2002 Toyota 4Runner ATF and Radiator coolant mixing

CMCCAGG

MEMBER
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

Engine Cooling problem
2002 Toyota 4Runner 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic 195K miles

Hi, I have similar problem to Grandma9 in that ATF fluid is mixing with radiator fluid and overheating and i'm in dire straights, need help asap.

Original 2002 Radiator blew on vacation recently and had replaced (with thermostat) at Toyota dealer while away. Flushed trans too. Two weeks later after returning same thing happened with new radiator. Believe it or not, My mechanic just went in for emergency heart surgery, but he checked the transmission beforehand and said it looked fine, fluid, etc; he thought new radiator was defective and suggested I take to dealer to have them replace radiator and trans cooler. I took to local Toyota dealer & they are saying radiator blowing due to blown head gasket? Doesn't sound ight is that even possible?

Please give me some advice here, my mechanic is a good guy but I have no access to him. Dealer is telling me car is worthless and not worth fixing given mileage - truck is in excellent shape otherwise. They have the truck and I need a vehicle for work asap. Need to make a move. Help?

PS: Transmission was replaced in Spring 07 with used w/ 35K on it

Thanks for your help!
c-

3 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Hi, I have similar problem to Grandma9 in that ATF fluid is mixing with radiator fluid and overheating

Plain and simple the only way for the tranny fluid to find its way into the cooling system-is a defective radiator tranny cooler compartment.

Overheating could be low in coolant also check the transmission fluid level probably overfilled mixed with coolant

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Monday, September 15th, 2008 AT 2:37 AM

CMCCAGG

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for getting back ras,

i guess I need to push them back a bit?

So, if it was the head gasket like they claim what would I be seeing then? Should I tell them to replace the radiator and tranny cooler?

What I saw both times the radiator went was a milky red frothy fluid overflowing out of the reservoir container and the truck overheating.

Is there anything that could be happening with the tranny that would make it repeatedly overheat and blow the tranny cooler compartment?

Or, is it just my dumb luck that two radiators (and tranny cooler compartments) went within two weeks of each other?

Thanks again for helping out,
c-

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Monday, September 15th, 2008 AT 7:14 AM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

For the overheating problem get it block and pressure tested to find out what's causing it. Cooler lines could be clogged up return line or within the internals of the transmission

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Monday, September 15th, 2008 AT 1:56 PM