You've got water in the transmission. The lighter trans fluid is floating on the water and coming out the dipstick. Also, water boils at a much lower temp than trans fluid.

 

Steam would certainly cause the frothing and exploding fluid as the pressure builds.

 

Oh sorry, No the pan was fine

That would make sense. Thanks! I did an at home "flush" filling and draining

I never knew this either thanks for the info!
After the series of filling running and draining to "flush" it everything is good

Combination of the water and the trans vent is what I think it was.
The vent was flappy so it could easily decide to fall over at will.

Damn is the vent hard to get to with the trans in the car.
Good luck to anyone who has to get to that vent lol

 

Out of curiosity,

Say I left the water in the trans
Wouldnt it eventually boil and steam enough to evaporate entirely?

 

Indeed, except, and it's a BIG EXCEPT. While the water is in the trans, it is corroding the many sensitive steel parts. Rust is not good!

I only knew about the water because it happened to me, but I didn't know it. Then I drove fast up a mountain grade, gaining ~3000 feet in 15-min. About halfway up the grade, two things happened at once:

1. The temperature of the trans oil rose fast.
2. As I gained elevation, the boiling point of water kept dropping

Basically all the water flashed to steam in an instant and came out the dipstick. I heard an explosion, pulled over, and the entire hood and engine was coated with oil.

So all you need is a nice grade with a 3000 foot elevation gain and problem solved.

 

Yes, but as someone else said it will do alot of damage to the metal parts.

Also think of it like this. Put frozen french fries or chicken into 300degree cooking oil and what happens

Oil goes flying everywhere because the water flash boils and throws it in the air, then the stove catches fire and the house burns down :P

 

Remember this question...

 

Googled "boiling temp of trans juce...315* ?

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&..._oq=&as_eq=&as

 

Do yourself a favor.

If your coolant is cloudy, trans fluid is frothy red, has water in it etc....


get an external trans cooler from advance for $30, put it in as the main cooler. eliminate the radiator as part of the cooling circuit for the trans.

The trans build more pressure than the radiator, except when off. If the cooler in the radiator itself cracked, you'd potentially suck water in when it's shut off.

I wouldn't worry about a new radiator just yet...just test the theory. if your next leak is coolant at that point then you know.