Radiator Question

[4flyer]

Hey guys. So I want to prevent pink milkshake on my 4runner. In 2014, the second owner replaced the radiator with a "Genuine Toyota Parts 16410-YZZAJ" (via Amazon invoice). I also have to get a trans cooler in addition to a new radiator, right? Sorry for my rather noobish question. I appreciate it guys!

 

[MACT4R]

Thats a new radiator, should be fine. That will prevent it. Adding a trans cooler does not prevent milkshake but maximize cooling rad fluid when towing or offroading, especially hot weather.

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[JayRolla]

Thats a new radiator, should be fine. That will prevent it. Adding a trans cooler does not prevent milkshake but maximize cooling rad fluid when towing or offroading, especially hot weather.

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Bad info. People add the cooler to bypass the radiator cooler. Which prevents pink milkshake.

 

[IsaiahC]

Bad info. People add the cooler to bypass the radiator cooler. Which prevents pink milkshake.

Most by-pass the radiator with the transcooler to get rid of any chance of pink milkshake. I did this but I also added a fan on a switch because the transcooler isn't great on long slow hills or when 4wheeling slowly. Some replace the radiators and run a transcooler in line with the radiator. Both are valid options. If you're sure that the previous owner replaced the radiator recently, then I wouldn't worry about the pink milkshake but Murphy's Law, right?

 

[BrianK14]

To clarify the above posts, they are both somewhat correct. Here's the deal: with a new Toyota radiator, you don't need to worry about the milkshake for many years. Milkshake results from an internal failure of the radiator due to time/corrosion. As such, a new radiator is at minimal to no risk. Now, you could still bypass the radiator trans cooler with an external cooler, and that would forever eliminate the possibility of milkshake. But, some would tell you that's not a good idea due to the fact that the radiator warms* trans fluid to operating temp in very cold weather.

 

[MACT4R]

Bad info. People add the coolest to bypass the radiator cooler. Which prevents pink milkshake.

Bypassing rad via transcooler alone doesn't maximize cooling unless your in cold weather. Yes you can eliminate milkshake bypassing by using transcooler but you'll be running higher temp especially hot weather. Depends on area people have bypass radiator during winter and put line back in radiator during hot season. Proper maintenance such as changing radiator and prevent rust Internally minimize milkshake. Not bad info, just not complete. I myself being in southwest did not bypass. I changed the radiator and added transcooler.

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[3bears]

your question opens a can of worms
so many opinions

however this is me and my plan of attack

last year when my truck was new to me, I ordered a cooler and bypassed the radiator
however...I live and work in cold winter climates ( 6 feet of snow, low 20 is a winter norm, I'm expecting worse this year, we have had 16 feet)
a few days ago on a steep back road I saw extreme trans temps ( well to me saw 237)
so I am worried about not only running hot but running cold

so today I ordered a new radiator, thermostat, and other stuff and I'm going back to "in series".....first to the radiator then to the cooler
so that I don't get too cold this winter, and I will see how it goes this coming summer
if crawling next year I heat up, I will add a pusher fan on the trans cooler


but like I said...your question opens a can of worms

 

[shahsmerdis]

OP:
if all you are doing is daily driving, not towing etc and you have a factory replacement rad, then you are fine. most likely the rad will outlast the car.

your question opens a can of worms
so many opinions

however this is me and my plan of attack

last year when my truck was new to me, I ordered a cooler and bypassed the radiator
however...I live and work in cold winter climates ( 6 feet of snow, low 20 is a winter norm, I'm expecting worse this year, we have had 16 feet)
a few days ago on a steep back road I saw extreme trans temps ( well to me saw 237)
so I am worried about not only running hot but running cold

so today I ordered a new radiator, thermostat, and other stuff and I'm going back to "in series".....first to the radiator then to the cooler
so that I don't get too cold this winter, and I will see how it goes this coming summer
if crawling next year I heat up, I will add a pusher fan on the trans cooler


but like I said...your question opens a can of worms

if you are seeing 240, seriously get yourself external cooler, when you do the radiator make sure jiggle valve is in 6 oclock position. not 12. Timmy the toolman posted a great video on this.

Tran and refill your transmission fluid is probably cooked by now.

ensure your fan clutch is working...

 

[3bears]

OP:
if all you are doing is daily driving, not towing etc and you have a factory replacement rad, then you are fine. most likely the rad will outlast the car.





if you are seeing 240, seriously get yourself external cooler, when you do the radiator make sure jiggle valve is in 6 oclock position. not 12. Timmy the toolman posted a great video on this.

Tran and refill your transmission fluid is probably cooked by now.

ensure your fan clutch is working...

fan clutch is working, and IM doing a tranny flush when I do the radiator

 

[thor999]

Most by-pass the radiator with the transcooler to get rid of any chance of pink milkshake. I did this but I also added a fan on a switch because the transcooler isn't great on long slow hills or when 4wheeling slowly. Some replace the radiators and run a transcooler in line with the radiator. Both are valid options. If you're sure that the previous owner replaced the radiator recently, then I wouldn't worry about the pink milkshake but Murphy's Law, right?

I get high temps climbing some times, even in winter, w/ a trans cooler but this was before replacing my fan clutch and reversing the in/out lines. What fan did you get?

 

[jhfleet]

Toyota uses the same radiator/trans cooler design as pretty much every auto transmission vehicle ever built. And, the OEM radiator quality meets or exceeds that of any other comparable vehicle. So, I don't believe there's a greater risk of a so called "pink milkshake" on a 4-Runner than on other vehicles. IMHO, the reason we hear about the problem is that many 4-Runners are still on the road after hundreds of thousands of miles and any problem with them is well-publicized on sites like this one.

 

[JayRolla]

Toyota uses the same radiator/trans cooler design as pretty much every auto transmission vehicle ever built. And, the OEM radiator quality meets or exceeds that of any other comparable vehicle. So, I don't believe there's a greater risk of a so called "pink milkshake" on a 4-Runner than on other vehicles. IMHO, the reason we hear about the problem is that many 4-Runners are still on the road after hundreds of thousands of miles and any problem with them is well-publicized on sites like this one.

This is true. But it seems to happen more on toyotas. Maybe they rust more? Seems the frames do. So why not the radiators. You can find pink milkshake mentioned on other vehicle types, like ford, jeep, ect.. but most of it will be toyota's.

 

[alumarine]

I think it was a bad design or build process with the original 3rd gen rads.

You don't hear of this happening very much, if at all, with 2cnd gens and they're obviously older.

Both of my 2cnd gens had their original rads and never had trouble with them leaking into the transmission section.

 

[jgue467]

I think those problems are legit (they happen) but to balance things out I asked my mechanic of 35+ years what his experience was with runners having failed lbjs, rear axle seals, pink milkshake and he said None and he sees many runners, he thought as many runners as he gets to work on they made far more than 110,000 or so per year of 3rd gens.

So keep it all in perspective, we only hear of the failure not all the Wins. What a bunch of Negative Nancys we are! :cowboy:

 

[jhfleet]

I think it was a bad design or build process with the original 3rd gen rads.

You don't hear of this happening very much, if at all, with 2cnd gens and they're obviously older.

Both of my 2cnd gens had their original rads and never had trouble with them leaking into the transmission section.

I replaced the radiator on my '96 T4R last year because it was 19 years old and I'm as susceptible to horror stories as anyone else. Before I tossed the old radiator I cut it apart around the area between the radiator and transmission cooler and saw no indication of corrosion, etc. I already had the radiator off to do the timing belt so at least I didn't waste any labor.

 

[3bears]

I wonder if some of these failures are due to using the wrong kind of antifreeze or very old antifreeze which gets acidic

 

[jgue467]

I just discovered a tiny hairline crack on my oem 276,000 mile old radiator, so a new denso is on the way.

I've had it by-passed 5 years but noticied in my area (central texas) during stop/go traffic it can be difficult to keep the trans under 190 even with a 2300cfm fan on it. At times for just a couple minutes it can get to 210-215 until i get up to a steady highway speed.

So I've decided what is Best in my area is to keep the original toyo design with a trans cooler built into the radiator and will go back to this. I'll add the external trans cooler in series just for kicks, should be good with out it.

The engine never gets above 199 so that should keep the trans in the same range and warm up faster. Luck all. :cowboy:

 

[IsaiahC]

I get high temps climbing some times, even in winter, w/ a trans cooler but this was before replacing my fan clutch and reversing the in/out lines. What fan did you get?

I was in a rush to go on a road trip to Yellowstone so I got a Hayden 10" fan from oreillys. It's too big and I haven't found a permanent solution for the mounting, but it works alright. If I hadn't been in a rush, I would have gotten a procomp 7" fan from Amazon.

 

[GGWeld]

I was literally given.. A 1996 4 runner/130K (profile pic) with "The Pink Milkshake" by a friend of mine. He bought it originally then sold it to his mother who ran to the grocery store and back for 90% of its life.

He was right about to donated it to "Kars for Kids" for a $300 tax credit. - Now lets be clear, Kars for Kids would recycle this 4Runner for scrap metal as repairs definetly supersedes its value ..

I couldn't allow that to happen..

It's getting-
Tranny rebuild for $1,700 1/yr war by local trusted shop.
Any body work correctly repaired.
Painted.
Lift/Rims/Tires.

Why? Because it's hardly broken in at 130K..

I plan to pass down to my son as first vehicle. Which is a hell of a lot cooler than my cream colored Plymouth Reliant that I was passed.

There's your Kars for Kids!!!

 

[jgue467]

I was in a rush to go on a road trip to Yellowstone so I got a Hayden 10" fan from oreillys. It's too big and I haven't found a permanent solution for the mounting, but it works alright. If I hadn't been in a rush, I would have gotten a procomp 7" fan from Amazon.

Have ya' tried mounting it on its side? My 10" 'who knows what brand' from amazon just squeezes to fit between the either side of the condensor and that vertical brace in front of the condenser yet only when turned to one side, the other is just a tad too wide. Worth a try.... :cowboy: