Hi,
I have a 2001 F350 with Banks upgrades (Turbo, Chip & Jake Brake). I noticed recently there is transmission fluid in the coolant expansion tank, and the transmission was flushed recently and it was noted that there was coolant in the transmission fluid. I’ve only had the truck for a month or so but it seems to run just fine. It only has 49k miles on it. I’ve done about 1000 miles in it since I’ve had it with no problems pulling a big 5<SUP>th</SUP> wheel. I know though that will not be the case for long with coolant in the transmission.
Does anyone have any ideas how coolant could be getting in there? This is my first big truck so I’m not very familiar with how they are put together. I’m thinking that there has to some sort of transmission cooler that uses coolant from the engine for this to happen?
Any help is very much appreciated.

 

Transmission cooler is inside the radiator. Must be a leak in the cooler allowing the coolant and transmission fluid to mix. Probably needs a new radiator.

 

X2 on the radiator.
Do not run it with coolant in the transmission.
A radiator is a couple of hundred.
A transmission is a couple of Grand!

 

Thanks for the info, that's actually a relief, few hundred bucks rather than few thousand for a new tranny.

Any reccomendations on a brand? Just Ford stock or are there some good aftermarket radiators that maybe do a better job?

 

Moved to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum.

 

We use 1-800-radiator at work.

 

Thanks again folks.

Anyone know how hard the rad on a 2001 F350 is to replace? Looks kind of busy under there. I've changed radiators on cars before so I'm hoping I can do this one too.

Thanks,

Mark