Something Leaking from Transmission Cooler
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Something Leaking from Transmission Cooler
I just got the car out of storage and noticed at some point something leaked from the transmission cooler and then crystalized. Check out the photo below:
Any idea what this is? I am having the transmission serviced next week sometime so I will have them inspect this. It looks like coolant, but ATF flows through these lines, right?
My car is an 08 and has 169,000 miles
Thanks
Matt
Any idea what this is? I am having the transmission serviced next week sometime so I will have them inspect this. It looks like coolant, but ATF flows through these lines, right?
My car is an 08 and has 169,000 miles
Thanks
Matt
#2
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Looks like road salt. There is no coolant in an IS F that is white. It dries pink. There is no ATF in an IS F that isn't either red or brown or maybe black. It does not dry white.
Road salt does not disappear magically, and does not run off as quickly as one might hope. This is one of the reasons I am happy to live in Georgia where we only rarely have this kind of stuff on the roads.
Road salt does not disappear magically, and does not run off as quickly as one might hope. This is one of the reasons I am happy to live in Georgia where we only rarely have this kind of stuff on the roads.
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Well that is good to know. Thanks lobuxracer.
I was starting to get concerned that the trans fluid that runs through the radiator was getting contaminated by coolant. That doesn't sound like the case.
Thanks
Matt
I was starting to get concerned that the trans fluid that runs through the radiator was getting contaminated by coolant. That doesn't sound like the case.
Thanks
Matt
#4
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
If I were you, I'd do a strong clear water rinse to get that crap off of there. It does absolutely no good whatsoever.
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I will. It still doesnt seem right. the dark streak to the left of the photo feels gummy. Could it have leaked some trans fluid and then salt from the road attracted itself to it?
#6
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Lots of possible solutions, but stopping the leak is the goal.
#7
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
I also suggest looking at this thread. It has all the pertinent information on setting or adjusting the fluid level in the transmission, and you'll need to do that if you disconnect the cooler hoses.
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#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I also suggest looking at this thread. It has all the pertinent information on setting or adjusting the fluid level in the transmission, and you'll need to do that if you disconnect the cooler hoses.
#9
Intermediate
iTrader: (1)
I do not know if Illinois uses sodium chloride or magnesium chloride on their roads, but either will cause serious damage to your car over time. I would locate someone who can remove those salts from your car. Much more serious that a simple ATF leak.
Pressure washing would help, maybe. If I lived there, I would lock that car up when the state salts the roads and drive some POS that I did not care about.
Loren
Pressure washing would help, maybe. If I lived there, I would lock that car up when the state salts the roads and drive some POS that I did not care about.
Loren
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Hi Lorenr,
I store the car over the winter so no worries about salt. What is weird is that I was just looking at photos I had taken of the car when I put it in storage and I cannot see this white substance behind the grill. It very well could have been there but I do not see it. How could this have developed over the course of 3 months in storage?
Here is a shot of it before. granted it is way zoomed in, but I dont see it to the extent as it is now.
Matt
I store the car over the winter so no worries about salt. What is weird is that I was just looking at photos I had taken of the car when I put it in storage and I cannot see this white substance behind the grill. It very well could have been there but I do not see it. How could this have developed over the course of 3 months in storage?
Here is a shot of it before. granted it is way zoomed in, but I dont see it to the extent as it is now.
Matt
#11
Depending on where it was stored, it's probably another human that flung it around.
I store mine in a 2.5 garage & have a Honda Pilot in and out all Winter on the smaller side. The crap this SUV brings in makes the garage filthy, along with people in and out of the garage wearing boots, flinging shovels, etc. I've seen a spot or two on my car from flingage.
Your spot is unique of course, but if you're anything like me, perhaps you drove the car to the limit of Fall & inadvertently hit a "preemptive" salt pile / puddle. The boneheads here in Chicago start throwing salt the minute precipitation gets about 35 degrees so they can get the same salt budget they get the next year.
Did you pull the car out & start it up at all this Winter? On a warmer day? Maybe the garage door dropped a mushass ball of slush directly into your grille?
Edit: Looking at your picture again, that looks like a lot. It looks like it came from a splash or two from a car in front of you and landed wet.
I store mine in a 2.5 garage & have a Honda Pilot in and out all Winter on the smaller side. The crap this SUV brings in makes the garage filthy, along with people in and out of the garage wearing boots, flinging shovels, etc. I've seen a spot or two on my car from flingage.
Your spot is unique of course, but if you're anything like me, perhaps you drove the car to the limit of Fall & inadvertently hit a "preemptive" salt pile / puddle. The boneheads here in Chicago start throwing salt the minute precipitation gets about 35 degrees so they can get the same salt budget they get the next year.
Did you pull the car out & start it up at all this Winter? On a warmer day? Maybe the garage door dropped a mushass ball of slush directly into your grille?
Edit: Looking at your picture again, that looks like a lot. It looks like it came from a splash or two from a car in front of you and landed wet.
#12
I do not know if Illinois uses sodium chloride or magnesium chloride on their roads, but either will cause serious damage to your car over time. I would locate someone who can remove those salts from your car. Much more serious that a simple ATF leak.
Pressure washing would help, maybe. If I lived there, I would lock that car up when the state salts the roads and drive some POS that I did not care about.
Loren
Pressure washing would help, maybe. If I lived there, I would lock that car up when the state salts the roads and drive some POS that I did not care about.
Loren
#13
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Depending on where it was stored, it's probably another human that flung it around.
I store mine in a 2.5 garage & have a Honda Pilot in and out all Winter on the smaller side. The crap this SUV brings in makes the garage filthy, along with people in and out of the garage wearing boots, flinging shovels, etc. I've seen a spot or two on my car from flingage.
Your spot is unique of course, but if you're anything like me, perhaps you drove the car to the limit of Fall & inadvertently hit a "preemptive" salt pile / puddle. The boneheads here in Chicago start throwing salt the minute precipitation gets about 35 degrees so they can get the same salt budget they get the next year.
Did you pull the car out & start it up at all this Winter? On a warmer day? Maybe the garage door dropped a mushass ball of slush directly into your grille?
Edit: Looking at your picture again, that looks like a lot. It looks like it came from a splash or two from a car in front of you and landed wet.
I store mine in a 2.5 garage & have a Honda Pilot in and out all Winter on the smaller side. The crap this SUV brings in makes the garage filthy, along with people in and out of the garage wearing boots, flinging shovels, etc. I've seen a spot or two on my car from flingage.
Your spot is unique of course, but if you're anything like me, perhaps you drove the car to the limit of Fall & inadvertently hit a "preemptive" salt pile / puddle. The boneheads here in Chicago start throwing salt the minute precipitation gets about 35 degrees so they can get the same salt budget they get the next year.
Did you pull the car out & start it up at all this Winter? On a warmer day? Maybe the garage door dropped a mushass ball of slush directly into your grille?
Edit: Looking at your picture again, that looks like a lot. It looks like it came from a splash or two from a car in front of you and landed wet.
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