Lady Truck Owner Needs Advise

gordizmom · May 23, 2017

Hi everyone. I just got my truck repaired today (starter) at a dealership and they did an inspection. I was told that the coolant is pink which means there is transmission fluid in the coolant.
Since I bought the truck (used in 2014) it has leaked a little bit of tranny fluid but I had my mechanic tighten where the leak was happening and he told me to keep an eye on the fluid which I do. The truck will sometimes feel like it's changing gears even when driving on a long stretch of road.
I don't have the money to have a new transmission put in but I am wondering what would cause the tranny fluid to leak into the coolant? Any ideas?

My truck is a 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer edition.

poorboy1964 · May 23, 2017

Hi
It can happen in the radiator the if there is a rupture between the passages new radiator is more likely but I would take is somewhere else and get a second opinion.

gordizmom · May 23, 2017

Thank you! I'm going to take it to my mechanic this week and have it checked. I have a feeling though that there is something wrong with the transmission just by the way the truck changes gears when it's not supposed to.

99WhiteC5Coupe · May 23, 2017

You did not list the year, make, model, and engine of your vehicle - which would be helpful.

There is probably an automatic transmission cooler integrated in your radiator. Think of a mini cooler inside the side tank of the radiator.

If the cooler ruptures, it permits transmission fluid into the engine coolant. It also permits engine coolant to enter the transmission - which will quickly destroy your transmission.

Most of the time - the cooler is not serviced separately. The radiator must be replaced, the engine coolant replaced, and all the transmission fluid (and filter if applicable) replaced.

Do not delay service or you will destroy your transmission.

gordizmom · May 23, 2017

Thank you. I'm taking it to the garage this week. This has been going on for a while so the damage may already be done.

stamp11127 · May 23, 2017

Depends on the type of coolant used. Extended life coolant comes in various colors. The G13 coolant I use on the vw's I have is pink in color.
If your transmission fluid is low that may be a clue.
If you really want to be sure you can have the coolant analyzed at most of the large semi truck dealerships. That would tell you if there are any oils present in it. Usually they test the oils but any good shop can also test the coolant.

I had a heat exchanger fail in a radiator, it filled the trans with coolant to the point it was gushing out while driving. Usually the pressure line from the transmission to the radiator is lower pressure than what the cooling system is.

grantpa · May 26, 2017

I'd almost guarantee that you DO NOT need a transmission. Most likely a radiator rupture. Is your '00 EB a 4 X 4? Tow package equipped? 4.6 or 5.4?

docraymund · May 27, 2017

You could put a drop of the coolant sample on a piece of white paper and observe the movement of the liquid. If there is uneven absorption, most likely your coolant is contaminated.

AlfilRey · May 27, 2017

The only reason why the antifreeze has contact with transmission oil is because it is broken the mini-cooler that brings integrated into the radiator of the vehicle. There are two oil lines protruding from the radiator, one of them comes from the transmission passes through the radiator and the other goes to the cooler to the front of the radiator. It can be repaired but it is everyone's question, in my case I replaced it with a new one. You can also cancel the cooler and place a new slightly larger cooler in front of the radiator and never have again mixed refrigerant liquid transmission oil.

theoldwizard1 · May 30, 2017

One easy test to see if the is a leak between the transmission cooler (inside the bottom of the radiator) and the radiator is to disconnect and plug the transmission line from the radiator and then apply a pressure tester to the radiator. If it won't hold pressure for 10-20 minutes or it you see drips of coolant coming out of where the transmission line were connected, to have confirmed the leak.

This is NOT a common leak/failure point.

Lady Truck Owner Needs Advise

gordizmom

Active Member

poorboy1964

Full Access Members

gordizmom

Active Member

99WhiteC5Coupe

Full Access Members

gordizmom

Active Member

stamp11127

Full Access Members

grantpa

Full Access Members

docraymund

Full Access Members

AlfilRey

Member

theoldwizard1

Full Access Members

Similar threads

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page