2005 Nissan Pathfinder tranny fluid mixing with rad coolant

[Canada]

This appears to be an issue with this vintage as the tranny cooler is built into the radiator.  Once it (tranny cooler)develops a leak it mixes with the rad fluid and wreaks havoc in the tranny.  A number of people having this problem probably due to poor design.  Does anyone know if there is anything that can be done proactively before this happens?  Is there a way to install an aftermarket tranny cooler outside the rad so that even if it goes bust the tranny fluid will not mix with the rad fluid?  I am surprised that Nissan does not have a fix for this?
Does anyone know if this issue is prevalent or not?  Since the cost is high to fix after the problem has occured I would rather be proactive and do something sooner than later. 

[blur911]

This appears to be an issue with this vintage as the tranny cooler is built into the radiator.  Once it (tranny cooler)develops a leak it mixes with the rad fluid and wreaks havoc in the tranny.  A number of people having this problem probably due to poor design.  Does anyone know if there is anything that can be done proactively before this happens?  Is there a way to install an aftermarket tranny cooler outside the rad so that even if it goes bust the tranny fluid will not mix with the rad fluid?  I am surprised that Nissan does not have a fix for this?
Does anyone know if this issue is prevalent or not?  Since the cost is high to fix after the problem has occured I would rather be proactive and do something sooner than later. 

External tranny coolers have been a popular upgrade forever. Mount it  up front and run the lines to it instead of the ports on the rad, you may require some adapters and hoses.  Plug the ports on the rad because as you've said, they're gonna leak.
You can buy a tranny cooler at Crappy Tire. 

[Canada]

Blur, good advice.  I think that is exactly the route I will take.  Better to spend the relatively small cost of parts and time now than to incur the astronomical cost if that fluid starts to mix with the rad fluid later.  I have to say that even though I am not an engineer just the idea of embeding the tranny cooler within the rad, to me, sounds stupid.  Unless room is an issue, which I cannot see in this case, why design it in such a way that if either unit breaks it most likely would mess up the other?  On top of that we are talking about a transmission not an oil filter.  From what I have heard it would cost anywhere from 5 to 8 thousand to bring things back to working condition.  I wonder if they still use this design today or on any other models?  I sure would like to ask the engineer what they were thinking when they OK'd the design?  I do not think one could even check the tranny fluid level on these things. I checked the manual and could not find it.  Maybe I am looking in the wrong place, I have to keep digging.

[blur911]

Just about every company uses this design for auto tranny coolers.  It saves money over having a separate cooler, plus they can sell you an upgrade option with a towing package.