Overheated VT - Pink fluid in radiator

[just_vt_problems]

Hi,
My VT overheated today.

When I opened up the radiator it was full of pink fluid, as was the coolant refill tube.

Is this likely to be coolant or something else?

The car was fine before christmas, left it in the garage while I was away for a couple of weeks, now this.

It also stalls and over revs at times.

[wogstyler]

is it a auto? if so could be autofluid leaking into water

[accentstencil]

Definitely transmission fluid in the cooling system, the transmission pipes go though the radiator for cooling and I would say that the leak is in the radiator, so you will probably need a new radiator. Check the transmission fluid to see if any water got into transmission, you might be lucky and find nothing but I would not drive it or you might cause major damage to the transmission.

[just_vt_problems]

yep, auto.

[mrVT]

some jap cars take pink pink coolant so check to see if previous owners didnt put the wrong coolent in!

[BXHD]

my VZ has pink coolant in it and its wat holden put in.. so get it checked properly before u listen to everyone on here

[just_vt_problems]

Thanks for that BXHD!

Assuming it is the radiator and I need a new one, I can see that Series 1 and Series 2 VT need different radiators. How can I tell which series I have? The date of manufacture is 05/2000.

my VZ has pink coolant in it and its wat holden put in.. so get it checked properly before u listen to everyone on here

[danja]

2000 will be a series 2.

There is a pink coolant, not usually used in the V6's, but it's possible someone has put it in. Easy enough to check though, transmission fluid will be oily (it's an oil after all), whereas the transmission fluid will have the consistency of water. Get some on your fingers, and mystery solved.

[BXHD]

my car overheated on monday, and i took it in to get looked at, my radiator is being sent off to get cleaned out properly.. and my fans malfunctioned..
i didnt really know wat was wrong with my car until i put water in the radiator, and took it for a 20 min driver yesterday watching the temp the whole time, (was cold, and the temp didnt go over 1/4)
so i figured a blocked radiator..

best advice i could give u would be, if ur not sure wats wrong, get it looked at because its not worth a new engine if u screw up
im pretty sure u would have a series 2 vt

[just_vt_problems]

Yeh it does seem to be coolant.

When I refill the radiator from the hose and seal it as best I can, after a while water and pink stuff comes out from a hose connection to the coolant refill tube.

My guess is that the clamp dried out while I didn't drive it for a couple of weeks.

You're right, have to be very careful not to kill the engine.

Re trans fluid or coolant, it does feel and look a bit oily. Actually it's like coagulated paint - kind of slippery in water but sticky.

[just_vt_problems]

Things are looking worse.

The transmission dipstick has the same pink fluid on it, but it's very low.

The bad connection is between the radiator cap and the coolant tube but there must be something else wrong.

[just_vt_problems]

Took it to the mechanic, I do have water in the transmission..

Anyone know where to get cheap transmissions in Sydney?

Mechanic is saying he can flush it but it will die in a few months...

[BXHD]

awww sorry to hear it
good luck!

[jesse'sVT5.0]

Damn! Same thing happened to my BA XR6. Apparently a common thing on the Falcon. Happened just before chrissy and the transmission is screwed too.

I feel for you, as soon as i saw your post stating "pink fluid"!

[D_BLOCK]

Took it to the mechanic, I do have water in the transmission..

Anyone know where to get cheap transmissions in Sydney?

Mechanic is saying he can flush it but it will die in a few months...

Get a second opinion 1st , its cheaper than a new box.
Exact same thing happened to mine and my auto was cleaned out real nice, no problems at all just had to get a new radiator.

Good luck.

[danja]

Get the trans fluid totally flushed, hopefully you caught it early enough that there isn't serious damage.

If it does die you can pick up 4L60E's fairly cheap on eBay a lot of the time, or a wrecker. Used to see them all the time around the $300 mark (more if properly reco'd though)

[Kikki]

Get a second opinion 1st , its cheaper than a new box.
Exact same thing happened to mine and my auto was cleaned out real nice, no problems at all just had to get a new radiator.

Good luck.

Same here, had this issue with my VX. Cleaned it out good, gave the trans a good service and never had any issues. Good luck.

[just_vt_problems]

Thanks guys, I will get the fluid changed again.

Anyone have negative stories related to changing the fluid after the trans got water in it?

I'm being told that once it gets water in it, it's !@#@-ed.