Transmission fluid in coolant

I have a 2014 4cyl with almost 200k miles. It's been burning oil for a while and now it has transmission fluid leaking into the coolant. Took it to my shop and they replaced the radiator for $500. A family friend who flips cars is offering to do a transmission swap for $900 to buy me more time while I'm looking and saving for a new Tacoma. Just wondering if it's worth dropping more money into the current truck.... Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated

 

Does it still shift? If yes, why not change the transmission fluid and keep driving it?

 

Sounds like @Krazie_SJ did an oil change for you to me

 

If you've had the pink milkshake then your trans is on borrowed time and your radiator was long over due for a replacement makes me wonder what else has been under maintained on your truck.

As for worth it?

Right now the market is insane and a truck in hand is worth two for sale, almost literally.

Beyond that it's almost always cheaper to keep and fix an older car than to buy a brand new one, and buying used can be buying into someone else's problems, for instance the hypothetical guy buying your truck after having the trans pink milkshake.

So, I would hold onto yours and do a trans swap.

The 4.0 is better than the 3.5 anyways.

 

He has the 2.7.

 

The fact you only got 200k miles out of it just pains me, should have gotten 400k easy , hope you take better care of the new one.

 

Should have gotten 200k easy and with minimal maintenance. Something failed on this truck and I don't think maintenance had anything to do with it. Just keep oil in the truck, never change it and you'll get 200k. Sounds like you just got a lemon.

If everything else is in decent shape I'd have the transmission rebuilt. Should be around $2500. Then I'd pick up another engine from a scrapyard and have it installed. For around $5K you can be set up. Hopefully for another 400,000 miles.

 

You do realize that not every Tacoma or Toyota for that matter gets 400k miles without problems, right? Every Toyota dealership I have been at has a service department that is constantly busy doing recalls, repairs, etc. Cars break.

 

I second this. I believe your ATF is Type IV. Flush out the current ATF and see how it shifts afterwards.

 

Unless they've changed how it's done, there is a transmission cooler built into the bottom tank of the radiator. From what you wrote it appears that the tank sprung a leak. Those tanks used to be made of brass and lasted forever, but they probably use something lighter and less durable now.

If the radiator has been changed for a new one and there is no more leaking going on, I wouldn't put another transmission in. Check the transmission fluid level and top off as needed if the shop didn't do that. Burning oil is a different issue and I'd be more interested in seeing what that's all about.

 

I might be wrong but I just got through researching the types of tranny fluid on account of tranny issues after filling mine with water (not on purpose) and after 04 they all take “WS”? My 06 with the A750 wouldn’t shift right with type IV , or valvoline maxlife. If its not a “sealed” transmission it’ll have a dipstick and itll say what type fluid on the stick

 

Is it 4x4?

 

I know 04 is not the magic year; our 06 Camry and 07 Corolla, both I4, take Type IV. I think it is safe to say, if your Toyota/Lexus does not have a transmission dipstick, it takes WS ATF. MaxLife is compatible with both WS and Type IV, among others. I have it in all my vehicles, except the RX.

 

You

thats what I found, the sealed with no dipstick take ws is what I gathered. And I couldn’t remember the magic years if there was one

 

Better yet the whole engine is ruined lol.This truck needs a engine swap.Anyway how do you know when your radiator is long overdue for a replacement?My truck is approaching 200k and I’m weary of my radiator.

 

Appearance, the radiators tend to turn lighter in color typically a little greenish on the plastic tanks, sometimes you can see micro cracks and hashing like extremely dry skin or little shiny or sparkly bits of the ends of exposed fiberglass in it.

I've seen some that scared the heck out of my but other people have said it's just fine to include one that belonged to a friend of mine that failed recently leading to having to replace the head gasket and mill the head so apparently it's a very subtle thing even to the trained eye.

IMHO if you're questioning it, change it anyway, it's cheap insurance and then you know for sure, one less thing to worry about.

 

Please help me understand how you arrived at the conclusion that this mechanical failure was a result of neglect. Do you know OP? Do you have some inside scoop? Or do you just attribute mechanical failure to not taking care of one's vehicle? No BS, I would really like to know the logic behind your comment.

 

Well damn now I have another thing to look out for.My 2010 Tacoma has a metal radiator and there are gashes everywhere from rocks.So a failed radiator can cause a milk shake radiator/oil fluid mix.I forgot how this happens can you explain?