If you had to choose: pay $120 now or $4000 later...(pin this)

[Drcoffee]

*This should be pinned at the very top, if not required reading for all new members.

You can either replace your 3rd gen radiator today for $120 or replace your transmission tomorrow for $4,000. Don't roll the dice. Every week someone posts a new Strawberry Milkshake experience. This is completely avoidable.

If you can afford to fill the gas tank, you can afford to buy a new radiator.

 

[JohnsD90]

You can buy another 3rd gen for $4k. It's closer to $800 for a used tranny.

 

[brian4t]

For every 1 milkshake are are hundreds of others without the problem. I wouldn't call that 'rolling the dice' IMO. I've got a theory that milkshake problems stem from minor front end collisions but this is just a theory.

 

[Drcoffee]

$800 for the used tranny and how much for the install? What if the tranny is also bad. The point is obvious. Its cheap insurance for something that is likely to occur on a 14 year old truck. Unlike a car, the T4R has stiff suspension with a radiator that's directly mounted to the body (cars use rubber isolators to mount them). So the radiator gets all the vibrations and shocks that the truck gets for the previous 150,000 miles.

The cooler inside the radiator is aluminum and it seems to be the mounting points inside the radiator that fracture. Time and corrosion are the enemy. It's not something you can check in a maintenance kind of way. It's hidden and only when it fails is it appearent it was worn out.

What's interesting is I see all the expensive mods we put on these trucks but for some reason the radiator is too expensive. ie. like the questionably useful cold air intake. There are a whole host of DIY threads on how to do it.

Granted, some people come here after it happens for a solution but its too late by then.

 

[brian4t]

The point is obvious. Its cheap insurance

Agree!

for something that is likely to occur on a 14 year old truck.

This is quite possibly the dumbest blanket statement I've read on here. You have 0 (Zero) facts to back this up. Statements like this is why everyone should be careful what they read and take away from Internet Forums.

 

[Nelsonmd]

I don't get it, this issue has been discussed many times, and this issue is mentioned in multiple sticky's. You got into a big argument over it. Why bring it up again?

Brian, don't start an argument.

This just smells of trolling...

 

[brian4t]

I don't get it, this issue has been discussed many times, and this issue is mentioned in multiple sticky's. You got into a big argument over it. Why bring it up again?

Brian, don't start an argument.

This just smells of trolling...

Agree and agree.

 

[the great him]

I don't get it, this issue has been discussed many times, and this issue is mentioned in multiple sticky's. You got into a big argument over it. Why bring it up again?

Brian, don't start an argument.

This just smells of trolling...

while i agree with you nelsonmd that it has been brought up several times and yeah kinda why bring it up again and that he is kinda looking for another "fight"... i think its more of a matter of how many freaking times are we gonna tell people about this and how simple it is to avoid it ect and yet people dont listen... then when it happens to those people they want us to help them fix it and start asking all these question on how to fix it or what should i do ect... i know for me its a little frustrating and sometimes i feel like being a jerk about it and telling people to just sell their rig its totaled or tell them to take it to the dealer and let them rape you for $4k on a new trans.

i dont really think its trolling that the OP is doing here, more of just a venting thing. but yes i dont really think it needs to be brought up again, i know im not gonna feed anymore in this thread, i dont want to get into it again -im trying to change my ways lol

 

[Drcoffee]

This is quite possibly the dumbest blanket statement I've read on here. You have 0 (Zero) facts to back this up. Statements like this is why everyone should be careful what they read and take away from Internet Forums.

No good deed goes unpunished.

If this is the dumbest thing you've EVER read on the internet, you and your circle jerk of friends must have a combine IQ of 33.

ITS A WEAR ITEM DUMB A.S.S

Replace it when it gets old.

 

[lbhsbz]

I've got 2 '96 3rd gen autos, both have original radiators and over 220k...no issues. I wouldn't really call it common.

 

[Drcoffee]

I've got 2 '96 3rd gen autos, both have original radiators and over 220k...no issues. I wouldn't really call it common.

GOOD FOR YOU! I can sleep better at night knowing its just weeks or months before you come here and start carpping about your ruined transmission.

The Kid nailed it. Pure frustration of seeing the same post over and over again.

This was not intended to be a fight but some people just can't resist the opportunity to puke their thoughts into a thread.

:vader:

 

[BrianSD_42]

I find it amusing how so many have embraced the possibility of a pink milkshake failure at 150k+ miles being a real common occurrence BUT don't consider a cracked head at 200k miles to be a realistic possibility.

If you are even reasonably cautious you should get a different DD around 200k because the engine's days are numbered.

.

 

[brian4t]

no good deed goes unpunished.

If this is the dumbest thing you've ever read on the internet, you and your circle jerk of friends must have a combine iq of 33.

Its a wear item dumb a.s.s

replace it when it gets old.

lol!

 

[brian4t]

GOOD FOR YOU! I can sleep better at night knowing its just weeks or months before you come here and start carpping about your ruined transmission.

The Kid nailed it. Pure frustration of seeing the same post over and over again.

This was not intended to be a fight but some people just can't resist the opportunity to puke their thoughts into a thread.

:vader:

Double LOL!

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

or you can add a tranny cooler, i paid 55.

 

[Millerad1651]

Or you can buy a tranny cooler for $60 and not have to worry about it!

 

[Nelsonmd]

GOOD FOR YOU! I can sleep better at night knowing its just weeks or months before you come here and start carpping about your ruined transmission.

The Kid nailed it. Pure frustration of seeing the same post over and over again.

This was not intended to be a fight but some people just can't resist the opportunity to puke their thoughts into a thread.

:vader:

How long have you guys been here? How many people ask questions that are answered very clearly by the tutorial and documentation reference sticky, or the buyers guide? This is the status quo for the internet guys... People don't search before asking a question, and if they do search they don't necessarily know the right keywords to get to the right threads.

It's Here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ission-cooler-install-3rd-gen.html#post586723

and here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html#post706218

both are in sticky's. It's as obvious as it's going to get... not to mention the 10-20 thread about people actually getting the pink milkshake already here.

Point people to the useful threads, don't just spam this forum with new threads with the same recycled information (that doesn't even link to the sticky's!!!).

And seriously, when you already got into a big argument with people over your statement of "facts", you can't tell me that the way you phrased your original post isn't trolling.

You can either replace your 3rd gen radiator today for $120 or replace your transmission tomorrow for $4,000. Don't roll the dice.

This is hyperbole. Just quit it. We're all tired of it. If you want to be useful, then at least link to the sticky's that cover this.

 

[brian4t]

Its cheap insurance for something that is likely to occur on a 14 year old truck.

This was my favorite. I can't believe I'm the only one jumping on this statement. This is just not the kind of information we need on here. Scare tactics don't help anyone...

 

[Millerad1651]

We learned out lesson with him last time. There is no use in arguing with him, he won't hear any of it. So we just move along I guess...

And yes, that statement is rediculous.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

While DrCoffee and I tend to butt heads on here from time to time, I agree with him here. It is likely to occur at some point. The radiator is a major, albeit cheap, preventative maintenance item. Can people go without ever replacing it, probably. Is it a good idea, no.

The cooling system is pressurized and full of liquids. Over time it will corrode from the liquids and weaken from being pressurized. So, the logical progression is that it will eventually fail. If it were just the radiator to be effected when it fails, no biggie. But it's not, you run the risk of taking out your trans with it.

Milkshake or no milkshake, you should replace the radiator as part of your maintenance program anyway. I did a radiator and a tranny cooler just because for not a lot of money, it gave me the piece of mind that I'll NEVER get the milkshake.