Pink Milkshake: Highest Mileage with Original Rad

[keithyota]

pink milkshake at 170k

99 4runner. I rarely changed the radiator fluid and finally got a pink milkshake (tranny fluid overflowing from the radiator) at 170k.

Regarding this thread, if I knew about this earlier, I would have changed it. If I don't put a cooler on, I'll re-do this after 100k.

what tranny cooler do you recommend?

does anyone clean the tranny filter? when the shop fixedup my 4runner, they did a flush, but did not drop the pan and clean the filter.

 

[combatmedic]

Keith, I did a ton of research on this before I bought my t4r then I put an external trans cooler on it immediately after purchasing. You need to run tons of trans fluid through the transmission to get all of the coolant out of there, and also run a ton of water through the radiator to get the trans fluid out lol. I picked up a 4seasons auto trans cooler and its been working fine. A ***** to install but other than that no issues.

 

[sn0wrunner]

I'm at 262K on the original radiator.

I just purchased a Koyo through amazon. I'll be putting it in shortly. $118 shipped from amazon is well worth the extra insurance.

 

[ouki]

You guys recommended Koyo radiators. Are the radiators installed at the dealer Koyo radiators? If not, why it is better than the dealer installed one?

 

[Nashvegas34]

You guys recommended Koyo radiators. Are the radiators installed at the dealer Koyo radiators? If not, why it is better than the dealer installed one?

I think people have just found them to be a high-quality replica of the OEM radiator, for about half the cost. It's not that they're better, just equally good for less money. While I can't see inside of it, the Koyo I just bought appears to be very well made.

 

[ouki]

I think people have just found them to be a high-quality replica of the OEM radiator, for about half the cost. It's not that they're better, just equally good for less money. While I can't see inside of it, the Koyo I just bought appears to be very well made.

Thanks, bro. And I know you had your Koyo sitting on your floor for 2 weeks now. Btw I didn't let my Hella fog light sit that long after reading your posts. Now they are installed and working fine.

 

[XJeepguy]

does anyone clean the tranny filter? when the shop fixedup my 4runner, they did a flush, but did not drop the pan and clean the filter.

K , I wouldnt be visiting that tranny shop again .

 

[jim4runnerny]

I think if you live in the rust belt or an area where they salt the roads a lot, you're at a lot higher risk. I don't think those of us in the West and Southwest have to worry about it as much. Flushing and maintaining the radiator is definitely good and will help, but the integrity of the metal tube that separates the 2 fluids really depends mostly on the environment I think.

I may win the prize for the lowest mileage occurance of the pink milkshake.. if I remember correctly, it happened to my 2001 4Runner at around 70,000 miles..

I was driving to work, and it occured to me that the tansmission was shifting rough... then, I was confused because the heater was blowing cold.. next, I looked over at the engine temperature gauge and it was climbing rapidly (all of this was within a minute or two).. Pulled over immediately, turned off the truck, looked underneath, and the pink milkshake was pouring out all over the ground near the rear of the engine and tranny.

At the time, I had no idea that the transmission cooler and radiator were shared, so I was completely puzzed at to what had happened. Towed it to the dealer (The best part was that the day before I had fully detailed my 4Runner, so it looked damn good on the back of the tow truck), and they installed the new radatior, all new rubber hoses/filters, and flushed the engine and transmission numerous times.. ran perfect for another 55,000 miles when I traded it in for my 2010.

I live in the Northeast, so road salt may have been a contributing factor to the timing of my failure... I am very good about routine maintainance.. Looking back I am so happy I was driving when it happend though.. I bet my wife would have driven many more miles before she realized something was up, and I am sure I would have been shopping for a engine/tranny or a new car.

 

[HCurphy]

275k on my original rad. no tranny cooler. '96 automatic. live in the south.

My favorite game is rushian roulette.

 

[3rd gen king]

:redbrick:

from my reading anywhere between 100-120 miles + is pink milkshake territory.

A simple tranny cooler or a new OEM rad and you are set for another 100k miles.

A tranny cooler is a preventative of the pink milk shake BUT when you get the milk shake your **** is fudged up... You will get a leak somewhere with our with out the cooler, keeping it with out a cooler just allows you to know when it's leaking and where at.

 

[gtojimbo]

never replaced since new 230K on a '99 no problems

i have 198k on my 99 since new with no problems.

 

[Nunyabiz]

I just replaced my Water Pump, Timing Belt, all other belts, thermostat, PCV valve, spark plugs and wires and oil change, plus changed radiator coolant yesterday.
Radiator was out and on the ground, so I grabbed my flash light and looked inside on every hole and it looked like brand new still with 161,350 miles on it.

Saw nothing that made me worry at all.

I have a external trans cooler just in case but don't see having to replace this radiator for quite some time.

 

[HI_LIFE808]

I have roughly 170k in the original radiator and have been thinking about replacing it and putting the trans cooler on it. Even though it may still be good, I want piece of mind.

 

[Drcoffee]

I just swapped in a new radiator at 159,000. Being its new owner and having no idea of its history, I figured it was cheaper than a transmission.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I made it to 190k+ miles on the original radiator. No pink milkshake. I replaced it as preventive maintenance.

 

[RC57]

I replaced my rad at 170k miles, with no pink milkshake. I dissected the old rad and posted pics-

Toyota 4Runner Forum - RC57's Album: Radiator Dissection

There was significant corrosion in one of the fittings. Difficult to say how close it was to failure without comparing to others, with and without pink milkshake.

-RC

 

[josh.bunch]

274K and counting.

 

[shadow247]

341k and counting on the original radiator on my 99 Runner. I think if you keep the fluid fresh you are less likely to have an issue.

 

[chisel]

A few months ago I got nervous and changed the original radiator at 237k miles on my '98. No milkshake.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Only guarantee against the milkshake is to run an external cooler. If they're still running through the radiator, it can still happen.