Pink Milkshake question?? Trans flush?

[rmoore]

Well, I am the victim of the failed Trans cooler in the radiator. I caught it right away but I am attempting to flush out the Transmission fluid with new fluid. I have dropped and drained the pan. Replaced the radiator. I am using the trick of removing the send line of the transmission to the radiator and carefully letting the transmission pump out 1 quart at a time and replacing it with new fluid. I have gone through 40 quarts of new fluid passed through the transmission and it's cleaner but still comimg out a little milky when comparing to the new fluid. My question is: does this sound like par for the course. I would have thought that many quarts would have completly flushed it but maybe it still mixes in with some of the remaining fluid thats milky. Just looking for someones that has done this before and if this sounds normal and i just need to keep flushing though until clear.

Thanks
Ray

 

[Drcoffee]

Unless you can drain the torque convertor, there's really no way to completely flush the transmission. The TC holds something like 4 qts of fluid. It might be a good time to get it rebuilt.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Somewhere there is a procedure for flushing where you remove both the inlet and outlet of the radiator, stick the inlet into an empty bucket, and the outlet into a bucket full of ATF, and just let it run and flush itself (this flushes a couple gallons all at once, not giving the mix time to settle inside). Not sure how complete that is, and I think you will want to shift while doing that (like P-R-D-N, not 1st to 2nd, to 3rd, etc, that would be dangerous).

After 40 qts, I think it should be clean (if it is flushing properly). This may be one of the few times I'd say take it to the dealership and get it power flushed. If you are doing this slowly, then you may be giving the water time to settle out and stay in there.

Rebuilding is best, as the results of flushing after a milkshake are not great, but that is a much higher cost than just flushing a couple times. You may be ok if you really did catch it right away. I think 1 or 2 guys have gotten away with that.

Keep searching here and reading up on people's experiences. That will help you feel confident about whatever decision you make.

 

[the great him]

stop wasting your time and just go buy a new trans(rebuilt or used) to my knowledge no one has ever successfully saved a trans after this happening, they go out after a few hundred miles, maybe thousand if your lucky. and thats with guys who go to shops and have the system flushed my machines that pump the fluid in under pressure and with out the pressure, its been tired every which way and nothing has worked so far...

 

[Nelsonmd]

stop wasting your time and just go buy a new trans(rebuilt or used) to my knowledge no one has ever successfully saved a trans after this happening, they go out after a few hundred miles, maybe thousand if your lucky. and thats with guys who go to shops and have the system flushed my machines that pump the fluid in under pressure and with out the pressure, its been tired every which way and nothing has worked so far...

I didn't want to be quite so doom and gloom, but you are pretty right. IIRC, there was one guy that got something like 10k out of it after a milkshake, then it failed. It is a very tough latent problem.

Depending on the prices you can find for a salvage tranny, that is a good option. To be honest, that is probably what I would do, not even bother with the flush, just go for a salvage tranny. Just be sure you get SOME warranty on the salvage tranny, even if it's just 30 days.

 

[the great him]

I didn't want to be quite so doom and gloom, but you are pretty right. IIRC, there was one guy that got something like 10k out of it after a milkshake, then it failed. It is a very tough latent problem.

Depending on the prices you can find for a salvage tranny, that is a good option. To be honest, that is probably what I would do, not even bother with the flush, just go for a salvage tranny. Just be sure you get SOME warranty on the salvage tranny, even if it's just 30 days.

i just hate to see a guy waste more time money and stress than he has to... you know what i mean...

sucks bro but yeah i dont think "catching it early" is going to change things

 

[Dan.3]

Somewhere there is a procedure for flushing where you remove both the inlet and outlet of the radiator, stick the inlet into an empty bucket, and the outlet into a bucket full of ATF, and just let it run and flush itself (this flushes a couple gallons all at once, not giving the mix time to settle inside). Not sure how complete that is, and I think you will want to shift while doing that (like P-R-D-N, not 1st to 2nd, to 3rd, etc, that would be dangerous).

Could you test that flushing procedure out for me and let me know how it works out. :rockthrow:

 

[Nelsonmd]

Could you test that flushing procedure out for me and let me know how it works out. :rockthrow:

I dont' understand your sarcasm...

Here is the procedure: Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

 

[rmoore]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It does suck though. Such a minor part failure as a cooling coil and it hoses the tranny. What also sucks is I just got my 4runner 2 months ago used. I guess I'll do what I can for now and start looking for a used tranny or get some prices on a rebuild. I know what my next steps are now as far as my wifes and son's 4runners, Both are the same third generation and both have 170,000 plus miles on them. NEW RADIATOR's before gambling on a failure seems like a lot better decision. The Radiators are not that expensive and fairly easy to change.

I am using the flush method of pulling both lines and letting the tranny pump it through into a bucket. maybe doing it one quart at a time is too slow and letting it settle and remix.

Thanks
Ray

 

[Dan.3]

I dont' understand your sarcasm...

Here is the procedure: Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

and you still dont understand the sarcasm?????

 

[Nelsonmd]

and you still dont understand the sarcasm?????

Well, let me guess, you think I reversed the inlet/outlet, but I didn't. The cooler inlet is where the fluid comes out the tranny (old fluid out), and the cooler outlet is where the fluid returns to the tranny (new fluid in).

Or was there something else?

 

[Dark Lord]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It does suck though. Such a minor part failure as a cooling coil and it hoses the tranny. What also sucks is I just got my 4runner 2 months ago used. I guess I'll do what I can for now and start looking for a used tranny or get some prices on a rebuild. I know what my next steps are now as far as my wifes and son's 4runners, Both are the same third generation and both have 170,000 plus miles on them. NEW RADIATOR's before gambling on a failure seems like a lot better decision. The Radiators are not that expensive and fairly easy to change.

I am using the flush method of pulling both lines and letting the tranny pump it through into a bucket. maybe doing it one quart at a time is too slow and letting it settle and remix.

Thanks
Ray

DAMN! Two months! I bought my 4runner in February, and I ended up driving from Indiana to Texas and back in March. I had planned on replacing my radiator before I left on the trip, but never got around it. The whole drive down I was hoping and praying I wouldn't have the pink milkshake, although my truck has decently low miles (less than 150K).

 

[Nashvegas34]

Could you test that flushing procedure out for me and let me know how it works out. :rockthrow:

I dont' understand your sarcasm...

Here is the procedure: Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission

and you still dont understand the sarcasm?????

Well, let me guess, you think I reversed the inlet/outlet, but I didn't. The cooler inlet is where the fluid comes out the tranny (old fluid out), and the cooler outlet is where the fluid returns to the tranny (new fluid in).

Or was there something else?

This is a weird exchange. Let's see, though, I think I'll go with the guy who has 2480 posts and a history of being knowledgeable and reasonable over the guy with 3 posts trying to make a funny.

 

[rmoore]

Well, i just called a local transmission shop that has had good reviews, but was told that on 2000 4runner they cannot get parts and it has to be a remanufactured at around $4500-$5000, Is that right or is that crazy.

 

[Dark Lord]

Well, i just called a local transmission shop that has had good reviews, but was told that on 2000 4runner they cannot get parts and it has to be a remanufactured at around $4500-$5000, Is that right or is that crazy.

Probably both simultaneously. Like everyone said, I'd probably just go to a local junk yard and try to find a salvage transmission out of a 3rd Gen. Hell, if you want to take up the challenge, if I were in your shoes I'd try the manual tranny swap at this point.

 

[bandman659]

That price is absurd. You would do better to find a used transmission on Craigslist or something for $500-$800 and rolling the dice. Better yet, get one from a partout on here. That way you are more likely to get one that was working properly before the vehicle was wrecked or whatever.

For reference, a new one from Carson Toyota is only $1700 after the $1000 core charge is refunded. Tell them exactly where they can stick that estimate.

 

[pcleary1210]

Sooo.....just to be sure. Having a manual transmission here, I dont have a factory cooler and a potential pink milkshake?

Cause this thread makes me a sad panda. This really really sucks.

-PC

 

[Drcoffee]

Well, i just called a local transmission shop that has had good reviews, but was told that on 2000 4runner they cannot get parts and it has to be a remanufactured at around $4500-$5000, Is that right or is that crazy.

If I recall correctly, the manufactures must maintain parts supplies for at least 10 years. If this transmission was produced through 2002, the parts should be available still. Call around, somebody has access to them. He may not want to deal with a transmission in a 4x4. Also, so many mechanics are only willing to replace parts, not fix them.

Now for the seminal question. You've been a member here since October 2010. Have you never seen a thread on the Strawberry Milkshake in all that time?

 

[Nelsonmd]

That price is absurd. You would do better to find a used transmission on Craigslist or something for $500-$800 and rolling the dice. Better yet, get one from a partout on here. That way you are more likely to get one that was working properly before the vehicle was wrecked or whatever.

For reference, a new one from Carson Toyota is only $1700 after the $1000 core charge is refunded. Tell them exactly where they can stick that estimate.

Agreed, way too much. Roll the dice 4 times before you pay that...

Sooo.....just to be sure. Having a manual transmission here, I dont have a factory cooler and a potential pink milkshake?

Cause this thread makes me a sad panda. This really really sucks.

-PC

Correct, Manuals don't have a tranny cooler.

Now for the seminal question. You've been a member here since October 2010. Have you never seen a thread on the Strawberry Milkshake in all that time?

HA! I didn't even notice that. Shame on him...

 

[badattitude]

I had the pink milkshake, stopped driving the 4runner immediatly and took it on a flat bed to the dealer. They power flushed 60 quarts of fluid before it came out clean. That was two years ago and I'm still driving the same trans and it performs as good as new. I also drianed and filled a couple times after that as well. The trans can be saved if you stop driving right away and flush a bunch of fluid thorugh it.

A new trans from toyotapartsales.com is $2000 shipped.

Then how much more to install? Tell those guys asking for $4000 to pound sand.

Some dealers are better than others, call another and see what they quotes you.

Also, you should flush the cooling system a couple times too. Not as crutial as flushing the trans but it should be done.