Engine coolant in my transmission
#1531040
11/09/13 10:21 PM
11/09/13 10:21 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,489
Tracy, New Brunswick, Canada
magnumcharger
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,489
Tracy, New Brunswick, Canada
|
My '96 Ram 1500 got a new radiator a year ago, after the last one crapped out. Recently I noticed the temp gauge going past the normal area. After parking, and cooling down I topped up my radiator with coolant. Almost immediately my automatic transmission started acting poorly. I parked it for a month while I worked away from home. I came back to find a puddle of transmission fluid and coolant together under my truck's transmission. So I know what the problem is, the transmission cooler and radiator are leaking together. The question is: If I flush the transmission after I put the new rad in, will the trans be alright having had water circulating through it?
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#1531044
11/09/13 11:48 PM
11/09/13 11:48 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 404
Central New York
bfury
mopar
|
mopar
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 404
Central New York
|
The tranny coolant tube in the bottom of the radiator has a leak.Drain the radiator and the tranny. Disconnect the cooling lines from the tranny to the radiator and put in a separate cooler. Drain and flush the tranny including the converter. If you are lucky everything will be fine. Change the tranny fluid and filter again after a hundred or so miles if it works. Oh and plug the fittings in the bottom of the radiator for the trans fluid lines.
Last edited by bfury; 11/09/13 11:49 PM.
No Stock
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: bfury]
#1531045
11/10/13 11:06 AM
11/10/13 11:06 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,088
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
|
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,088
Niles , Ohio
|
Change it as said.Then after fluid and filter add a can of Transfusion.Drive for say 100 miles and do the same thing.I had a few at work that had the same problem.One was still going strong 4 years later.Its a crap shoot but its cheaper than a trans.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: magnumcharger]
#1531047
11/10/13 01:43 PM
11/10/13 01:43 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,526
It's a dry heat
gtx6970
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,526
It's a dry heat
|
Quote:
The question is: If I flush the transmission after I put the new rad in, will the trans be alright having had water circulating through it?
Not likely. chances are a trans overhaul is in it's very near future. Clutch plates and bands don't get along well with engine coolant
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: magnumcharger]
#1531048
11/10/13 02:38 PM
11/10/13 02:38 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,751
Graham, WA
Polarapete
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,751
Graham, WA
|
I see you are in Canada. Does the highway department in your area use calcium chloride on the roads? A friend had a diesel pusher motor home that he took to Alaska in the summer. When he got back he had to replace the rear mounted radiator at a cost of thousands. Seems the calcium chloride attacks aluminum and rear mounted radiators get all the dust kicked up by the tires and it settles in the radiator and starts to eat. Have you driven in dusty conditions and not rinsed afterwards? Something to think about after your trans rebuild and another new radiator 
1986 Dodge Ramcharger 440 2wd, Bracket Racer Under Construction
1998 Ram 2500 QuadCab, new daily driver.
2008 Honda Element
2014 Carry-On 7x14 Cargo Trailer
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: Polarapete]
#1531049
11/10/13 03:39 PM
11/10/13 03:39 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
MoparforLife
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
|
Quote:
I see you are in Canada. Does the highway department in your area use calcium chloride on the roads?
A friend had a diesel pusher motor home that he took to Alaska in the summer. When he got back he had to replace the rear mounted radiator at a cost of thousands. Seems the calcium chloride attacks aluminum and rear mounted radiators get all the dust kicked up by the tires and it settles in the radiator and starts to eat. Have you driven in dusty conditions and not rinsed afterwards? Something to think about after your trans rebuild and another new radiator
Not a likely culprit. Cloride would have attacked the external cooler lines - not the internal where the leak would have to be. I would still try the major flushes and a prayer. Have seen many older transmissions live a long happy life if when caught early.
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: MoparforLife]
#1531050
12/30/13 10:21 PM
12/30/13 10:21 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,489
Tracy, New Brunswick, Canada
magnumcharger
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,489
Tracy, New Brunswick, Canada
|
So, I replaced the radiator, then flushed the transmission, and replaced the filter. I took the truck for a test drive. It seemed to work great! Then... I got home, and noticed water seeping out of the front of the engine, and transmission fluid dripping from the back of the transmission pan. I assumed that the thermostat was leaking. I had a new thermostat and gasket, which I installed. The trans oil pan had a small rust hole in the back. So I removed the pan, draining the trans yet again. I noticed a few clutch linings in the drip tray... I sandblasted the pan, and welded up the hole. I replaced the fluid and gasket, reinstalled the pan, then took it for another test drive. This time it told the tale: it wouldn't shift, it revved like it was in neutral, and when it finally shifted, it banged into gear. All of the sudden the transmission was toast. Okay. I got back to my house and the engine disgorged all of its coolant out of the front of the block, behind the pulleys. So, waterpump as well. I bought a waterpump and tossed it on the front seat, I'll install it next spring. The transmission will have to be rebuilt. Meanwhile...I bought a 2014 RAM Laramie. 
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: magnumcharger]
#1531053
12/31/13 08:31 AM
12/31/13 08:31 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
|
Quote:
So, I replaced the radiator, then flushed the transmission, and replaced the filter. I took the truck for a test drive. It seemed to work great! Then...
I got home, and noticed water seeping out of the front of the engine, and transmission fluid dripping from the back of the transmission pan. I assumed that the thermostat was leaking. I had a new thermostat and gasket, which I installed. The trans oil pan had a small rust hole in the back. So I removed the pan, draining the trans yet again. I noticed a few clutch linings in the drip tray...
I sandblasted the pan, and welded up the hole. I replaced the fluid and gasket, reinstalled the pan, then took it for another test drive.
This time it told the tale: it wouldn't shift, it revved like it was in neutral, and when it finally shifted, it banged into gear. All of the sudden the transmission was toast. Okay.
I got back to my house and the engine disgorged all of its coolant out of the front of the block, behind the pulleys. So, waterpump as well.
I bought a waterpump and tossed it on the front seat, I'll install it next spring. The transmission will have to be rebuilt. Meanwhile...I bought a 2014 RAM Laramie.
Wow!....you still went and bought another Dodge Ram!, I'm all done with Dodge Rams, after numerous transmission failures/replacements in every Dodge Ram I've owned, countless 4X4 hubs/untold ball joint replacement, along with repeated suspension failures, codes, PCMs, seemingly all inherent in the Dodge Ram line up from 94 to present,...after this one dies, no more Dodge Rams for me, great lookin trucks, but that's all they got, makes owning a Ford seem appealing
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#1531054
12/31/13 09:23 AM
12/31/13 09:23 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,647
Ringtown, Pa.
Dartsport540
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,647
Ringtown, Pa.
|
Wow!....you still went and bought another Dodge Ram!, I'm all done with Dodge Rams, after numerous transmission failures/replacements in every Dodge Ram I've owned, countless 4X4 hubs/untold ball joint replacement, along with repeated suspension failures, codes, PCMs, seemingly all inherent in the Dodge Ram line up from 94 to present,...after this one dies, no more Dodge Rams for me, great lookin trucks, but that's all they got, makes owning a Ford seem appealing
I would never buy a Ford truck. I work on to many of them.
548 cu. in., Bill Mitchell Aluminum Block, CRT 727 auto trans, Alston Chassis. 8.981et at 149.46 mph. 1.204et - 60 foot, So Far....
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: screamindriver]
#1531056
12/31/13 12:42 PM
12/31/13 12:42 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
|
Quote:
Local trans shop owner says the Chebbys are the least present customer at his shop...And the mopars keep him in business... 
Agreed, my Boss dumped his last Ram 2008 model (which replaced the 2003 Ram after it toasted a tranny) and again another tranny went south, and he tired of it being at the dealer more than driving it...his 2009 GMC to date hasn't had 1 issue, and it doubles as the company plow/tow vehicle
|
|
|
Re: Engine coolant in my transmission
[Re: magnumcharger]
#1531057
12/31/13 04:35 PM
12/31/13 04:35 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,027
Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,027
Rio Linda, CA
|
I've pulled apart a couple of TF's that were contaminated with coolant, in some places the fluid had turned to jelly. A good cleanup is all they needed, no visible damage to anything.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
|
|
|
|
|
