Atf in coolant?

[a_bullfrog_a]

My lumina minivan has lots of ATF in the coolant.<br />What should I do? I'd ask on an auto forum but<br />everybody here is so much smarter, lol.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Get a new radiator.<br />It's leaking inside.

 

[KRS]

Re: Atf in coolant?

If your radiator has a transmission cooler integrated into it, then the coolant core and the ATF core have leaked into each other, ATF in your coolant is the least of your problems... the coolant in your ATF should scare the crap out of you.... STOP DRIVING it NOW. The radiator will need to be replaced and both the cooling system and the transmission will need a flushing, I'd do it twice.<br /><br />If you aren't comfortable doing it, take it in and prepare to pay.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Defenitely get it fixed NOW. The guys are right. The cooler that is inside the radiator is leaking. Whenever the coolant gets into the tranny there will be big money. The material on clutch disks is put on using a water based glue. It doesn't take long for it to disappear.

 

[a_bullfrog_a]

Re: Atf in coolant?

I noticed it today and put it out of commission<br />right away. My first thought was that it was oil<br />but I did the smell test. didn't think of atf<br />cooler. that'll be a good starting point.<br />that's simple to replace, so I say, lol.

 

[KRS]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Don't forget to flush, check the ATF now and even if no signs of contamination... change it (twice).

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Atf in coolant?

And the filter.

 

[a_bullfrog_a]

Re: Atf in coolant?

I'll flush it 3 times. This is the vehical with<br />the boat hitch on it so I can't afford to take any chances or I'll have to pay docking fees this spring <br />

 

[JB]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Non-boating Tech topic.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Trade-in! Will you be able to trust this thing ever?

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Atf in coolant?

First unhook the tranny lines at the radiator and do a pressure test on the radiator to make certain it is tranny fluid.<br />When you flush the tranny make certain not to just drain and re-fill. Drain the converter and pump new fluid in from the cooling lines to make sure.<br />This will cost around $120 to $150 for the flush in most places. <br />Most of these I have seen have not had any water in tranny. The radiator carries lower pressure than the tranny lines, so oil goes in keeping water out. There is a good chance you won't have intrusion in the tranny.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Atf in coolant?

DD is correct. When you shut the car off though there is no pressure on the tranny lines but still about 14 pounds or so on the radiator. After making sure I had it fixed I would do the tranny. If you are able to do this yourself thats great. A simple way to insure that you have all of the old out is the following- Change the fluid. Refill and unhook lines from rad. Take top line and put a hose on it that will reach a 5 gallon bucket. Get at least 2 gallons of tranny fluid and run a hose from one of them to the bottom line. This will push all of the old out and suck up new. Have a helper shut it off as soon as the jug is empty, you don't want to run it for very long at all without new fluid coming in. Do both gallons this way. After this check your level for the next couple of days. You should be good to go.

 

[jimr]

Re: Atf in coolant?

they are right atf in the coolant isn't as bad as coolant in the tranny. We had a Ladder fire truck in the city that lost an Oring in a tranny cooler and contaminated the tranny. ended up costing about 20 grand to replace the tranny

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Atf in coolant?

At the Cat dealer we occasionally used a cleaner in the tranny after a cooler failure. It was called Butyl-Cellosolve. We mixed it with oil 1 part BC to 4 parts oil and that would remove the goo...was always worth a try before spending the big bucks on a rebuild...

 

[KRS]

Re: Atf in coolant?

ladder trucks, humph

 

[a_bullfrog_a]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Got a new radiator today garage told me it would <br />take them 2 hours to replace and they couldn't do it <br />today. so I ended up doing myself in 3 hours- not bad for first time replacing one. I did 3 flushes<br />on radiator today and rinsed out overflow container<br />real good. left it disconnected while flushing becouse the tranny fluid floats on top of coolant<br />and would just rise back into there. tranny fluid is clean but need to drain a bit from bottom to make <br />sure there is no coolant. I'll do another flush or 2<br />this weekend so the rest of the atf has time to rise into overflow container.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Atf in coolant?

the problem you'll have flushing is that the water and atf will not mix. You will get some out each time, but just flushing will not completely clean it all. The atf will float, then as the water is drained, the atf will stick to the sides and re-contaminate. Find a cleaner like mentioned above that will blend the atf and coolant to completely remove.<br />If you see no signs in the atf you may be lucky and not have any intrusion. I suggest changing the fluid and filter anyway. Someone above gave a good idea of flushing the tranny with a bucket. This is good peventative maintenance anyway. I always recommend if someone pulls a trailer they should change fluid every 40 to 50k miles.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Atf in coolant?

Be sure to get all of the tranny fluid out of the cooling system. When you finally get it all out you might consider changing all cooling system hoses. ATF and rubber dont mix well either the fluid will soften the hoses and actually soak through from the inside out and make hoses soft or spongy feeling to the touch. If you dont change them ALL keep a close eye on them they may swell and burst and then well different topic....<br />You my try using Dawm dishwashing detergent it will help displace the oil. Please remember to containe all this nasty BIO HAZARD and dispose of it properly.