Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?

I have a 1995 Fleetwood Cadillac, we had to replace the radiator shortly after we got the car. Since then we have been losing transmission fluid, my husband changed the fluid and screen and it was still slipping and when he went to flush the radiator he discovered where the trans fluid has been going. Why and how did it get in there? Was the radiator installed incorrectly? Also we have noticed a smell of antifreeze coming into the car. Is all of this linked and is there something major wrong, or can it be fixed easily?Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
The radiator also contains a transmission fluid cooler, and they share the antifreeze solution. If the trans cooler section is leaking internally into the radiator, that would explain how the trans fluid got into your cooling system. When you replaced the radiator, was it a new unit or used/rebuilt? The new one may have been defective all along. Stranger things have happened.



Anyway, the best thing to do is to replace the radiator again, but this time, have it pressure tested before it is installed.Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
Unfortunately, it's time to change that radiator again - and hopefully get one that lasts a longer this time. The transmission is cooled by separate tubes which are run through the engine coolant.

The %26quot;smell of antifreeze%26quot; inside the vehicle is almost always a sure sign that the heater core is seeping and also needs replacement.Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
Antifreeze smell in the car is a leaking heater core. Costly repair in a 95 Fleetwood.





Transmission fluid in the radiator can only come from a ruptured tank. There is a tank inside the radiator that transmission fluid runs through. This is to cool the transmission. The tank has an internal leak. Installation had nothing to do with that. Trouble is, if antifreeze has gotten to the transmission, that will destroy it.



Bad heater core,

Bad radiator,

Bad transmission (slipping),



Time to go shopping!Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
At least it is a simple problem. The bottom of the radiator contains a transmission oil cooing loop, and that has failed. It is a common problem that requires replacement of the radiator. The transmission fluid is undoubtedly contaminated with coolant, but I have never known that to damage a transmission even when the fluid looked like a strawberry milkshake.



The cooling system should be flushed (about the only time I recommend cooling system flushes) and the transmission fluid should be changed. I am not familiar with Caddies, but if transmission flushes are approved the transmission should be flushed also. New radiator, new fluids, life is good again. EDIT - wait until this is done before worrying about the smell of antifreeze - we know there is one leak (inside the radiator into the transmission). Odds are that is the only one.Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
the transmission fluid flows through the radiator to keep it cool. In the radiator there is a coil or heat exchanger that the trans fluid flows through and is cooled by the surrounding antifreeze. if this coil leaks the fluid will leak into the radiator and mix with the antifreeze and you will get antifreeze in your transmission as well.



I would call it a defective radiatorWhy is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
Thats where the tranny fluid is cooled, they are kept separateWhy is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
There is NO WAY that trans. fluid cana get into the radiator, unless you or someone else is putting it in.Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
Wow!, you have another bad radiator, at the bottom of the radiator there are 2 tranny lines that run into a seperate chamber and the fluid is cooled this way but it is seperated from the radiator fluid, apparently this lower chamber has busted allowing the fluid to get into the radiator fluid, you will need a new radiator and you will also now need to get the tranny flushed out and a new tranny filter as the radiator fluid is now in your transmission, also the engine cooling system will need flushed to get the tranny fluid out of the engine and new coolant will need to be added.Why is there transmission fluid in my radiator?
no dear it was installed right. what,s wrong is there is a hole in the cooler tank on the side of the radiator and the transmission fluid and anti-freeze is mixing. what you need to do is replace the radiator and check to see if you have anti-freeze in the transmission.