Wanted Some help with transmision flush

[antiwinter]

Still trying to get the fluid to run clean

Hi,
Recently found this forum searching for information on head gasket work on my 97 4.0. After reading a thread here i realized that it wasnt a head gasket it was my transmission cooler. Not quite sure at this point which is really worse.

So I have this strawberry milk inside my transmission. I have it draining as I make this thread trying to figure out my best plan of attack. Suggestions would be appreciated'

Thanks Chris

 

[James909]

ATF that looks like strawberry milk is a sign of coolant/water intrusion. If you have driven the truck through deep water then water could have gotten into the trans through the vent. Otherwise the transmission cooler in the radiator is leaking and letting coolant mix with the ATF. It sounds like you have already figured this out though. You should replace the radiator. You are already draining the trans so you should change the filter and refill the trans. Then you should flush the trans by removing the hose to the external cooler and starting the truck. Pump out 1 quart this way and then refill that 1 quart through the dipstick. I would use about 18-20 quarts to ensure that you've gotten all of the coolant out.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Check WWW.AutoCoolRadiators.Com or WWW.RadiatorBarn.Com.

 

[antiwinter]

Transmission flush help

Ok I have tried flushing this transmission out. I was told to try putting clean fluid on the suction side of the transmission line. Let it suck through until the return comes back clean.Well for some reason the suction side doesnt pick up the fluid. The only way I can get it to flush is to poor it through the dip stick. I have run 3 or 4 gallons through this and it is still milky. I am going to drain the converter but can not find the access to the drain on the converter. Maybe I am just too angry because it is not working for me. This is my only transportation for the wife and kids so any help would be great. Is this transmission junk. I pretty sure it did not have more than 10 or 15 min after the cooler let loose.

Thanks
Chris

 

[96eb96]

Ok I have tried flushing this transmission out. I was told to try putting clean fluid on the suction side of the transmission line. Let it suck through until the return comes back clean.Well for some reason the suction side doesnt pick up the fluid. The only way I can get it to flush is to poor it through the dip stick. I have run 3 or 4 gallons through this and it is still milky. I am going to drain the converter but can not find the access to the drain on the converter. Maybe I am just too angry because it is not working for me. This is my only transportation for the wife and kids so any help would be great. Is this transmission junk. I pretty sure it did not have more than 10 or 15 min after the cooler let loose.

Thanks
Chris

The V6 trans does not have a converter access drain. You have to flush thru the lines. There is no suction either from the return line. I guess you may have to run another few quarts thru.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Your torque converter doesn't have a drain plug.

 

[antiwinter]

Ok so i am not loosing it than. I was reading on another thread that maybe i should have plugged the bottom line. Is this true with this transmission It is the deep pan.

Thanks for the quick response

 

[BrooklynBay]

The bottom line has fluid going out to the cooler while the top line is where the fluid returns to the transmission.

 

[antiwinter]

Still Flushing

Ok I have put 31 quarts of transmission fluid through this thing. My question is..Is the fluid coming out going to be perfectly red. Example(what it looks like pouring it in. Because what it looks like to me is the fluid with air in it. If you put your finger in the stream coming from the transmission the fluid is clear red, but if you watch coming out of the line it still looks discolored. Understand?
This thing is costing a fortune in fluid, and I can only use Mercon V correct?
Thanks
Chris

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the fluid a little while after you finish doing the flush so that it doesn't look foamy.

 

[aldive]

Ok I have tried flushing this transmission out. I was told to try putting clean fluid on the suction side of the transmission line. Let it suck through until the return comes back clean.Well for some reason the suction side doesnt pick up the fluid.

It won't; no suction.

The only way I can get it to flush is to poor it through the dip stick.

The correct method.

I have run 3 or 4 gallons through this and it is still milky.

Something is amiss.

 

[aldive]

Ok I have put 31 quarts of transmission fluid through this thing. My question is..Is the fluid coming out going to be perfectly red.

I use 16-17 quarts and the fluid comes our=t perfectly red

 

[antiwinter]

It won't; no suction.



The correct method.




Something is amiss.

Any suggestions? I have actually 34 quarts through this thing. I have never herd of the cooler breaking inside a radiator before. Call me silly, Did bodywork on cars( Heavy collision ) for 25 yrs never had or herd of this happening Always a first though.

 

[BrooklynBay]

It could happen from rust & corrosion, so that's another reason why it's important to properly maintain the cooling system.

 

[antiwinter]

I have a thought

Could it be since I have both cooler lines open that it is getting this look to the fluid. If it is air how long would it take to dissipate? I poured some of the fluid into a clean container. Still has a little different look to it but it doesnt look anything like the first drain. Suggestions

 

[aldive]

Post pictures of the fluid in question.

 

[budwich]

I too have had this problem (tranny and rad "friends").... and can't believe the number of Fords that you see on this forum with the problem. Anyways, if you don't get the fluid as "good as it is going in", the rad fluid "leftovers" will cause problems to the clutch pads which will be a $2K rebuild job. Keep flushing and even then there is no sure way you may not have a future (it depends on how long the contamination lingered before you noticed the problem).

 

[antiwinter]

At the very longest time frame that it was driven with this contamination was 30min. It was more like 15min, and the pan sat with the fluid in it about a two days before I drained originally i thought it was a blown head gasket. Thats why it sat for two days.

 

[budwich]

thats good if there is such a thing in this case.... i guess my question back to you is "how did you notice this problem?" I for one don't check my transmission fluid or rad fluid every day or even every month.

 

[antiwinter]

thats good if there is such a thing in this case.... i guess my question back to you is "how did you notice this problem?" I for one don't check my transmission fluid or rad fluid every day or even every month.

Noticed a puddle on the ground under my truck. Went out to go somewhere and there was a puddle under the right side of the truck. It had busted and sent it all to the overflow i guess. Thats why i am guessing it busted after i stopped. The lower third of the rad was just anifreeze when i first started draining it. Thought it was a head gasket at first