Milky transmission fluid
05-14-2009, 08:41 PM
#1
Milky transmission fluid I've made too many posts in the auto section this week. But when I was checking things out in the tranny...i dropped the pan and the transmission fluid was not the clear bright red I was hoping to see. It was somewhat dark, not transparent and sort of a milky look to it. IDK if it was really milky or not, but it had that look to it.
Before I pulled the pan everything seemed fine besides my lock up issues. (that's why I was pulling the pan, to change out the tcc solenoid) The converter doesn't lock, P1870 code...etc.
The shifts seemed ok, it ran good, but the color of the fluid is what has me a bit worried.
So what's the problem here...coolant from the radiator is getting in my transmission lines somehow?
I'm not exactly sure how, I got an transmission cooler and I am kinda new to this stuff, but i really don't think the transmission cooler is hooked to the radiator in anyway. There are two lines from the transmission correct? I have one line going to the cooler and one coming back. Unless of course, the fluid was this color before I hooked up the transmission cooler and maybe everything is ok now...
Before I pulled the pan everything seemed fine besides my lock up issues. (that's why I was pulling the pan, to change out the tcc solenoid) The converter doesn't lock, P1870 code...etc.
The shifts seemed ok, it ran good, but the color of the fluid is what has me a bit worried.
So what's the problem here...coolant from the radiator is getting in my transmission lines somehow?
I'm not exactly sure how, I got an transmission cooler and I am kinda new to this stuff, but i really don't think the transmission cooler is hooked to the radiator in anyway. There are two lines from the transmission correct? I have one line going to the cooler and one coming back. Unless of course, the fluid was this color before I hooked up the transmission cooler and maybe everything is ok now...
05-14-2009, 08:58 PM
#3
Your trans cooler that is in the rad is likely leaking.
Is there oil in the antifreeze as well?
Fix the leak (probably a new rad) and get the transmission power flushed by a tranny shop that can get all of the contaminated transmission fluid out of the torque converter. You are only changing 1/2 the fluid by dropping the pan.
Is there oil in the antifreeze as well?
Fix the leak (probably a new rad) and get the transmission power flushed by a tranny shop that can get all of the contaminated transmission fluid out of the torque converter. You are only changing 1/2 the fluid by dropping the pan.
05-14-2009, 09:16 PM
#5
Yep you have water in the trans fluid. Now for the bad news. The friction material on the clutch sets and the converter clutch are is water soluable 
You can do a flush but at best it may buy time. Your trans is headed for eminent failure. You will also need a raditor.Or you will need to bypass it and run a stand alone cooler and plug the holes for the radiator.
Seen this many times not good at all I am afraid.
You can do a flush but at best it may buy time. Your trans is headed for eminent failure. You will also need a raditor.Or you will need to bypass it and run a stand alone cooler and plug the holes for the radiator.Seen this many times not good at all I am afraid.
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05-14-2009, 09:25 PM
#7
Let the fluid sit in the first two, then mixed it up a bit. The last pic shows the only two lines connected to the cooler.
I am still confused on how coolant can end up in my transmission if those two lines go from the tranny straight to the cooler. Are there other lines that I don't know about that are connected to the radiator?
I am still confused on how coolant can end up in my transmission if those two lines go from the tranny straight to the cooler. Are there other lines that I don't know about that are connected to the radiator?
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05-14-2009, 09:30 PM
#11
The cooler lines are actually run from the trans to the radiator then from the raditor to the cooler and back to trans in most cases. Unless you or someone went out of there way to undo this thats the stock set up.
Other than driving around in some deep water thats about the only way water could have gotten in there.
We have had a few trans sent back to us "under warranty" like that over the past few years. pepto bismol.
As for how. the lines that run through the raditor is just a coiled copper tube, Its gets a hole in it and leaks into them.
Sometimes but not always you will find a little trans fluild mixed into the coolant also.
Other than driving around in some deep water thats about the only way water could have gotten in there.
We have had a few trans sent back to us "under warranty" like that over the past few years. pepto bismol.
As for how. the lines that run through the raditor is just a coiled copper tube, Its gets a hole in it and leaks into them.
Sometimes but not always you will find a little trans fluild mixed into the coolant also.
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05-14-2009, 09:36 PM
#13
Hmm didnt see that so your saying that those two lines rubber hoses are conected to the cooler and the cooler only?
If so there are two possibilies. Deep water came up over the vent tube.Or someone poured a substaintial amount of water down your trans dipstick tube.
If so there are two possibilies. Deep water came up over the vent tube.Or someone poured a substaintial amount of water down your trans dipstick tube.
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05-14-2009, 09:42 PM
#14
I put the stall in last summer and literally probably drove it 1000k miles or less. So it's possible that this leak was before the transmission cooler install, correct.
I wanted to change the fluid in the pan but I knew the transmission was rebuilt before I bought the car and so i figured the ATF was fine. So me and some friends install the converter, and hooked up the cooler as you see it now.
I wanted to change the fluid in the pan but I knew the transmission was rebuilt before I bought the car and so i figured the ATF was fine. So me and some friends install the converter, and hooked up the cooler as you see it now.
05-14-2009, 09:47 PM
#15
Yes its possible it was in there before. the water a fluid will separate if its sets long enough, But really not taking away from your disapointment which i fully understand, It make no difference at this point exactly how it happened , Its just a bad thing thats gonna have to be addressed. The cooler will also have to be flushed . Trans completly gone through or replaced. Converter cut cleaned and the converter clutch replaced sorry all your getting here is bad news.
sorry all your getting here is bad news.
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05-14-2009, 10:19 PM
#18
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i helped him pull the pan off and i didnt even notice the fluid being milky. didnt really look at the pan though. do you guys hear of this very often? he said the coolant is totally green, so how doesnt the atf mix with the coolant? is it a good idea to run the atf through the radiator, then cooler, then back to tranny when using an aftermarket cooler? this has me a little scared now. ive saw another buddies ps cooler break and mix with the coolant, but the coolant turned to a milky substance. this is weird.
05-14-2009, 10:29 PM
#19
the presure in the radiator remains high after the car is shut down where the trans cooler line presure becomes 0 the coolant pushed in to the cooler lines and its semi common to see it happen. Its not super common like and everyday event but we see it a couple time a year.
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05-15-2009, 12:55 AM
#20
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I might throw this in.... I'm a BMW mechanic and about a week ago we had a car come in that had milky tranny fluid. About a year ago they had submersed the car in deep water that had gotten into the vent tube. These people had full coverage on their insurance and they were able to claim this under their insurance and had it paid for 100%.
But to be honest... If you can claim it as insurance, you might wanna fill the tranny back up and have it towed to a shop to let them "find" the milky fluid. Idk how legal that is as far as insurance fraud. I am in no way a legal expert of any kind...
But to be honest... If you can claim it as insurance, you might wanna fill the tranny back up and have it towed to a shop to let them "find" the milky fluid. Idk how legal that is as far as insurance fraud. I am in no way a legal expert of any kind...
