New here, with Avalon help needed

[Zee]

Thanks in advance for this forum. From just a quick read os some posts, I believe you folks will be as informative, helpful and friendly as my collegues over on the brickboard.com Volvo forum.

Here's where i need immediate help:

96 Avalon, Automatic, 70,000 miles OK oil change history on this 3.0L sludge-prone engine

Black coolant.

Looks black in the overflow bottle, thin watery red under the fill cap. Like diluted ATF.

ATF looks discolored, slightly dark as if it never has been changed.

No odor of either in each.

Am I correct in thinking the ATF is cooled through one or both of the side tanks of the coolant rediator? And that I probably have ATF leaking intoo my coolant?

Or, is there another way these fluids get mixed on this engine?

Also, is there a FAQ of technical issues where I could have studied up on such a question before posting (so as not to repeat frequently asked beginer's questions)

[88 LE]

Originally posted by Zee
Am I correct in thinking the ATF is cooled through one or both of the side tanks of the coolant rediator? And that I probably have ATF leaking intoo my coolant?

Theres a tranny cooler built into the radiator. If you look at the bottom of the radiator you'll see 2 hoses that run to the tranny.

Toyota antifreeze / coolant is red. So what you think is diluted ATF is actually coolant.

[Zee]

Toyota coolant is red?

Oh, I forgot to ask is it was.

What is it? DEX-COOL? (I hope)

[88 LE]

Originally posted by Zee
Toyota coolant is red?

Yup.

What is it? DEX-COOL? (I hope)

Its not Dex-Cool.

Its some special blend Toyota came up with. I know its silicate free though.

I would stick with the Toyota red coolant. It costs a little more, but its good stuff.

Ooops... Forget to add that i've used the Dex-Cool stuff in my 88 Camry before and it works fine. I used Prestone that comes in the silver bottle (coolant is orange), not the yellow bottle (green junk).

[Zee]

Ooops... Forget to add that i've used the Dex-Cool stuff in my 88 Camry before and it works fine. I used Prestone that comes in the silver bottle (coolant is orange), not the yellow bottle (green junk). [/B][/QUOTE]

I have been using the Texaco/Havoline brand (it is red) in all my acient Volvos. They converted to it without leaks. Just now getting a leaking rad on the '84, but that is with a used rad that has about 110K miles on it already.....

Because I have five cars, I may switch the Avalon to it, as well. Like to streamline & standardize maintenance services where I can.

Also I'll change coolant every two years unlike the previous owner who thinks this is a waste of money)