My car was overheating

Tiny
BULLWINKLE
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 DODGE NEON
  • 260,000 MILES
My car was overheating. I got it home and changed the thermostat and pressure cap. I decided to run plain water in the cooling system until I could see that all is well. The good news is that it is no longer overheating, but I have pink foam building up in the cooling system now, (still no coolant, only water). Could transmission fluid be making it's way into the coolant somehow? Doesn't make sense to me, but I know they both run through the radiator. What would cause the pink foam?
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 AT 9:29 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Check the transmission fluid. If the fluid is pink (milky pink) as well, it means the cooling system and transmission fluid cooler (inside radiator) has a leak resulting in fluid and coolant mixing.

What was the color of the coolant?
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Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Sounds like the transmission cooler compartment on the radiator is leaking-
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Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 AT 9:50 PM
Tiny
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The coolant appeared to look fine. Not milky, not watery looking.
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Friday, October 19th, 2012 AT 9:10 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Check the transmission fluid if its pinkish color
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-1
Friday, October 19th, 2012 AT 9:14 AM
Tiny
BULLWINKLE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The transmission fluid in the car appears to be the same color and viscosity as the brand new fluid I have. Nothing I see indicates water in the transmission fluid. Someone suggested if there is not sufficient coolant flow due to a clogged radiator I could get pink foam. Does that make sense?
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Friday, October 19th, 2012 AT 10:42 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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No it doesn't make no sense-Do a radiator flush and put coolant and drive on-
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Friday, October 19th, 2012 AT 11:12 PM
Tiny
BULLWINKLE
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I'll give it a try. Still kind of scary though. Thanks for the help.
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Saturday, October 20th, 2012 AT 12:02 AM

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