Pink Milkshake

[jeff_connors]

I have a 2000 4 runner, 6cyl, and my wife noticed pink fluid in the driveway after returning from a errand. I checked underneath and it's wet around the transmission pan. The lines to the radiator are dry. I checked the dipstick and it's about 4" over the hot mark which I believe is over the cold mark. The radiator level I can't see so it's low. I think I have a leak in the transmission radiator.

My question--has anyone else had a leak when this happened? Would the transmission leak if coolant leaked into the transmission; maybe out of an overflow?

From reading these posts, I want to get an external transmission cooler and install since I think the main radiator is not leaking engine coolant. It may be cheaper and better than replacing the main radiator. Has anyone done this recently? (some of the links to radiators to purchase are dead)

Thanks.

 

[Grenvilleter]

Is there oil in the radiator coolant? Does the transmission dipstick oil look like a strawberry smoothie?
If no to these questions, you are probably good in the "milkshake" dept.

I would suggest however to look as well at the rear heater coolant lines that are famous for rusting out and dripping anti-freeze coolant on the ground.

There has been a couple of threads regarding this problem in the last couple of days.
The good news if that is, it's cheap and easy to fix but do it right away.

Do not run your truck for any longer than necessary (5-10 minutes), until you are sure and do not let the truck come up to temp as that makes pressure in the system and you will have a big red puddle on the ground under the passenger door and run the risk of overheating your engine due to coolant loss.

 

[jeff_connors]

Is there oil in the radiator coolant? Does the transmission dipstick oil look like a strawberry smoothie?
If no to these questions, you are probably good in the "milkshake" dept.

I would suggest however to look as well at the rear heater coolant lines that are famous for rusting out and dripping anti-freeze coolant on the ground.

There has been a couple of threads regarding this problem in the last couple of days.
The good news if that is, it's cheap and easy to fix but do it right away.

Do not run your truck for any longer than necessary (5-10 minutes), until you are sure and do not let the truck come up to temp as that makes pressure in the system and you will have a big red puddle on the ground under the passenger door and run the risk of overheating your engine due to coolant loss.

There is coolant in the transmission. The dipstick shows the strawberry color. I just drained the transmission and got about 2 gallons of fluid out. I'll check the rear heater (did not even know I had one!)

 

[Brique]

Someone more knowledgeable please correct me if I'm wrong, but if there's coolant in the transmission fluid, this has to be dealt with immediately if there's to be any hope of saving your transmission. Have it towed (don't drive it!) to a good shop first thing in the morning and have them flush the hell out of the transmission (and of course put in a new radiator).

If you get it right away, you might be able to save your transmission. If you wait, plan on shelling out for a new/rebuilt tranny.

 

[Grenvilleter]

There is coolant in the transmission. The dipstick shows the strawberry color. I just drained the transmission and got about 2 gallons of fluid out. I'll check the rear heater (did not even know I had one!)

Ahhh...that sucks...forget about the coolant lines for now. As the post above me states, do not drive it at all and pray you got to it in time. If you are lucky, and a few flushes later, you will know. I wish you good luck !

 

[jeff_connors]

I drained the transmission yesterday when I read leaving the milkshake in may damage the transmission. I probably took out 3-4 gallons of fluid so I know the radiator is leaking. I won't drive it and my plan is to order a separate transmission cooler and install it. I think it's worth a shot to attempt to save the transmission. A transmission shop will probably say to replace to be on the safe side. If it fails, it fails but will give it a shot.

Anyone know where to purchase these transmission coolers now?

 

[Robb235]

Anyone know where to purchase these transmission coolers now?

Got mine off Amazon.

 

[Grenvilleter]

Perhaps you can disconnect the tranny lines from your rad and start actually purging your system as well of the old fluid.
There are a couple of links around that explain how to pump out a couple quarts of fluid from the tranny line then replenish with new into the sump and continue until your fluid shows no sign of contamination.
Do not run your sump /pump dry however as it don't take long to damage other components in the tranny if allowed to do so.

Once your tranny cooler is installed, drive it a few blocks/miles to bring it up to temp and then go home and change it again to get any last drops that may not have been purged the first time.

There may be some type of emulsification additive you can add to the transmission that would help any residue remaining mix in with the new fluid and not allow any "bubbles" of antifreeze (which will not readily mix with oil) from stopping/partiality blocking the small galleries internally
.
I do not know of any "liquid mechanic in-a-can" that will emulsify but I'm sure it is out there on the shelf if you look.

I really hope this works for you.

 

[krenaud33]

I think it's worth a shot to attempt to save the transmission. A transmission shop will probably say to replace to be on the safe side. If it fails, it fails but will give it a shot.

I would run it as long as you can after you get the tranny cooler/radiator issue resolved. I had the pink milkshake bad in mine. Drove it about 10 miles after it happened(to get home) and stopped when the tranny wouldn't go forward. I had a tranny shop flush the fluid and change the filter. Replaced my radiator and had a flush done on the coolant system. This happened a few years ago and I am still driving my 4Runner with no issues. At least two tranny shops told me that I needed to rebuild the tranny. I would definately get that antifreeze out of your tranny as fast as you can even if you have to do a poor mans flush yourself.

 

[FireTiger]

Someone more knowledgeable please correct me if I'm wrong, but if there's coolant in the transmission fluid, this has to be dealt with immediately if there's to be any hope of saving your transmission. Have it towed (don't drive it!) to a good shop first thing in the morning and have them flush the hell out of the transmission (and of course put in a new radiator).

If you get it right away, you might be able to save your transmission. If you wait, plan on shelling out for a new/rebuilt tranny.

This is correct!! I experienced this already, and it sucks. BUT, I was told to tow it, not drive it, until it was fixed, and that truly made all of the difference. I have had to do several transmission flush and fills after it happened, and of course, needed a new radiator, thermostat, fluid lines, coolant, transmission fluid, filter. Even though it was fixed, I still want to upgrade everything to better equipment. If you have the money, then get either OEM Toyota or high quality upgraded replacement parts to save yourself money in the future. I, unfortunately, am doing it the other way around, and had to go with my shops choice of replacement parts. Now looking to get the best radiator and components to have another awesome 100K miles to enjoy.

 

[TheeMikeB]

This is the way you can pump out fluid from your tranny and replenish it. Basically disconnect the return line and put it into a bucket. Turn the car on and let 1-2 qts pump out, turn car off, add 1-2 qts to tranny, repeat process until fluid comes out looking nice and pink again. I did this on my truck took about 30 minutes total. I would do this once I had my external cooler ready to install and to it all at once.

Def check rear lines as well as stated above before doing this to make sure you don't have a leaking line.

10 Min Automatic Transmission Fluid Flush + Replacement (Most Cars) - YouTube