Strawberry milkshake - newbie's question

[ouki]

I have a 99 SR5 with 135k miles. After reading the forum, I replaced the radiator and flushed coolant at a dealer just to prevent the well-known strawberry milkshake from happening. Today I found my coolant fluid is in RED color in the reservoir. I'm not sure if the coolant is supposed to be red or the milkshake is happening to me. I was unable to confirm with the dealer because they have closed for the day.

Can someone show me a picture how the strawberry liquid looks like? If the milkshake problem did happen to me after the dealer replacing the radiator within a week, will they be responsible for all the damages?

 

[AaronHartwell]

Don't worry. Radiator fluid for your 4Runner is red. It should be somewhat clear and watery. Strawberry milkshake looks... well like a strawberry milkshake. Pink and frothy.

 

[tbst]

Toyota coolant is RED.

This is what a strawberry milkshake looks like.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attac...4-sweet-strawberry-milkshake-fml-img_1006.jpg

 

[4-Ripcord]

Its called strawberry milkshake for a reason..

 

[AaronHartwell]

Someone else should chime in and point out that it looks like a strawberry shake.

 

[Jc12]

ahaha yep what these guys said - but you should really invest in an aftermarket tranny cooler, cost you 55 bucks and a fun project to learn some new tricks. Then you are safe forever from the milkshake!!

** this is what i run.. dont be stupid and make the mistake of not extending the fluid lines so that you can maneuver them around the skid plate.. like i did

http://www.amazon.com/70268-SuperCooler-Automatic-Transmission-Cooler/dp/B000CIGE9G

 

[AaronHartwell]

Tranny coolers are sweet. I installed a new Koyorad radiator today to protect my new 3rd gen.

 

[kman55]

Tranny coolers are sweet. I installed a new Koyorad radiator today to protect my new 3rd gen.

That's what I'm about to do!

 

[z28forlife]

First mod I did, so much better not having to worry about the PMS. Just my wifes PMS now is all that scares me.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

I have a 99 SR5 with 135k miles. After reading the forum, I replaced the radiator and flushed coolant at a dealer just to prevent the well-known strawberry milkshake from happening. Today I found my coolant fluid is in RED color in the reservoir. I'm not sure if the coolant is supposed to be red or the milkshake is happening to me. I was unable to confirm with the dealer because they have closed for the day.

Can someone show me a picture how the strawberry liquid looks like? If the milkshake problem did happen to me after the dealer replacing the radiator within a week, will they be responsible for all the damages?

Did the truck overheat? Is a pink milkshake like substance flowing out of the radiator cap? I doubt you have the milkshake. If it happened to a new radiator I would be pretty shocked. Seems the milkshake happens to trucks with more than 100k miles with the same radiator. Thats why I'm getting a new oem radiator installed next week.

 

[ouki]

Did the truck overheat? Is a pink milkshake like substance flowing out of the radiator cap? I doubt you have the milkshake. If it happened to a new radiator I would be pretty shocked. Seems the milkshake happens to trucks with more than 100k miles with the same radiator. Thats why I'm getting a new oem radiator installed next week.

The truck did not overheat. I was just checking things here and there in the weekend. No pink milkshake like substance flowing out of radiator cap. The red liquid in the overflow is watery and thin.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Oh ok you're good I highly doubt you have the milkshake. You had me paranoid for a minute because I'm planning to get my radiator replaced this week I wouldn't want it to fail on me a week later lol.

As for the fluid in the reservoir, maybe someone else can answer that. Is that normal for coolant to go into the reservoir even though the truck isn't overhearting?

 

[Jc12]

Oh ok you're good I highly doubt you have the milkshake. You had me paranoid for a minute because I'm planning to get my radiator replaced this week I wouldn't want it to fail on me a week later lol.

As for the fluid in the reservoir, maybe someone else can answer that. Is that normal for coolant to go into the reservoir even though the truck isn't overhearting?

Check your reservoir. You should be over half full. There is a marker. You will know when it happens it's otherwise it would be like a boner in gym class not that I have a problem with that.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Someone else should chime in and point out that it looks like a strawberry shake.

Does it look exactly like this?

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Check your reservoir. You should be over half full. There is a marker. You will know when it happens it's otherwise it would be like a boner in gym class not that I have a problem with that.

Hmmm. I'm going to have to check it out lol.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Doesnt sound like you have the shake but the coolant shouldnt be deep deep red. If they put toyota red coolant in there, they should have dilluted it with 50 percent distilled water which should lighten the color a bit. If they used pre-dilluted coolant, it should already be a lighter color or what we call toyota pink (although it should appear more red than true pink). Most dealers sell and use the pre-dilluted stuff now.

 

[Tearsfallred4u]

is this strawberry milkshake!?

i had my 90K service done at the dealer, and i looked under my hood today. please look at the attachment pics guys. help me out!

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Radiator fluid? Come on guys. Coolant, damn it! And Toyota coolant is red. OP, you're fine. As other have said, if your coolant (not "radiator fluid") had mixed with your transmission fluid, you would know it.