My wife texted me these pictures of my T4R while I'm traveling for work... crap

[PitbullRescuer]

Toyota coolant is red. So if you're flushing and diluting it, it should look pink. A buddy of mine swears by pouring some Tide detergent in it, running it for a few minutes and then flushing again. I've never tried it.

How is the truck running? If its a bad head gasket, it'll be running like shit.

 

[playinitslo]

Sorry to see this happen and I'd agree you should, for now, stop any attempts at flushing the radiator. If you do decide to order the radiator, make sure to get the thermostat and probably the hoses as well, as they are contaminated too(I'm not sure about heater core/hoses).

But ahh man, last night I kept looking at that drop of trans fluid in the background on the floor and thinking it just did not look right. It looked burnt, but also too thick to be just trans fluid and the color was off maybe just a bit. Tough to say exactly how long it was happening though, maybe try to dig up some service records and see if any maint was done around there... and of course still contact eBayy. Good luck with everything! :cheers: :cheer2:

 

[JBurt]

The pink milkshake is caused from the seals between the transmission cooler and the radiator going bad and letting the fluid mix. The oil cooler is in the bottom of the transmission.

You could pull the dipstick and see if it is frothy, and draining the transmission from the pan would be another place to check also. A drain and flush isn't a bad idea on a new used car anyways. You just need to measure how much drains out and then add that much into the dipstick tube.

Worst case scenario would be a new trans. Some people have had luck with flushing the transmission right after the problem started, but others have not.

I guess if there is a silver lining it would mean your engine is probably good. A leak down test would still help and not be a bad idea regardless. Best of luck with everything.

Either problem is well documented and doable. Once you get it taken care of you'll love the 4runner. I wouldn't trade mine for almost anything!

Did you find if there is any recourse through ebay motors?

 

[afg10000]

Good god, this thread has been like a horror movie. Your situation sucks. Just take it to a tranny shop at this point -

 

[twalk]

Good god, this thread has been like a horror movie. Your situation sucks. Just take it to a tranny shop at this point -

LOL

I hope this motivates you all to be thorough and diligent with your 4runners

I'll be fine. I think I'm committed to making this truck work. I think I'll make it my mission to make it great again and get 300k miles on it, then hand it down for generations from children to grandchildren...

 

[hearno]

I think I'll make it my mission to make it great again and get 300k miles on it, then hand it down for generations from children to grandchildren...

 

[twalk]

That's the direction this thread is headed in. Except, that would be too easy. The insurance company would pay me for the book value of the truck.

Something mechanically catastrophic would be more likely.

 

[hearno]

^ I hope not. I hope you get it straight.

 

[twalk]

Here's my short-term plan. Let me know if anybody advises otherwise.

- Order new KOYO radiator
- Install new radiator
- Get truck towed to shop
- have shop check transmission (almost certain to have coolant contamination)
- have shop flush/fill transmission system
- have shop flush/fill cooling system
- Pray
- resume driving truck while shopping around for new transmission

 

[PitbullRescuer]

If advise you drain, flush the trans immediately.

But I'm not convinced you have the milkshake either. Have you pulled the trans dip stick? I know you drove it, how was the trans shifting?

 

[afg10000]

Here's my short-term plan. Let me know if anybody advises otherwise.

- Order new KOYO radiator
- Install new radiator
- Get truck towed to shop
- have shop check transmission (almost certain to have coolant contamination)
- have shop flush/fill transmission system
- have shop flush/fill cooling system
- Pray
- resume driving truck while shopping around for new transmission

I wouldn't bother at this point. I went to Certified Transmission here in Omaha and they provide free towing to their shop. Maybe there's something like that where you're at. Just let them deal with it. Depends on how much $ you're willing to part with for the 4runner.

 

[twalk]

I wouldn't bother at this point. I went to Certified Transmission here in Omaha and they provide free towing to their shop. Maybe there's something like that where you're at. Just let them deal with it. Depends on how much $ you're willing to part with for the 4runner.

Is the general consensus that the transmission is toast? I've never had a single slip or hard shift. I only know it's a transmission issue because of all of the "pink milkshake" posts online (and that draining the cooling system also lowered the ATF level). Is it possible that a few full flushes/purges and a fill of the trans would yield me a good bit of life on the current transmission. I'd just drive it until it failed then.

 

[twalk]

If advise you drain, flush the trans immediately.

But I'm not convinced you have the milkshake either. Have you pulled the trans dip stick? I know you drove it, how was the trans shifting?

After flushing the radiator, then running the engine for a few minutes, the transmission fluid was very low, and pinkish (for the first time ever).

I've never had any shifting issues in the truck. Always smooth. So, while it looks like the radiator is definitely shot (pink milkshake) it must be a very new development, because up until yesterday, the ATF never looked like it had been contaminated.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

STOP running the truck, stop it right now! You most definitely have the pink milkshake. A new KOYO rad and trans flush and re-fill are in your future.

Chances are you've damaged the trans. I would flush the transmission a few times and cross my fingers that it hasn't done too much damage.

I would also HIGHLY recommend installing an aux trans cooler. I live somewhat close to you and could help you out if need be.

PM me if you want a hand.

-Brian

 

[twalk]

Thanks, Brian.

As soon as I saw the ATF level was low after the radiator flush, I haven't touched the truck.

I was initially chasing what I thought was a head gasket or cylinder head leak. Now that I'm 90% sure it is the radiator, the truck will sit until it has a new radiator and new AT fluid. I have towing on my insurance, so I think I'll let a local shop flush the trans with a vacuum/pump to ensure that all possible water and contaminates are gone before trying to drive it again.

I appreciate the offer, but I won't bother you unless I've exhausted all other options

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Thanks, Brian.

As soon as I saw the ATF level was low after the radiator flush, I haven't touched the truck.

I was initially chasing what I thought was a head gasket or cylinder head leak. Now that I'm 90% sure it is the radiator, the truck will sit until it has a new radiator and new AT fluid. I have towing on my insurance, so I think I'll let a local shop flush the trans with a vacuum/pump to ensure that all possible water and contaminates are gone before trying to drive it again.

I appreciate the offer, but I won't bother you unless I've exhausted all other options

That is a very good plan. Get to the shop asap so the contaminants aren't just sitting in the trans potentially corroding the transmission internals.

I'd really look into the aux trans cooler as well. I installed one on my 4Runner along with a KOYO rad to prevent what has happened to you.

But it sounds like you have all your ducks in a row. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. (I am a former Toyota tech).

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I think everyone here is scaring you for no reason. That doesn't look like a pink milkshake. It looks like old Toyota Red Coolant that was diluted while you were trying to flush the system. The trans dip stick looked okay too. Did you pull the oil dip stick by chance? That's a good way to confirm it's not a head gasket. The truck ran fine (it wouldn't with a bad head or bad head gasket) and it shifted fine (it wouldn't if it had the pink milkshake.)

If you do decide to throw in the towel, please put me in line to buy it off you.

 

[packweco]

I think everyone here is scaring you for no reason. That doesn't look like a pink milkshake. It looks like old Toyota Red Coolant that was diluted while you were trying to flush the system. The trans dip stick looked okay too. Did you pull the oil dip stick by chance? That's a good way to confirm it's not a head gasket. The truck ran fine (it wouldn't with a bad head or bad head gasket) and it shifted fine (it wouldn't if it had the pink milkshake.)

If you do decide to throw in the towel, please put me in line to buy it off you.

^What he said. Everyone in this thread has been surprisingly pessimistic so far!

Your tranny fluid looked fine in that picture you posted. Before you get it towed, draining the transmission fluid would at least tell you if you have water in the tranny. That way you aren't taking it to the transmission shop for no reason...

Earlier in this thread you did an oil change (right at the beginning, actually) and I'm assuming the oil wasn't milky?

A quick check of the transmission fluid and the engine oil at this point in time should be a clear indication of whether or not you have a head gasket problem or the pink milkshake.

As far as the color of the coolant, that's what the toyota red coolant looks like after it's been used for a while. Starts with a deep red color, and if you add cooling system rust from 250k miles, it could look like that. It seems like the picture you have of the radiator fill may be a little misleading based on the color of the stuff around it. Drain some of it into a clear bottle and have a good look at it.

I was amazed how quickly the diagnosis went from oil filter to blown transmission! Don't forget to take a step back and take your time troubleshooting it.

 

[twalk]

^What he said. Everyone in this thread has been surprisingly pessimistic so far!

Your tranny fluid looked fine in that picture you posted. Before you get it towed, draining the transmission fluid would at least tell you if you have water in the tranny. That way you aren't taking it to the transmission shop for no reason...

Earlier in this thread you did an oil change (right at the beginning, actually) and I'm assuming the oil wasn't milky?

A quick check of the transmission fluid and the engine oil at this point in time should be a clear indication of whether or not you have a head gasket problem or the pink milkshake.

As far as the color of the coolant, that's what the toyota red coolant looks like after it's been used for a while. Starts with a deep red color, and if you add cooling system rust from 250k miles, it could look like that. It seems like the picture you have of the radiator fill may be a little misleading based on the color of the stuff around it. Drain some of it into a clear bottle and have a good look at it.

I was amazed how quickly the diagnosis went from oil filter to blown transmission! Don't forget to take a step back and take your time troubleshooting it.

Thanks for the alternate viewpoint
I am fairly certain that I need a new radiator at this point, and that it's not a head/gasket issue.

While the transmission fluid looked fine the other day, after draining the radiator, the transmission fluid level also dropped significantly, indicating that the transmission cooling line has been compromised and it now mixing with the coolant.

The fact that my radiator was overflowing means that something foreign was getting into the cooling system. My initial guess was a head gasket from past experience, but now it seeks very likely that it was the transmission fluid making it's way into the radiator.

The engine oil (as of yesterday) was still golden and viscous. No froth. The transmission dip stick showed a very slight pink milky sheen, which is the first time I've seen that on the transmission dip stick.

I think I am just fortunate that I caught it before the transmission was affected. Ok ordering my new KOYO this week, and will replace the old one when I'm back home next week.

Draining the transmission st that point should give me the definitive answer on how much (if any) water or coolant made it into the transmission system.

 

[JBurt]

Just remember that draining the transmission doesn't get all the transmission fluid out. As far as I remember the transmission holds somewhere around 10 quarts (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and when you drain you only get rid of somewhere between 2 and 5 quarts (it's a good idea to drain it into something you can measure). Most of the fluid stays in the torque converter and doesn't "drain" out.

What most guys have done while trying to save their transmission after this type of failure is doing several drain and fills. The problem is that it is modeled with a limiting function and you'll never get all the old fluid out since you're only replacing it 20% at a time. For example

Drain 1: 80% old fluid
Drain 2: 64% old fluid
Drain 3: 51% old fluid
Drain 4: 40% old fluid
Drain 5: 32% old fluid
Drain 6: 26% old fluid

and so forth. Some people have had good luck with that method. I hope it works out whatever way you choose.