My internal trans cooler in my radiator has apparently gone go crap. The trans now has coolant running through it. :mad: ANYWAY wouldn't this mean that there is now trans fluid flowing through my cooling system into the block? How can I make sure I get all of this tranny fluid out of the radiator and out of the cooling passages in the engine? Simply drain the radiator, fill it back up, run it a little bit, drain it again...and repeat? Or is there a better way that doesn't require a lot of work. Is this something I should worry about? Just trying to prevent further problems.

Thanks a bunch guys.

Any good cooling system flush will get it out.

I'd worry more about ethylene glycol (if thats the type antifreeze your using)in my transmission than trans fluid in the cooling system.

My $0.02

When you say a good cooling system flush, do you mean taking it somewhere to get it done? I'm trying not to spend more money than I have to because i'm not sure if i'll even been keeping the car....not to mention the fact that I don't have much money in the first place. lol Will draining my antifreeze, refilling, draing, repeat....etc take care of the problem?

JJ'S65 - The transmission is my main concern, and it will be dealt with very soon I hope. I just figured that someone would complain if I asked a tranny question here, so I posted in the transmission section regarding this. Thanks for the heads up though.

So what would be a cheap, while effective, solution to making sure that I can get all/if any of the transmission fluid out of my engines cooling system?

Thanks for the replies guys

- Ben

Buy a Prestone "Flush 'N Fill" kit (less than $10; just a check valve that lets you splice into one of the heater hoses with your garden hose and circulate fresh water and a spigot that you can stick in the radiator filler neck to direct the flow towards a container of some kind. It can be used over and over again). Follow instructions. Use whichever brand of "cooling system flush" (Prestone, DuPont, etc.) strikes your fancy and do it as many times as it takes to assure yourself that as much of the transmission fluid (a type of hydraulic oil) is gone as will satisfy your concern. Please recycle the old antifreeze solution and the first few gallons of rinse water so as not to add to the environments toxic pollutants burden.

My $0.02

JJ'S65 - Thanks for the info. I went out and bought a kit today. I haven't had the time to take care of this yet seeing how I have to take care of the trans first, but i'm sure i'll be worth the $9. lol I love those cheap fixes.

Just one other question....

Can any of you guys tell me what the line for the trans cooler (on a TH350) is the return from the radiator? I would imagine it would be the lower line on the radiator connection. Also, on the trans, which of the two spots is the return line suppose to be hooked up to? The one closer to the flexplate? or further? Thanks a bunch guys. She's almost ready to roll now. :D graemlins/thumbsup.gif

- Ben

Well hopefully the tranny fluid went in to the radiator only. Its under higher pressure, and likely possible to have trans fluid in the radiator and not coolant in the trans. If there is any coolant in the trans, my condolences, as its days are numbered, and the number isn't big.
Coolant will dissolve the friction matierial in the transmission which will make it slip badly and burn up. Might be a good Idea to pull the tranny pan and check before going on any trips.

I suspect that the transmission pressures go to zero shortly after the ignition is switched off. However, the cooling system pressures rise for a while after engine is shut down.

I hate to spend money so when I discovered leaking trans cooler tube had been crackd for a while I bought a transmisssion filter kit, and crawled under the car and gained access to the torque converter drain plug (MOPAR 904 Torqueflight Transmission). The drain plug is very small and it did not want to loosen with moderate pressure and the geometry and working position were bad and I had a bad feeling about proceeding further, so I took it to a reliable shop and had them flush it with their machine and install new fluid. This was about 3,000 mile ago and it seems to be OK.

My $0.02