I just picked up a Skylark with a 73 455 and TH400, I removed the radiator cap and the coolant looks like tomato juice! I also pulled the trans dipstick and it too was milky red. I then drained the trans pan and it was toamto juice. How could coolant get into the trans and how can tranny fluid get into the radiator? I am hoping that the radiator has a crack in it and spilling tranny fluid into the radiator. How do I flush the tranny and get all of the bad trans fluid out???? The tranny does have a drain plug. Or is there another problem elsewhere? Thanks Tim
contamination The trans cooler is leaking into the radiator internally. You will need to replace your radiator and flush both the coolant and the trans fluid. The transmission will be the hard part. The torque converter doesnt have a drain plug. You could drill and tap the converter for a plug. I would assume that the contamintion would be more from the transmission into the cooling system rather than vice versa. Im not sure what pressure you will have in the transcooler but I belive it is higher than the cooling system wich should be 12- 15 psi hot. You could disconnect the trans cooler lines and run the engine and pump out the bad fluid, you might be able to drop the return line in a bucket and return clean fluid to the trans, Id check with a transmission guy about that though. On second thought, installing a converter drain plug would be easier.
Do not treat this lightly, as stated above the trans cooler in the radiator is leaking coolant into the trans and vice versa. The major issue is getting ethylene glycol (anti-freeze) into the trans as it will disolve the glue that holds the friction materials on the clutch plates and bands. It can only take a short time for this to result in all the clutch/band material to fall off into the pan. The trans will then need a complete cleaning and overhaul. One the radiator is fixed, the pan should be drained and the filter changed. A flush with clean fluid (cheap stuff is ok for this) should be done until the fluid is clear and not milky. Once you are certian there is no damage or clutch material flaking off, you can use a new filter and fluid again and you should be ok. Any large chunks of friction material in the bottom of the pan means the damage has already happend and flushing will not help. So, don't run it any more until the radiator is fixed. Good Luck, Scott
no way??? way!!! wow that sucks! :rant: ive never heard of that before.guess i will be checking my trans fluid more often :laugh:
I've dealt with this a couple of times before. Normally when this happens the car overheats like nobodys business. the oil some how impairs the coolants ability to transfer heat. bloody mess really. your going to be flushing for a loooooooonnnnnng time. bring a friend..
What a F#*&*ing mess! At least it seems that there was only water in the radiator! That was the easy part, the hard part is the tranny, I have used over 8 pints so far, at least I have a drain in the pan.
Sorry to say this but you WILL be rebuilding this trans no matter how much you flush it. I had the same thing happen to my Olds. I caught the problem right away, flushed the trans & replaced the radiatior. Ended up rebuilding it 3 weeks later. I have a friend that is a trans specalist. He said coolant disolves the clutch friction material and once it gets on the clutches there is nothing that will stop it. My advice is if you don't rebuild the trans now, don't drive the car too far from home.
I have only seen the internal leak just once in my life ...and that was in a car that was in junk yard for over 10 years that was brought back to life...
Oh man. Yes, when the engine is running, the trans cooler has more pressure than the radiator coolant. BUT, when you stop, trans line pressure goes to zero, but the radiator stays under pressure until it's cool. That's how they contaminate each other. Flushing the trans is iffy. You may get the coolant out, but the friction damage will be already done. On the good news, the 400 isn't as pricey to overhaul as the overdrives or transaxles are.
It looks like it was all water in my radiator as when I drained it the water seperated somewhat from the trans fluid and it was clear. If anything I have a good working TH350 that I could put in. Thanks Tim
I had this happen on my 350-th about 30,000 miles ago, same thing internal rad leak. I tookit into a shop and got it flushed under pressure. It worked for me and I've had no problems since, plus it was an excuse to get a 4 core rad!
in order to avoid future problems, consider installing an external trans cooler and bypass the rad completely.
Most auto centers like Goodyear and Firestone offer power-trans flush. This will get everything out of the trans and converter. Mark
If the rad had only water in it, my guess is it froze and cracked, allowing the two fluids to contaminate each other. Check the engine oil and freeze plugs for problems there too. Hope the block didn't crack! Good luck, Brian
I ran 9 quarts of new trans fluid through the tranny and the fluid looks good, it should be good enough to get me to the trans shop for a power flush. Oredering a new radiator also. Thanks for the advice! Tim
That a good point, I hadnt thought of the pressure inbalance when the engine is still hot and the transmission is at rest.
