Modified XJ Cherokee Tech XJ (84-01)
All modified tech questions. If it modifies your XJ beyond stock parts ask it here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Milky trans fluid

Old 10-07-2012, 06:36 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Lovettoride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Lake city mi
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default Milky trans fluid

Hi all new to the forum here and new to cherokees.

I bought a 97 cherokee with 6 inches of lift and 35'

I have replaced the 35's with 33's and fixed a couple other little things and took to out for a test drive and it was all over the road but thats a hole other problem that i will get to later, but once i got home the trans started slipping and then it wouldent go into gear at all, so i checked the trans fluid and its milky.

From the research ive done its the tranny cooler, is this correct?

And like ive said before im new to cherokees so i dont know much about how they work in that area.

I am experienced in mechanics and im not afraid of doing the work.


So how would i fix this problem?
Old 10-07-2012, 06:43 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
nopi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: kissimmee
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0-t
Default

sounds like its mixing water and oil... did you go under water recently if not probably you got a bad oil cooler hapenned recently to a friend. in the xj the cooler and radiator are one piece. we went to pepboys and got an external cooler installed in front of the radiator and problem solved
Old 10-07-2012, 07:00 PM
  #3  
CF Veteran
 
Bustedback's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Default

Once you get coolant inside an automatic transmission it's done for. The chemicals in antifreeze attacks the adhesive that holds the clutch friction material to the backing steel on the disc. The seals inside the tranny may swell too and cause issues.
Old 10-07-2012, 07:49 PM
  #4  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Lovettoride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Lake city mi
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I havent hit any water sence ive had it, and how do i know if its coolant? And there is what looks like a cooler infront of the raid.
Old 10-07-2012, 07:51 PM
  #5  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Lovettoride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Lake city mi
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I cant tell if there is coolant in the raid or just water because what ever is in it is all brown and nasty
Old 10-07-2012, 07:52 PM
  #6  
CF Veteran
 
holycaveman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,643
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Have the transmission flushed by a shop. Not just drained and filled. This will get most everything out.

What do you mean "won't go into gear" specifics please.
Old 10-07-2012, 08:01 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
nopi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: kissimmee
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0-t
Default

water and tranny oil looks like cofee and milk like a cream color.... coolant and tranny oil has a peptobismol pink color
Old 10-08-2012, 12:35 AM
  #8  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Lovettoride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Lake city mi
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

What i mean by wont go into gear is that when i put it into drive or reverse nothing happens, and the fluid is pink like a strawberry milkshake
Old 10-08-2012, 09:10 AM
  #9  
CF Veteran
 
holycaveman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,643
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I would completely flush the system and try it. Its worth a shot. If not you will have to tear it apart. Which actually is not that bad. You can rebuild it for under 200 bucks yourself normally.
Old 10-08-2012, 09:12 AM
  #10  
CF Veteran
 
holycaveman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,643
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

If it has stock gearing. I wouldn't flush it. I would just pull the tranny. With 35's and stock gearing those clutches are probably toast if they off roaded it much at all.


Also the radiator should be replaced.

Yea I know a lot of sucky solutions! LOL You can try just replacing the radiator(they are not much) and completely flushing the system. But there still could be problems on down the road.

Last edited by holycaveman; 10-08-2012 at 09:25 AM.
Old 10-08-2012, 11:54 AM
  #11  
CF Veteran
 
93XJLI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 3,671
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, bolt ons for days...
Default

Originally Posted by Lovettoride
the fluid is pink like a strawberry milkshake
sounds like the tranny cooler in the rad is leaking internally and mixing with coolant. flush that ***** IMMEDIATELY and replace the rad. pray your tranny isnt toast.
Old 10-08-2012, 04:50 PM
  #12  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Lovettoride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Lake city mi
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Can i remove the return line from the trans and start the jeep and let the trans flush itself as i keep filling with fluid?
Old 10-08-2012, 07:15 PM
  #13  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Lovettoride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Lake city mi
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Anyone?
Old 10-08-2012, 08:51 PM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
93XJLI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 3,671
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, bolt ons for days...
Default

Yes
Old 10-08-2012, 11:06 PM
  #15  
CF Veteran
 
Bustedback's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Default

I bet you get less than a 1000 miles out of that transmission even after flushing it. It's toast, sorry.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Milky trans fluid



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:59 AM.