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Re: tranny fluid in coolant Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Wed, 24 Oct 2001 12:39:18 In Reply to: tranny fluid in coolant, mike, Wed, 24 Oct 2001 09:12:49 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
There was a problem with the early 9000 radiator, up to about mid '88, where a weld between the tranny oil cooler and the radiator would fail, allowing the fluids to mix. The transmission gets the worst of it, because the coolant is forced into the tranny (cooling being under more pressure when hot). Tranny fluid isn't a great cooling medium, but coolant makes for a lousy lubricant. Most all of those early radiators have been replaced long ago.
Sounds like that's what happened to your car - it may be a later model (what year?), but the weld could still fail. Do what Jim K said - replace the radiator. I wouldn't play with any strong detergents in the engine - just flush the cooling system with any of those readily available flush kits - I know Prestone makes one. They can handle a little oil.
The big question is your tranny. I would drain as much fluid as possible and refill, drive the car 20 miles, then do it again. Once the fluid starts to look OK, let the tranny go for a little while (maybe a couple of thousand miles) then drain and refill again. Yup, it's a pain, but a dozen or so quarts of tranny fluid is much cheaper than a new tranny.
Good luck!
posted by 140.157....
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