pressure testing radiators - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**68350** · 10-05-2005, 12:05 AM

I hope someone can help and I ask this thread not be moved. My brother has a 98 gmc, with 350/auto, and he had a radiator leak fixed a couple of weeks ago and noticed a "bogging" at around 45-55 mph. Well, the transmission ended being rebuilt and there was water in the tranny, causing the bogging. The tranny shop said if the radiator shop didn't plug the tranny lines when pressure testing, that's why there was water in the tranny. The tranny shop, when confronted, said prove it, after the $1800 rebuild. Anyone have a manual or something that says something about pressure testing and if the tranny lines weren't plugged, what would happen. And to add to the radiator shop, he said how did he know my brother didn't take it off-roading and suck water into the tranny or something like that. ANY help is appreciated. Thanks

walker · 10-05-2005, 12:23 AM

You will have a hard time blaming a radiator shop for water getting into your tranny. If they pressure tested it and it was leaking water into your tranny iit would fail the pressure test. Now if it did leak and they repaired a leak on the tranny cooler portion of the radiator and did not check the tranny for water you might have something, assuming that they did all the work.
Otherwise, welcome to the school of hard knocks! BTW I am a senior member, soon to be graduate student of that very same school.

cableguy0 · 10-05-2005, 12:38 AM

not a whole lot you can prove in that situation. them pressure testing shouldnt have gotten fluid in the tranny side of the radiator. a bad radiator will cause that. why was it pressure tested in the first place was it leaking? are you sure the water wasnt in there previously

Rooster's 67 · 10-05-2005, 12:47 AM

some radiator shops use air pressure to test and then submerge the radiator (much like testing a tire for a leak). The reason for this is that air will excape the hole easier than a liquid(water) and be shown by the bubbles. when they do that they are supposed to plug the cooler holes or flush the cooler to remove the water. but in my opinion that amount of water in the tranny would cause milky fluid and overflowing trans fluid(poss.). May or may not be enough to ruin the trans. but the trans shop got their overhaul and the radiator shop is right in their "prove it " statement unfortunately.
I have been a master auto tech for 17 years, they will never build a truly sucessful business that way IMHO.

**special-K** · 10-05-2005, 07:20 AM

Is there any other way the water could have gotten in the trans?Does he wheel it in the water?The shop would have had to leave alot of water to have such a negative effect.How much time passed betwwen the pressure test and trans problem?Had the trans been back-flushed ever?How many miles were on the trans?These are all questions that need to be answered.It could be that a back-flush would have solved the problem and the trans shop just hit you with a rebuild it may have not needed.Just a thought.

**68350** · 10-05-2005, 08:51 AM

well, I can tell all that have viewed that some of the rings were no longer rings, more like pieces of rings. The tranny had to be rebuilt no matter what after the contents were saw. I can honestly say that he has NEVER off-roaded it. Guess that's an expensive bullit to bite

cableguy0 · 10-05-2005, 09:45 AM

rings? are you talking about the clutches or the seals. if that trans was well worn which theres a really good chance it was seeing as how the radiator was bad and needing testing. it could have been coincidence it does happen. the little but of water that would have been left in the trans cooler wouldnt have done very much damage at least not to the extent of killing the trans.i mean as soon as the radiator was stood upright most of the water would have came out after that happened your talking about a miniscule amount of water mixing with 10-12 quarts of transmission fluid

10-05-2005, 12:05 AM	#1
68350 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Williston, ND Posts: 2,999	pressure testing radiators I hope someone can help and I ask this thread not be moved. My brother has a 98 gmc, with 350/auto, and he had a radiator leak fixed a couple of weeks ago and noticed a "bogging" at around 45-55 mph. Well, the transmission ended being rebuilt and there was water in the tranny, causing the bogging. The tranny shop said if the radiator shop didn't plug the tranny lines when pressure testing, that's why there was water in the tranny. The tranny shop, when confronted, said prove it, after the $1800 rebuild. Anyone have a manual or something that says something about pressure testing and if the tranny lines weren't plugged, what would happen. And to add to the radiator shop, he said how did he know my brother didn't take it off-roading and suck water into the tranny or something like that. ANY help is appreciated. Thanks __________________ 68 Chevy CST/10, 50th Anniversary, 327/th400, 373 posi, buckets 68 GMC Shortbox Stepside, 402/th400, Tilt, Tach, Bucket Seats, 3.08 Positraction 69 Chevy Camaro SS, 383, 4 speed, positraction 70 Chevy El Camino SS396, Triple Black, 454/th400, Tach 70 Chevy Shortbox Stepside 4x4, 350/th350, Tilt, Tach, Cab Lights, Bumper Guards, Tow Hooks 70 Chevy 3/4 Longbox, 350/auto, 70k, SURVIVOR 71 Chevy Blazer, CST, 350/auto 71 GMC Sierra K2500, 454, 4 speed, 4.10 posi, 37s 71 Custom/30, Open Road, 350/th400, tilt 72 Chevy Shortbox Fleetside, 496 Stroker/th400, Tilt, Tach, Bucket Seats, 3.42 Posi 72 GMC Sierra Grande 2500. 427/th400, tilt, a/c, tool and stowage, buckets/console, 3.54 posi

10-05-2005, 12:23 AM	#2
walker Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: north of Phx AZ about 30 miles Posts: 698	You will have a hard time blaming a radiator shop for water getting into your tranny. If they pressure tested it and it was leaking water into your tranny iit would fail the pressure test. Now if it did leak and they repaired a leak on the tranny cooler portion of the radiator and did not check the tranny for water you might have something, assuming that they did all the work. Otherwise, welcome to the school of hard knocks! BTW I am a senior member, soon to be graduate student of that very same school. __________________ Andy,Phx AZ '67 C-10 (Ahhh, done at last. Well there is that disk front end I want to put in and...) "23 C-Cab-sold '48 Ford 8N tractor(still working) '67 Scout(Now on the road) '70 MG B.-sold

10-05-2005, 12:38 AM	#3
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	not a whole lot you can prove in that situation. them pressure testing shouldnt have gotten fluid in the tranny side of the radiator. a bad radiator will cause that. why was it pressure tested in the first place was it leaking? are you sure the water wasnt in there previously __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

10-05-2005, 12:47 AM	#4
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	some radiator shops use air pressure to test and then submerge the radiator (much like testing a tire for a leak). The reason for this is that air will excape the hole easier than a liquid(water) and be shown by the bubbles. when they do that they are supposed to plug the cooler holes or flush the cooler to remove the water. but in my opinion that amount of water in the tranny would cause milky fluid and overflowing trans fluid(poss.). May or may not be enough to ruin the trans. but the trans shop got their overhaul and the radiator shop is right in their "prove it " statement unfortunately. I have been a master auto tech for 17 years, they will never build a truly sucessful business that way IMHO. __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

10-05-2005, 07:20 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Is there any other way the water could have gotten in the trans?Does he wheel it in the water?The shop would have had to leave alot of water to have such a negative effect.How much time passed betwwen the pressure test and trans problem?Had the trans been back-flushed ever?How many miles were on the trans?These are all questions that need to be answered.It could be that a back-flush would have solved the problem and the trans shop just hit you with a rebuild it may have not needed.Just a thought. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-05-2005, 08:51 AM	#6
68350 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Williston, ND Posts: 2,999	well, I can tell all that have viewed that some of the rings were no longer rings, more like pieces of rings. The tranny had to be rebuilt no matter what after the contents were saw. I can honestly say that he has NEVER off-roaded it. Guess that's an expensive bullit to bite __________________ 68 Chevy CST/10, 50th Anniversary, 327/th400, 373 posi, buckets 68 GMC Shortbox Stepside, 402/th400, Tilt, Tach, Bucket Seats, 3.08 Positraction 69 Chevy Camaro SS, 383, 4 speed, positraction 70 Chevy El Camino SS396, Triple Black, 454/th400, Tach 70 Chevy Shortbox Stepside 4x4, 350/th350, Tilt, Tach, Cab Lights, Bumper Guards, Tow Hooks 70 Chevy 3/4 Longbox, 350/auto, 70k, SURVIVOR 71 Chevy Blazer, CST, 350/auto 71 GMC Sierra K2500, 454, 4 speed, 4.10 posi, 37s 71 Custom/30, Open Road, 350/th400, tilt 72 Chevy Shortbox Fleetside, 496 Stroker/th400, Tilt, Tach, Bucket Seats, 3.42 Posi 72 GMC Sierra Grande 2500. 427/th400, tilt, a/c, tool and stowage, buckets/console, 3.54 posi

10-05-2005, 09:45 AM	#7
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	rings? are you talking about the clutches or the seals. if that trans was well worn which theres a really good chance it was seeing as how the radiator was bad and needing testing. it could have been coincidence it does happen. the little but of water that would have been left in the trans cooler wouldnt have done very much damage at least not to the extent of killing the trans.i mean as soon as the radiator was stood upright most of the water would have came out after that happened your talking about a miniscule amount of water mixing with 10-12 quarts of transmission fluid __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

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