The Strawberry Milkshake

[Mel0]

Just looking for some clarification on this. What are the two fluids that end up mixing together in the transmission? The trans fluid and coolant right? But how and where exactly does the coolant enter and start to mix? Is this something that can occur instantly without any notice or can it be caught just by checking the coolant reservoir say once a week? Does the trans dipstick give any indication?

 

[GA Runner]

From what I understand it happens in the radiator as the lines corrode. No warning it just happens. Easiest way to prevent it is to run an external cooler for the trans.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Just looking for some clarification on this. What are the two fluids that end up mixing together in the transmission? The trans fluid and coolant right? But how and where exactly does the coolant enter and start to mix? Is this something that can occur instantly without any notice or can it be caught just by checking the coolant reservoir say once a week? Does the trans dipstick give any indication?

The radiator in these automatics has a chamber in the bottom that the trans lines connect to. Over time the metal separating the coolant chamber from the trans fluid chamber corroded and leaks causing the mixing. There are no warning signs. Best thing you can do is either replace your radiator with an upgraded unit such as a Koyo or better yet, add an aux trans cooler.

 

[Mel0]

The radiator in these automatics has a chamber in the bottom that the trans lines connect to. Over time the metal separating the coolant chamber from the trans fluid chamber corroded and leaks causing the mixing. There are no warning signs. Best thing you can do is either replace your radiator with an upgraded unit such as a Koyo or better yet, add an aux trans cooler.

Thank you, I get it now. The cooler install write-up by bigfish makes much more sense now. For some reason I was thinking the coolant was somehow circulating in or around the trans...I learn something new everyday. My new-to-me runner has 260,000 on it and was well maintained for the first 230,000 but I have no records for a radiator replacement. The cooler seems like a very inexpensive insurance policy now. So, IF it is mixing, how would you ever know? Just by draining the transmission???

 

[Brian757]

Thank you, I get it now. The cooler install write-up by bigfish makes much more sense now. For some reason I was thinking the coolant was somehow circulating in or around the trans...I learn something new everyday. My new-to-me runner has 260,000 on it and was well maintained for the first 230,000 but I have no records for a radiator replacement. The cooler seems like a very inexpensive insurance policy now. So, IF it is mixing, how would you ever know? Just by draining the transmission???

Your truck will let you know. I believe it will start dripping profusely from around the radiator area. It'll look like your truck is drooling pink milkshake. And when it happens, flush your transmission ASAP. Getting it out quickly will reduce the risk of killing your tranny.

 

[Mel0]

Your truck will let you know.

Reason I am curious about this is because it does shift with a little more effort than it probably should. It's really not a hard shift and it's only felt shifting from 1 to 2. 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 is smooth as butter. So, I'm making the assumption that it's a result of 260,000 miles...correct me even if I COULD be wrong. Not to mention the u-joint nearest the rear diff. has some play in it which could have some role in the hard shift, maybe???

 

[Brian757]

Reason I am curious about this is because it does shift with a little more effort than it probably should. It's really not a hard shift and it's only felt shifting from 1 to 2. 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 is smooth as butter. So, I'm making the assumption that it's a result of 260,000 miles...correct me even if I COULD be wrong. Not to mention the u-joint nearest the rear diff. has some play in it which could have some role in the hard shift, maybe???

The whole truck will vibrate with bad u-joints. You will usually feel it while accelerating. I just replaced all of my ujoints and my double cardan joint. It helped get rid of my vibrations. Seeing as you feel it going from every gear, it might not be your u-joints though.

How old is your transmission fluid? Tranny filter?

 

[Mel0]

The whole truck will vibrate with bad u-joints. You will usually feel it while accelerating. I just replaced all of my ujoints and my double cardan joint. It helped get rid of my vibrations. Seeing as you feel it going from every gear, it might not be your u-joints though.

How old is your transmission fluid? Tranny filter?

The somewhat hard shift is only felt from 1st to 2nd. Smooth the rest of the way. I don't feel any noticeable vibration at any speed after i recently replaced the rotors, pads and lbj's. The play is only in the single u joint at the rear diff. The double seems to be tight, though I have thought about whether or not I should replace those two as well while the shaft is out but have read it can be tricky and should be left to a "pro". As far as the tranny fluid and filter, I have no idea when those were last serviced. I purchased the truck from a girl who claimed it was serviced only at toyota until her father passed a couple years ago which she then took title at 230,000. She seemed honest and I took her word but provided 0 records.

 

[Brian757]

The somewhat hard shift is only felt from 1st to 2nd. Smooth the rest of the way. I don't feel any noticeable vibration at any speed after i recently replaced the rotors, pads and lbj's. The play is only in the single u joint at the rear diff. The double seems to be tight, though I have thought about whether or not I should replace those two as well while the shaft is out but have read it can be tricky and should be left to a "pro". As far as the tranny fluid and filter, I have no idea when those were last serviced. I purchased the truck from a girl who claimed it was serviced only at toyota until her father passed a couple years ago which she then took title at 230,000. She seemed honest and I took her word but provided 0 records.

I would take a look at the trans fluid in the dipstick. Look at coloration and level.
Use OEM Toyota Red Coolant when flushing

 

[JoeT4R]

[MENTION=68576]Brian757[/MENTION] The last time my tranny fluid was done was at 149,616. I just clocked over to 200K last week. Should it be about that time again to do it?

 

[Brian757]

[MENTION=68576]Brian757[/MENTION] The last time my tranny fluid was done was at 149,616. I just clocked over to 200K last week. Should it be about that time again to do it?

ATF or MTF? You have an auto right?
I would say if you had Dexron III in it, roughly 60-80,000 miles. It wouldn't hurt to change your tranny fluid. How does it look?

 

[Millerad1651]

Installing an external cooler help with the shifting as well. I changed the ATF fluid and added the cooler at the same time and noticed a large improvement in the tranny shifts.

At your location a B&M 70268 would work well. I have it bypassing my radiator completely (there are varying opinions on this), and its worked well day to day and off road.

Amazon.com: B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler: Automotive

 

[Mel0]

Installing an external cooler help with the shifting as well. I changed the ATF fluid and added the cooler at the same time and noticed a large improvement in the tranny shifts.

At your location a B&M 70268 would work well. I have it bypassing my radiator completely (there are varying opinions on this), and its worked well day to day and off road.

Amazon.com: B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler: Automotive

Maybe I have misunderstood something once again but isn't the whole point of the external cooler to completely bypass the radiator? The trans. fluid should be checked while running and hot right?

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Maybe I have misunderstood something once again but isn't the whole point of the external cooler to completely bypass the radiator? The trans. fluid should be checked while running and hot right?

Some don't completely bypass the rad. I have no idea why?? I bypassed my rad right when I first got my 4Runner.

The trans fluid dip stick has both a hot and cold full level, although it is most practiced to check it hot.

 

[Brian757]

Maybe I have misunderstood something once again but isn't the whole point of the external cooler to completely bypass the radiator? The trans. fluid should be checked while running and hot right?

Some don't completely bypass the rad. I have no idea why?? I bypassed my rad right when I first got my 4Runner.

The trans fluid dip stick has both a hot and cold full level, although it is most practiced to check it hot.

It's a battle that has been raging through here since diff drops, lifts, sound systems, etc.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/107129-transmission-cooler-pass-radiator-not-pass.html

 

[Millerad1651]

It's a battle that has been raging through here since diff drops, lifts, sound systems, etc.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/107129-transmission-cooler-pass-radiator-not-pass.html

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SIaFtAKnqBU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[kball]

I would take a look at the trans fluid in the dipstick. Look at coloration and level.
Use Redline MT-90 for trans fluid.

Huh? I'm confused here. MelO do you have a manual or auto trans? If manual you don't need to worry about the milkshake. If auto, do not put Manual Trans 90 weight oil into it!

 

[Mel0]

Huh? I'm confused here. MelO do you have a manual or auto trans? If manual you don't need to worry about the milkshake. If auto, do not put Manual Trans 90 weight oil into it!

Yeah at first glance I was thinking the MT stood for manual as well...it's an auto.

I'll read up on the to bypass or not bypass question. But I'll take a guess and say it has something to do with getting the trans. fluid warmed up quicker...maybe?

Thanks again everyone

 

[Brian757]

Huh? I'm confused here. MelO do you have a manual or auto trans? If manual you don't need to worry about the milkshake. If auto, do not put Manual Trans 90 weight oil into it!

HAHA! I totally overlooked this. THANK you for the correction. Oh my. I would've felt horrible detroying a tranny. YES, MT-90 is obviously strictly for manuals. And no, you wouldn't have to worry about milkshake in that case.

MT-90 was suggested for mild slips between gear changing, etc. Didn't even think about posting on an automatic thread, sorry for the confusion OP!!

 

[UTEP]

The somewhat hard shift is only felt from 1st to 2nd. Smooth the rest of the way. I don't feel any noticeable vibration at any speed after i recently replaced the rotors, pads and lbj's. The play is only in the single u joint at the rear diff. The double seems to be tight, though I have thought about whether or not I should replace those two as well while the shaft is out but have read it can be tricky and should be left to a "pro". As far as the tranny fluid and filter, I have no idea when those were last serviced. I purchased the truck from a girl who claimed it was serviced only at toyota until her father passed a couple years ago which she then took title at 230,000. She seemed honest and I took her word but provided 0 records.

Hi
I don't have the link but on Toyota there is a complete service record link. If any work was done at Toyota and maybe elsewhere it would be available to you. I even add my own own service records , the work I do myself to the list.

Edit: Found the link! http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/parts-service/history

HTH

UTEP