The Pink Milkshake: when did it happen to you?

benjamin247

benjamin247

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The purpose of this thread is to gather data of when (in odometer mileage) did the infamous Pink Milkshake occur. If this has happened to you, please state the approximate odometer mileage of when it happened and your normal driving conditions (ex: mostly highway, haul often, off-road often, etc). I would also like to hear from those that have high miles (+300k) that still use their original radiator (without external tranny cooler). Please state current miles and any pointers on how you kept your truck healthy. Thanks!
 
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Kick the thread off with your own story

as for myself:

never had a pink milkshake. I replaced the radiator premptively at about 175k miles because it was the smart thing to do.

Radiator, LBJs ..... skip out on them at your own peril.
 
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2000 4Runner Limited 3.4L
I think it was around 160k when I noticed it puking trans fluid from the overflow bottle so not exactly sure when it started.
Flushed the cooling system and replaced radiator and hoses. Flushed the transmission a few times and drove it.
I'm at 181k or so now and it's in the shop getting a complete transmission rebuild as I type this along w/ a thorough cooling system flush etc.
It was still pulling and shifting okay for the most part except when it got cold, into the teens temperature wise, then it would be slow acting when first pulling off; 2nd gear shifts would be a bit long and could start to feel some slip when going into the next gear. May of lasted a bit but going to New Mexico this summer and wanted no issues on the road.

Change/ flush the transmission every 2 years or so and I think you can keep it at bay...I didn't know about it until it happened to me.
 
Never. Changed out the radiator at 90,000 miles. Haven't looked back since. $110 vs $2000+ for me is a no brainer.

Throughout the years on the forums I have seen them occur as low as 80,000 miles and as high as 300,000.
 
At 270k in our 99 and 200k in our 01. Both original radiators without external tranny coolers and no pink milkshake. The 01 will be getting a new engine put in sometime this summer and a new radiator to follow.
 
Never had it but was scared it would thanks to threads reads like this a few years back in onlooker days.
I went into prevent mode replacing radiator at 158.000 , ordered pizza & slept well.

.
 
What exactly causes it? Corrosion between the radiator and trans cooler right? So is it the ATF or coolant that corrodes it, or excess heat? I wonder how much using non toyota coolant and tap water instead of distilled water contributes.
 
My 98 had the radiator fail creating a lovely milkshake at 220,000. Lasted 2 years after replacing radiator and flushing tranny about 4 times. Started slipping last fall at 240,000. Just put a tranny in it last weekend.
 
I replaced my original radiator at 215K with a Denso replacement in anticipation of this issue.

It can be hard to deduce if the radiator's transmission cooler is good or bad by the outside condition. From what other members have told me, it is the internal radiator end caps and tubing that ruptures, which then allows ATF and coolant to mix for the infamous milkshake cocktail.


repo said:
What exactly causes it? Corrosion between the radiator and trans cooler right? So is it the ATF or coolant that corrodes it, or excess heat? I wonder how much using non toyota coolant and tap water instead of distilled water contributes.
Click to expand...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/183600-nw-4runners-immune-pink-milkshake.html
 
repo said:
What exactly causes it? Corrosion between the radiator and trans cooler right? So is it the ATF or coolant that corrodes it, or excess heat? I wonder how much using non toyota coolant and tap water instead of distilled water contributes.
Click to expand...

Proper care always helps with these sorts of issues.

Never had it myself. Radiator was replaces pre-190k. The previous owner needed a new tranny though, and the radiator looks to be the same age as the transmission. It's possible my rig had it around 160-170k miles.
 
I was in Vietnam when the Pink Milkshake happened all the information provided was there was this pink stuff leaking under the rig come to find out the fitting had broke at the Radiator and lucky enough the two fluids never mixed internally just simply mixed as they hit the ground,
 
MrRoo said:
My 98 had the radiator fail creating a lovely milkshake at 220,000. Lasted 2 years after replacing radiator and flushing tranny about 4 times. Started slipping last fall at 240,000. Just put a tranny in it last weekend.
Click to expand...

If you replaced the radiator right after you noticed the milkshake and flushed the fluids right away, would that have saved your original transmission? In other words, is early detection of the pink stuff key to saving the transmission?
 
What happens is the coolant from the radiator causes the friction plates in the transmission to de-laminate and separate from the friction plate and swells the trans seals.
You may have a better chance at getting more miles out of it if you catch it early but there is no way to know how long it will last; 10 miles or 30k, who knows. I was going to drive mine until it stopped moving but am headed out on a long trip and do not want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere.
 
Put in a tranny cooler at 165,000, it never happened and don't have to think about it any more, on to next mods and maintenance projects.
 
I can't recall what the mileage was when I had it happen.(about 4 years ago) I am going to say over 200K and under 250K. Replaced the radiator, had a coolant system flush, tranny flush and fill done, and it is still running problem free with over 300K on it.
 
2001 SR5 4WD

Replaced leaking (thoroughly rotten) OE radiator at ~170k. No evidence of trans fluid mix. New accessory belts, hoses, and timing belt/water pump as well.

On a somewhat related note, I have noticed a thump when shifting up or down into second. Trying to decide whether it's a U-joint or trans. That'll be this spring's investigation.
 
benjamin247 said:
If you replaced the radiator right after you noticed the milkshake and flushed the fluids right away, would that have saved your original transmission? In other words, is early detection of the pink stuff key to saving the transmission?
Click to expand...

The radiator was replaced as soon as the problem occurred. Fluids were checked right before the highway trip. No problems. 250 miles later out of town it happened. Radiator replaced and pan was dropped and flushed before trip back. Got back from trip and flushed several more times to make sure it was cleaned out. Early detection is for sure going to help. But most the time its gonna fail down the road. Coolant just ruins clutch fibers.,
 
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