1999 3.4 Factory Oil Cooler Not Hooked Up

Hello Everyone!!

My first post, here goes.....

My son and I purchased a 1999 Tacoma Ext Cab, 3.4, 4x4, 5-Speed with 230k miles from a neighbor and it had a blown cylinder. On Craigslist, we found a shop in Garland TX which sold the JDM 3.4 Japanese motors and installed them. We used a dolly and towed it to Garland and 4 days later we got a call it was finished. We picked it up and drove it home without any issues. We've put a few thousand miles on it and the only issue has been the starter continuing to spin after it's running. I just purchased a rebuilt starter from Toyota Parts Deals and I'm going to install it.

But I have a question....

When looking through the drivers side fender well this evening, I noticed a round object with two missing hoses on it and it's obviously not hooked up. After researching the part, it seems to be a factory oil cooler. It's bolted to the motor towards the transmission and the inlet and outlets are just open with no hoses connected to it. The heck.........

We have taken it to Hidden Falls Off Road Park in Marble Falls a few times and I'm concerned why it's not hooked up or can water and dirt make it inside the engine? I realize these engines are from Japan and have the accessories on the opposite sides and a lot of time is spent swapping parts from the defective engine to the JDM engine, but does that eliminate the oil cooler? I honestly don't know if the defective motor had a cooler on it, or can I hook this one up?

Just looking for some advice.

Thank you

 

Your truck probably did not come with one and probably not needed unless you are towing a lot,
Just have them delete it, just another place for oil to leak

 

I would ask your engine installer why it was even put on if it is not hooked up.

If it was not plugged you would have coolant and oil just flowing out.

Since this does not seem to be the case dirt and water can`t get in.

 

My 04 came with the same oil cooler. It's hot in Texas. If it was me I'd hook it up. Cooler oil is always better for the engine. Also Toyota felt that it was warranted to have one. Also you can't eliminate it because the way the block is. There is oil running thru it.

 

^

 

@Stunna
The cooler is definitely a desirable feature, both for cooling, faster warming and stability of the oil temp.

Before getting the hoses to hook it up, be aware that there are 2 water pumps for the V6. One has a nipple for one of the cooler (coolant) hoses and the other doesn't. The nipple required is directly behind the t-stat housing on the pump body. If it's there and capped your good to hook her up if not you will need to install the proper water pump along with the hoses.