Red/pink fluid after radiator swap

Tiny
RKPLYMOUTH
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 KIA SPORTAGE
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 206,000 MILES
Hello, I am Rene, I watch your video on how to change a radiator for a 2005 Kia Sportage V6. There was a part where I was supposed to disconnect all of the hoses connected to the radiator. I believe I might have disconnected a hose I was not suppose to and a red/pink fluid came out. From the looks of it I am assuming its transmission fluid. There is also a tube that hooks around from the back of the radiator that I believed was not tightened enough because when I drove that car from one side on the street to the other there was this red fluid all over the place spilling from the battery down. I wanted to ask you all to be sure. Maybe it is radiator fluid (not coolant), maybe I need another radiator. I am getting ready to add transmission fluid and have watched your video on that process as well. I just wanted to be absolutely sure before proceeding.
Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 AT 10:34 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I am Danny.

Yes, that is transmission fluid. Cars that have an automatic transmission have a cooler built into the radiator that cools the fluid for the transmission as well as cool antifreeze for the engine at the same time in different compartments. It is possible the lines were not tightened enough/stripped fittings/defective radiator(cracked) could be a few things. I suggest not driving the car until fixed because you do not want to run the transmission dry and ruin it. Hope this helps and feel free to ask any other questions if needed. Thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 AT 6:01 PM

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