Pink Milkshake - a success story.

[Patrick4R]

I just wanted to submit an update for anyone who has had the dreaded mixing of fluids from a bad radiator. My 96 SR5 (142K) 4x4's fluids got to know each other early in January and after reading several posts here...I was nervous it was a death sentence. I was able to get it home and about 1 week later I was able to get it into my garage. I replaced the radiator, thermostat, transmission filter/fluid, and flushed the block with several gallons of hot water. I also flushed the heater core as best I could. After the initial fill up, I drove it for about a day and decided that I would drain and fill the transmission pan again. It shifted better each time I drained/filled. I had no major indicators of damage in the original transmission filter. I drove it to work for about 4 week (13 miles each way) just to be sure I wouldn't end up stranded due to delayed transmission failure. My success story ends with a 700 mile trip to Cincinnati this week with not even a hic-up. In fact, I drove about 110 miles in 4WD until the road disappeared under Monday's snow storm. These things are phenomonal in the snow! I plan on one more drain fill for the transmission after the weather thaws here in Pittsburgh. Anyone else had good luck like this?

Patrick

 

[dtmullins]

When I bought my Runner in July it was shifting very rough. After a little investigation, I realized that the radiator had been replaced for this same reason. Las fall, I drained and refilled the transmission three times (shifting getting better each time) with a planned fourth change when the weather changes here. So far, so good.

 

[ryani]

Congrats! I hope it keeps working well for you.

 

[rdgt4r]

So you install an external cooler or still going with the stock set up?

 

[jharris2]

Congrats! I hope it keeps working well for you.

+1 :thumb3:

 

[96743runner]

Good to hear that your truck survived the strawberry milkshake! But yeah, hope everything keeps going smooth with your transmission.

 

[jsmithjr732]

When I bought my Runner in July it was shifting very rough. After a little investigation, I realized that the radiator had been replaced for this same reason. Las fall, I drained and refilled the transmission three times (shifting getting better each time) with a planned fourth change when the weather changes here. So far, so good.

How did you know that the radiator was replaced? Is there an OEM sticker on the original one?

 

[dtmullins]

Mine had a sticker on the radiator cap that mentioned something about the warranty of the radiator being void if the system wasn't flushed.