coolant in tranny fluid

[generalpeon]

Hi, I have a 4.0 a4ld and it started slipping so I checked the tranny fluid and it has what I believe to be coolant mixed in it. I know that this is bad, but what did it do to my tranny? can I still use it? do I need a rebuild?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It might be possible that your radiator is leaking internally. Do you have transmission fluid in your radiator? Fix the leak, drain out your cooling system, and transmission fluid. Refill everything, and see how it perform. Don't continue driving it this way.

 

[Glacier991]

coolant in ATF is NOT a good thing. The frcition material can absorb moisture and fail. At this point you have nothing to lose by replacing the radiator, flushing the ctransmission fluid and keeping your fingers crossed. The statistics do not bode well for you.

 

[gijoecam]

It can't hurt to try.... the radiator is the culprit. You probably have trans fluid in the coolant too.

The thing to do is replace the radiator, drain and flush the coolant as best you can, drain and flush the trans as best you can, then refill everything fresh and see what it does. If there wasn't too much coolant in the trans, you may be able to salvage it, but the coolant in the trans fluid definately didn't do it any favors.

-Joe

 

[sn0border88]

Yup, sounds like the barrier seperating the trans cooler and engine cooler in the radiator is cracked. Just get a new one and flush all the fluids. SHouldnt cost more than 200 to fix, or you could take your chance pulling a radiator at a u-pull it to really save bucks.

 

[generalpeon]

update: I did a complete 12 quart flush today and it doesnt look like coolant, but just really dark tranny fluid, possibly burnt? It firmly goes in gear in every position but OD. It feels like its trying to move, but it just revs. Is this a shifter problem or something worse? Thanks

 

[Glacier991]

You could have a plugged 3-4 shift solenoid. Look at the A4LD Valve Body Rebuild Diary.