB weld and some Valvoline Red Xerex coolant and topped it back off.
Temps in the 180s all the was back home, where I promptly bought a new radiator online.

$16 in OBDII monitors turned a potentially catastrophic situation into a minor nuisance.

 

[Toyotayoda]

Had 282k on my original, and it cracked on the top tank. It's commonly known, when it turns brown it's going down.

 

[WeakSauz]

OEM Denso unit went 218k miles on mine (auto trans).

Just replaced it, the hoses, and thermostat along with Toyota red coolant.

It's never had the milkshake problem, all preventative. The radiator was brown, almost a sand color.

 

[sleepydad]

Is the strawberry milkshake transmission killer that common of an issue? And if having the red coolant in it from day one help prevent it? My 99 4runner has 82,000 miles and before I bought it, it had 63,000. Unfortunately I’ve came to the conclusion low miles doesn’t mean much for trouble free issues, besides common maintenance like doing the timing belt and water pump . Now that everything is running smoothly for now, I keep thinking I should put an external transmission cooler so I don’t need to worry about this issue and just curious on your thoughts if you done anything about it or not before you had radiator or tranny problems.

I watch craigslist like a hawk, in the past year I have counted 15 pink milkshake trucks in the Minneapolis area. IMO it's an issue of both age and people thinking they just don't ever need to change coolant. heating up and cooling down thousands of times just takes it's tole on things.

once your radiator gets 15 years old replace it. no questions asked just do it. it's a $150 job with new coolant and you should be good for another 15 years.

not doing it can destroy your transmission and cause major engine damage.

but then again I need parts so...

 

[Jungoes]

still on the original , but i bypassed the transmission cooler inside and added a separate transmission cooler. If the original starts seeping I will change it as milkshake is not possible with my setup.

 

[habanero]

Top of oe radiator cracked at 245,030 miles and almost 17 years old.

Manual trans, no worries, would not have waited for failure if auto trans.

 

[sportscarfan]

...As far as I know it's original. My '97 was only 13 years old when I got it.
5-speed FTW

 

[ToyotaBrah]

Proactively replaced my factory original radiator at 215K with a Denso Taiwan unit. Not happy at all with the difference in build quality from the original radiator it had. Currently at 251K and I plan to replace this radiator at 260K with an original radiator straight from Toyota. (assuming they can still be sourced).

 

[JMat]

I replaced the original at 270k with a new Denso, not because of an issue but simply to avoid the pink milkshake.

 

[Hockeyjock]

210k on my original but mine is a 5 speed so I can afford to let it go until it dies. If I had an auto I would have already replaced it.

 

[kgnagey]

Changed at 160K with genuine Toyota radiator off Amazon. It was showing signs of a small leak at the the top, but also preventative for the milkshake issue. I always used Toyota red at regular service intervals, so I'm not sure what caused the leak, but the inside looked good from what I could see.

 

[AntleredRuin]

People keep mentioning that they'll change it when it starts leaking.
Not trying to step on toes, but that's just stupid.
2 reasons:

1: Unless you check under the hood EVERY time you drive, a small leak can build up fast without you noticing it.
2: There's no guarantee that it won't just split and dump all your coolant in short order (like mine tried to do, mentioned in my earlier post).

It's cheap, and it'll keep you from potentially buying a new engine/tranny or even new vehicle. Replace it at 150k.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

Thank you everyone for replying and I think this will motivate me to change out the radiator with a new OEM. I just wish I did this a month earlier now that the NW rainy winter is here and don’t have a garage to change it.