So I happened to look under my jeep and notices a huge slick of fluid. Got to look at it and it's leaking at the oil filter adapter.

I also noticed that this was coolant and oil mixed...bummer

So I opened my oil fill cap, no brown milk(no coolant in the oil)
I then checked my oil dip stick...just oil found there....

Then I opened my radiator and the milk shake was found.

So I have oil in my coolant but no coolant in my oil...


I found a YT video saying it could be the tranny fluid leaking into the coolant via the radiator(tranny coolant lines go to the tanks on the side of the radiator and then this could leak causing the mix.
I have an aftermarket radiator, CSF, that I've had for about 12-15 years.

How can I make sure I dont have a blown head gasket and is there a way to check to see if my tranny fluid is leaking into my coolant via the radiator(or another way)?
I'm going to first check my tranny fluid level and to see if that is down. I did drive it around the driveway, reposition, so that I could wash it. I didn't notice any issues with the tranny, like it would be low on fluid.

Thank you!

EDIT: went and checked my tranny fluid...sure enough it's brown...So some how I'm getting my coolant and tranny fluid mixed...

 

To make sure it is not the head? The simplest and a relatively quick and easy way to do this would be by doing a compression check to test all of the cylinders for compression.

That is good that you found out about the Transmission fluid and coolant mixing like that.. Hopefully, you might have staved off any bad damages to the transmission, or having the engine overheat on you?


(edited):
I wonder how you should go about cleaning up the mess of having all the contaminated coolant going into places where it should not be going, like in your engine coolant channels? Would a really good thorough flush be sufficient to do it? You do not want any of those places getting clogged.

How well should you go about flushing out the Transmission?

I guess another radiator.. if that is what caused it?

 

I would change the radiator and do flush with a good flush cleaner added in you will probably need to do many flushes to get all the oil out of the cooling system , and for the transmission I would do about 2 or 3 fluid changes , I would do the 1st one then drive it for a day or two and then the 2nd one and drive it more and then do the 3rd fluid change . When I say a fluid change I mine a drain and fill , no need to remove the pan unless you think you need to . The filter is just a screen and not a true filter .

 

There are some coolant flushes that specify they do oil and grease, but I cannot recall the ones I read that on.

 

Yeah, I just have to figure out how the two fluids were able to combine. Thank you for the suggestions. I'll have to be doing this a lot lol

 

Yeah im gonna have to do a lot of flushing. The biggest challeng is to figure how how this started. Also to flush out the torque converter, if that's possible...

 

I'll try and look, if you happen to remember that would be great info!

 

The only interface between the transmission and the coolant is the radiator. I'd say the trans cooler is leaking. In your location, you could probably get away with using a remote trans cooler and plug the cooler lines at the radiator, then clean out both systems, run it until you can get a new radiator. An aux cooler is a good idea in your area anyway in addition to the rad cooler.

Old school cleaner would be kerosene. It would mix well with the tranny fluid and flush clean with water. I've cleaned engine parts with kerosene and a brush, then hit them with a garden hose, left them out in the sun, and they looked brand new. It's not cheap because today it costs as much as gasoline. When I first started working on engines, it cost about 5 cents/gal!

 

Awesome! I've been looking into how these could have mixed. What's weird is that I saw this at the oil filter adapter. I'm not sure if there is a location around this oil filter adapter that could also leak?

I actually just bought a trans cooler. I think I'll replace the radiator and then install the trans cooler. I don't daily the jeep, so I can flush things out and let the jeep sit. It does sit outside so I have to make sure nothing will freeze on me.

How would I flush the transmission? Just drain and fill and drain and fill until it looks normal?

 

Just found this idea:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tra...12/#post484899

From greengoblin:
I flushed mine my self all you need to do is disconect your return line from the cooler and add a peace of hose in a 5 gal bucket and put a funnel in the dipstick tube and start your rig and fill as fast as you can till the fluid is coming out is bright and fresh shut it off and hook you tranny line back up and recheck your fluid level as long as your not changing the filter this will work other wise then you need to drop the pan and change the filter and readd more fluid this way it uses the tranny pump instead of fluid being pushed into the pump and destroying anything

 

IIWY I'd be sure what I was fixing was what needing fixing. Internal cooling lines rarely go in radiators (they're bathed in rust inhibitors on one side and transmission oil on the other) so the likelihood that it's a head gasket seems the better working diagnosis.

Anyway, pull the radiator and fill it with water (leave the cap on and place it flat or plug the bottom and leave it upright). Pressurize the transmission fittings (about 15 PSI, or if somebody knows what AW4 trans fluid pressure should be) and watch for bubbles.

But is it milky?

 

Make sure that you are actually fixing the problem before you throw parts at it. Most likely it is the radiator, but I don't know why it would show up at the oil filter adapter.

When you drain and fill the trans, I know Walmart has the Valvoline Dex3/Merc in a gallon bottle for like 12 bucks by me. Get a few and do at least 3 or 4 drain and fills (in all fairness, an extra drain and fill wouldn't really hurt).

When you are doing to flush the cooling system, get a few bottles of a good commercial flush that you can use, and run it a couple times with distilled water. A couple flushes of the cooling system couldn't hurt. I would recommend to flush the heater core separately. Just bypass it when you are flushing the block and radiator.

 

Submit an oil sample to Blackstone labs, they'll tell you if you have even the smallest amount of coolent in the oil. But it does take a few weeks to get the results, and costs around $25.

 

x2 ^^^

 

yeah, it's milky. Has coolant in there.