Purple radiator fluid, not clearing up after 8 gal of distilled water flush?

[nov74fj40]

Anyone ever encounter this? I flushed repeatedly with over 8 gallons of distilled water. After each rad drain, I get purple fluid. Not clearing up at all. Tran fluid is good, oil is good - not showing any contamination. I have slight rad leak I am getting ready to change out with OEM. Can radiator leak trans fluid into coolant? Any input welcomed. '98 LC 100 series. 340k miles. Rad was changed out at 195k. No signs of smoke from exhaust, etc. Clean running, no misfiring, runs perfect.

 

[Mike NXP]

ive never seen a vehicle leak anything purple lol, so congrats on that....Im not toally sure but I assume transmission fluid could leak into radiator if the cooler or radiator failed but either way it would just make a darker red ( red trans fluid + Red or pink coolant ) or if for some reason you were running green coolant ( don't ) and it mixed then you would be getting a brown

Is this vehicle new to you? Maybe someone used that fancy overprice royal purple stuff, do they make coolant? Just guessing here.

 

[leveeguy]

Yes the trans fluid can leak into the coolant if there's a crack in the trans fluid cooler located within the bottom of the radiator

Although im not sure thats what is going on here

 

[Mike NXP]

Only thing purple I can think of is that synthetic coolant / royal purple / additive stuff for the coolent....No necessarily a bad thing but even if there is still a little bit in there I would imagine it will still turn your water flushes into purple ...Ive never like properly flushed out an engine but maybe there is a way to pump water through and get it all cleaned out? Don't we have like drain plugs on our engine block?

 

[nov74fj40]

Thanks for quick responses. Man - got me stumped but it is purple no doubt about it. I haven't had rad flushed in a long time (hate to admit). I will go ahead and install new rad, etc., bypass rear heater, etc. (waiting on parts) and go through flush again see what happens. If I eventually get clear water coming out of new rad drain plug then we will know I had tran fluid leak in radiator. If not, then ... FSBO

ive never seen a vehicle leak anything purple lol, so congrats on that....Im not toally sure but I assume transmission fluid could leak into radiator if the cooler or radiator failed but either way it would just make a darker red ( red trans fluid + Red or pink coolant ) or if for some reason you were running green coolant ( don't ) and it mixed then you would be getting a brown

Is this vehicle new to you? Maybe someone used that fancy overprice royal purple stuff, do they make coolant? Just guessing h

I will give you more detail below

I have owned '98 since 2006 - got it under 100k miles. Did the water pump, drive belt, etc when I bought.

All maint done along the way by Master Mechanic at dealer - friend of mine so I can trust it was done right. In 5/2014 at 192k miles did new radiator, hoses, tran flush. At 247k I did the full camshaft, timing belt, water, pump seal again, all 3 diff oil change, brake fluid and p/s fluid flush. Sitting at 340k miles now. I am about to change out the rad, hoses, bypass rear heater, I have done the basic stuff on LC - valve cover gaskets, plugs, at 283k. Clean rig no rust. Had to do front end ds shaft replacement a couple times. Last one at 326k. Replaced all door lock actuators... been fun project ride - removed running boards / put flaps up front - .... bout it. Most of this has nothing to do with my current issue but it is 100 degrees in MS and I am working on "dehydration" ... lol. Still not as tough as my '74 FJ40 but a challenge none-the-less.

Anyway - I'll keep you guys posted on what I find after I swap out rad for new one. Thanks for input.

 

[rexington14]

Any chance you are color blind?

 

[nov74fj40]

Any chance you are color blind?

Humor - maybe? However, I will say dripping on concrete it looks light blue. In the container it is purple. That is without any of my adult beverage rehydration in play.

 

[darrenk]

Are you opening both engine block drains each flush? It will take more flushing if you don't as there is quite a bit of coolant in the block.
When I flushed last, 4 flushes and everything was clear.

 

[Mike NXP]

If you have owned it that long you should know what coolant has been used . I dont understand how you are producing anything blue or purple unless you have been using that color coolant.

Strange ....post pic

 

[nov74fj40]

Are you opening both engine block drains each flush? It will take more flushing if you don't as there is quite a bit of coolant in the block.
When I flushed last, 4 flushes and everything was clear.

Thanks - I flushed system 6 times - each time using about 1 1/2 gallons of distilled water with no change to color of the fluid. Interestingly when I brought RPM's up during flush - the fluid came out of the radiator into the overflow container (mounted on radiator) and turned the fluid blueish purple every time. I hear you on the block drains - but there isn't enough fluid to come out of them to make a difference in my opinion / or at least in what I am experiencing. When I raise RPMs with thermostat open I get the fluid color change. Makes me think issue somewhere in the radiator

 

[nov74fj40]

If you have owned it that long you should know what coolant has been used . I dont understand how you are producing anything blue or purple unless you have been using that color coolant.

Strange ....post pic

I trusted toyota dealer to use correct fluid. I gotta believe they used pink. At least it always looked pink when I looked at reservoir. Let me pull a gallon container out of trash and send a pic. Dark purple.