2017 Radiator Failure

[Plimbob]

A little background on my issue - sent in a sample of trans fluid for testing to Blackstone Labs. The fluid had less than 8k on it. The report came back noting there was a presence of sodium and potassium in the fluid which in their view indicated coolant in the trans fluid. The amounts were not significant but shouldn't be there in the levels they are. It is the original radiator and it has 95k on it.

Have any of you guys had issues with these radiators failing with regard to the internal cooling lines? I have never had a radiator fail in this manner. I am a bit puzzled by it.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Doubeleive]

nothing that has came up as any common complaint, get a new radiator and carry on
fairly easy to do yourself

 

[B-train]

What is the transmission you have? 6 or 8 speed? Original 8 speed fluid was known to attract moisture. But, the constituents do possibly lean towards radiator failure. It's it's a 6 speed, does the fluid look good and red, or milky?

 

[NickTransmissions]

A little background on my issue - sent in a sample of trans fluid for testing to Blackstone Labs. The fluid had less than 8k on it. The report came back noting there was a presence of sodium and potassium in the fluid which in their view indicated coolant in the trans fluid. The amounts were not significant but shouldn't be there in the levels they are. It is the original radiator and it has 95k on it.

Have any of you guys had issues with these radiators failing with regard to the internal cooling lines? I have never had a radiator fail in this manner. I am a bit puzzled by it.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

If you have signs of coolant in the trans you need to immediately:

1) replace the radiator
2) completely flush the trans, lines
3) hope no damage has been done to the trans

Coolant contamination will absolutely destroy your transmission. Pump, gear train, valve body would all need to be replaced. When a trans comes in with coolant contamination (strawberry milkshake looking fluid) the whole thing goes to the scrap yard and we start with a rebuildable core that wasnt contaminated w/coolant.

 

[Plimbob]

Thanks Gents for the feedback. I am going to replace radiator. Also, this trans was rebuilt 8k ago and started having intermittent shifting issues after about 2-3k, especially after driving a while. After taking it back to the shop and leaving it with them several times and they were unable to get it to do it. I finally took the owner for a drive last week and he noticed it. They are warrantying the trans out after i repalce the radiator.

 

[Plimbob]

Interesting update - the trans shop called me and wanted me to bring it in so they could look at the a sample of the fluid. Which I did and they don't believe there is coolant in the fluid because the fluid is bright red and there is no milky look whatsoever. It could be the amount is so slight it isn't enough to cause the milky look yet. For safety sake, I am going to change the radiator anyway as I trust Blackstone regarding oil analysis.

 

[Plimbob]

Hey Guys, I haven't had time to replacing radiator yet but I have a question, if I recall when I changed the AC condensor the trans lines input into it. So, is the trans cooler in the condenser or the radiator? If its in the condenser, how could coolant get into the trans fluid?

 

[Geotrash]

Hey Guys, I haven't had time to replacing radiator yet but I have a question, if I recall when I changed the AC condensor the trans lines input into it. So, is the trans cooler in the condenser or the radiator? If its in the condenser, how could coolant get into the trans fluid?

It's both. There are oil-to-water cooler in the end tanks of the radiator (one for transmission, the other for engine oil), and an air-to-oil cooler in front of the radiator and Siamesed with the A/C condenser. They are plumbed in series so that when the transmission is cold, the coolant warms the fluid. And when the transmission is hot, it takes some of the heat out of the fluid.

 

[Plimbob]

Dave, when you say 'air-to-oil cooler' are you referring to the cooler in the upper half of the AC condenser? I did not see an external cooler in front of the AC condenser.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Plimbob]

Update -

I went ahead and tore this down. As a reference point, there is not a trans cooler in the radiator of this vehicle, the trans cooler lines run into the AC condenser and is in the upper half of the condenser. Thus the puzzling question of how glycol could get into the trans fluid. The amount of glycol was 0.10 which the lab said is very slight. I suppose it is possible, there was a failure of the trans cooling lines and the Freon cooler lines and the PAG oil contaminated the trans fluid because that is the only glycol in the AC condenser and there isn't much of that? That seems like a heck of a stretch.

However, I would like to point out I did change out the AC condenser over a year ago due to the OE condenser failing. I suppose its possible this condenser went bad. In an exchange with the lab, they doubt there is PAG oil mixing with the trans fluid. They are leaning toward the glycol was a false positive due to the low level of prescense.

What compounds the problem, I went ahead and removed the radiator thinking there was a trans cooling reservoir in that as well, I finally realized my error as I was pulling it out... I should have known better as I put the darn condenser in myself...

Anyway, I am thinking I have two options:
1. Put it back together, have the trans fluid flushed and run it for a few months and have it checked again.
2. Replacement - change out the condenser again (not thrilled about doing that -PIA process with recharging, etc. And considering I have the radiator out, replace it too.

Geez, what a fiasco...