Let’s face it. Car problems suck. A bad car part can affect various aspects of your vehicle. Learn how a bad radiator can affect your transmission with this informative guide.
Cracked Radiator and Transmission Problems
The radiator is a part of your vehicle’s cooling system, removing the heat from the engine and transmission. It prevents your car from overheating. Coolant goes through the engine and circulates through the radiator. Considering how crucial this function is, it’s clear that a malfunction can pose a severe problem.
The main way a bad radiator can affect your transmission is that it can crack. When a radiator cracks, the coolant leaks and mixes with the transmission fluid. Professionals nickname this concoction SMOD, or the “strawberry milkshake of death.” The name comes from the milkshake-like color that forms when the liquids meet.
The mixture is toxic, and it may lead to irreversible transmission damage. In this case, you must replace your transmission.
Signs of Bad Radiator
As mentioned, a cracker radiator is a bad one. However, there are other indicators of bad units. Here are signs to acknowledge.
- High-temperature gauge readings. The normal temperature is between 195 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Vehicles consistently staying within the hot range indicate system clogs or corrosion.
- Fluid discoloration. Vehicle coolant is a vibrant color (often green, yellow, or orange). It flows through the radiator and coolant passage. A rusty color indicates contaminated fluid. It can turn thick and clog the radiator.
- The heater on the passenger side isn’t working. Clogged or leaking radiators can’t produce heat coolant to warm the vehicle’s interior.
Driving With a Bad Radiator
There are different reasons why a vehicle’s radiator could go bad. A bad unit is an unpleasant experience, whether it’s due to design flaws to dirty coolants. Some drivers underestimate the severity of a cracked or damaged radiator and assume driving is safe; this is not true. Without coolants circulating the system, your transmission will overheat.
Overheating can lead to serious issues such as delayed gear shifts and shaking sensations while driving. Delayed shifting is dangerous because it can cause an accident on the road. The best thing to do is service your vehicle.
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