Is the hole damage, or something that's supposed to be there?

Automatic transmissions have their oil cooled in the lower radiator tank. If what's on the dipstick matches what's leaking, you've found your problem. The fix is to take it to a radiator shop. Let them decide whether it will be cheaper to repair the radiator or replace it.

If you have a do-it-yourself transmission, there's nothing in the radiator but coolant. Or shouldn't be, anyway.

 

the hole isn't from damage; there is a series of say 8 little round holes along the bottom of the radiator, and the fluid was coming from one of them. to me it looked and felt like transmission oil, and was still leaking after 2 days standing, so if it was coolant it would have dried up?
Anyway it is a manual stick. so maybe a bust radiator.

 

The water in the coolant will evaporate, but the antifreeze won't, and it has an oily feel to it. I don't recall ever seeing a clear antifreeze, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

 

Is it possible the previous owner had swapped in another radiator for what ever reason and it happens to be one from a auto tranny jeep? Maybe left over tranny fluid from a swap....... Ive seen people run power steering through the coolers as well......

 

And the transmission coolant system should have only two holes. I don't know why there would be eight. How big are they? Drilled or punched? Evenly spaced or random? All the same size? Threaded? Round or irregular? This really has me puzzled.

 

regular drilled holes. i'll take a picture later today and post it. actually it hasn't leaked in the past 5 days.

 

here it is. sorry the holes weren't on the radiator but the plastic housing behind it. It hasn't leaked for the past week But was dripping a lot after i had left it for 2 days last weekend.

 

If the oil leak stopped, you better check your engine oil dipstick to make sure it didn't stop because there isn't any more to leak.

 

So the leak isn't from the radiator at all, but some place on the front of the engine. Could be the crankshaft seal, could be coolant leaking from the water pump.

 

I’d guess power steering fluid from the clear oil description.

 

its certainly not coming from the engine, as this is right behind the radiator, and way infront of the fan. Its the cowling from the radiator.
does power steering fluid get near to the radiator?

 

You'll just have to look into the shroud and see what's happening. I don't recall ever seeing components of the power steering system positioned so that they could leak into the shroud, which is why I didn't mention it, but that doesn't mean it's never been done.

 

Could of had to much power steering fluid in there and after that long trip it blew some out into the shroud....

 

It could also be the fan clutch going out. They have some kind of fluid in them and when it leaks out they stop working. Look for fluid on the front where the sping is and back where the shaft goes into of the fan clutch.

 

ok cheers guys, it probably came from the fan. My belt was slipping when i was starting it up and screaming. a rev got rid of it. I tightened it this weekend and no squeal now. perhaps the loose belt was messing with the fan?

 

Not likely, but the fan clutch might have oiled the belt making it squeal.