Creamy radiator coolant

So i have this issue, my 07 4.7 Tundra over heated the other day. Check engine light come on got code P0117 temp sensor. Steam was coming out every where and let it cool down before i did an inspection.No hoses were damaged and no cracked radiator.I noticed the reservoir had a creamy substance.Opened the radiator and blobs of creamy coolant thinking maybe a blown head gasket. Checked the dip stick and oil is fine no water, and did a block test and liquid stayed blue. Does anyone know if maybe the transmission lines go through the radiator. Anyone else have this issue before, was planning on fixing it myself. Might just take it to a mechanic soon and not deal with the headache.
Thanks

 

The transmission lines are cooled in a separate chamber at the bottom of the radiator. Its possible that the seam between both sections could have rusted. This was a common problem in the older 4runners that were still running the original radiator. Check your transmission fluid to see what color it is.

 

Did it look like a pink milkshake? Could have the dreaded failed radiator that mixes the transmission fluid and coolant. It happened on my old 2000.

 

Its a sealed transmission no dip stick. Any other ways to check?
Thanks

 

More Hazelnut color.

 

Strawberry milkshake is trans fluid which would be an internal failure of the integral trans cooler if it has one or the trans warmer on the transmission.
A light brown chocolate milkshake would be oil.
You can get a head gasket failure or a crack that would allow oil into the coolant but not allow exhaust/compression gasses into the coolant or coolant into the oil. A dye test will show if you have a failure at the bore (block, head, gasket fire ring).

 

You can briefly pull the level check plug or the drain plug on the transmission pan to check for coolant contamination in the ATF, but you’d have to add back in the fill port any real volume you drain out.

I’d probably pull the engine oil cooler and pressure test it if you have no misfires, no coolant showing up in the engine oil, and if the oily mess in the cooling system doesn’t smell like ATF.

 

This, unfortunately. I've had a few vehicles with a strawberry milkshake in the radiator, but only one chocolate milkshake.

 

Well how many miles are on the trans fluid?

Won't look very "strawberry" if the ATF has turned brown and overdue for replacement.

 

I would say 50,000 since last changed

 

I would drain a small amount from the overflow in the trans pan to inspect. If it's contaminated, I would probably be motivated to drop the pan and replace the filter/all fluid before running the truck. Sounds like you would need to be prepared for some broken pan bolts in that situation as well.

 

To me, most any vehicle with a trans cooler built into the radiator should have the radiator replaced every 10 years, regardless of mileage. Luck all.

 

My truck does have 273,000 miles on it.

 

Is the cooler in the radiator? I thought it was a separate piece in front of it from 07-10. Then in mid 10 they integrated it in the AC condenser.

https://www.sparksparts.com/oem-par...9dHVuZHJhJnk9MjAwNyZ0PXNyNSZlPTQtN2wtdjgtZ2Fz

 

This is true for the 5.7’s, not sure on the 2nd gen 4.7’s, or if they have the ATF to coolant heat exchanger puck on the side of the transmission like the 5.7’s do.

The 4.7’s do have an engine oil cooler sandwiched behind the spin-on oil filter through.

 

I searched Sparks for a 07 4.7, but now I see in the description it says “2008-10. 4.7L, with towing package”. I think if it has a cooler though it’ll have the pick which might be where the leak is. Just wanted to let the OP know before he replaced his radiator and didn’t have to.

Edit: pick=puck.

 

Update, so it turns out it was not a blown head gasket. Apparently it was a transmission line that ruptured through the radiator. When they checked the transmission it was full of creamy stuff.