Fix Released For Coolant/Transmission Fluid Issue In Cadillac Escalade

If you find a liquid-filled cooling reservoir that resembles a strawberry milkshake under the hood of a fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade (2021 and newer), then it could be a symptom of an important problem with the luxury SUV’s cooling system.

The frothy pink color is the result of mixing the coolant with the automatic transmission fluid, possibly caused by a leak in the internal coolant exchanger found in vehicles with automatic transmissions. Even a small leak can allow transmission fluid to mix with the coolant, which can be clearly seen in the vehicle’s coolant reservoir, according to a newsletter from Cadillac’s parent company, General Motors. The automaker stated that this resulted in a contaminated liquid “with the appearance of a strawberry milkshake in the cooling reservoir.” The bulletin also notes that these conditions can also result in coolant being removed from the overflow.

Owners of a Cadillac Escalade with this condition may notice their SUV is overheating or exhibiting decreased transmission performance. The transmission may vibrate and/or vibrate due to lack of fluid, in addition to the low transmission fluid warning that appears in the vehicle driver information center.

To repair a Cadillac Escalade with the above-mentioned issues, technicians are instructed to perform the repairs described in Bulletin #08-07-30-035. The affected Escalade units must have the transmission disassembled for the technician to replace the automatic transmission fluid coolant exchanger. The vehicle’s cooling system will also be rinsed to remove any contaminated liquid, then refilled with new coolant.

This issue only affects 2021 and 2022 Cadillac Escalade units with a 3.0L I6 turbocharged diesel engine (production code LM2), all of which are equipped with the marque’s luxury 10-speed automatic transmission. These conditions can affect both regular duration Escalades and extended duration ESV Escalades.

As of this writing, GM has not issued a recall on this issue. Owners of the affected Escalade should contact their dealer of choice for repairs to be carried out under Bulletin #08-07-30-035 as soon as possible.

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