# Is it transmission fluid or antifreeze? (93 Camaro)

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 20, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956 "2008-10-20T12:47:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tivoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@Tivoli](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tivoli)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956/1 "2008-10-20T12:47:25Z")

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Went to change the antifreeze on my friends 1993 Camaro. The draincock (on the bottom passenger side of the radiator) is directly below where the tansmission line enters the radiator. When I opened the drain - reddish brown fluid came out. I was afraid it was transmission fluid! As the new antifreeze coolants are reddish in color - how do you tell the difference?

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956/2 "2008-10-20T13:51:54Z")

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As far as I know the only fluid that should come out of the radiator drain is radiator fluid. Quick check - add some water, if it mixes completely, it’s radiator fluid, if it separates, it’s transmission fluid, and your friend has BIG problems!

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956/3 "2008-10-20T14:18:02Z")

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There could be a problem with the radiator. Redish brown could also mean you haven’t changed your coolant in long time.

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**Author:** ![Tivoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@Tivoli](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tivoli)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956/4 "2008-10-20T15:38:08Z")

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This car is owned/operated by a female companion so I don’t know all the history. My guess is that the coolant has not been changed in some time. It is a little confusing to have the draincock directly beneath the transmission line fitting - then to have reddish-brown fluid come out. It does make sense that only coolant would come out . . . perhaps the only way to drain the transmission fluid portion of the radiator w/b to disconnect the transmission lines?

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**Author:** ![mtscorvette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@mtscorvette](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mtscorvette)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-transmission-fluid-or-antifreeze-93-camaro/20956/5 "2009-02-16T03:34:51Z")

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it is antifreeze. it uses that dex cool antufreeze which can look like tranny fluid after along time.