2nd gen trans cooler concern

Ok so i was just relocating my horns and when i was done i stood back and took a look. hmmmm... the trans. cooler is conveniently located in the only place where it doesn't get fresh air. so i took the grill off again to see what i could do about it. the trans lines are to short to turn it in any other location, so i got to looking and think that if i get some bulk line i can relocate it on the aluminum bumper just inside the lower grill. im also gonna need to make new brackets.

the first thing that comes to mind when i saw this "mistake" was that Toyota intentionally did this to shorting the trans life. Has anyone relocated there trans cooler or have an opinion on why it is where it is.

 

It's a conspiracy. When you least expect it, a little japanese midget is gonna jump out of your glove box and ass rape you and your little transmission too!!

 

lolol I will now have nightmares. . . thanks

 

I'm sure Toyota had a reason for where they put it. And it could be that it is fine where it is and it doesn't need to be modified.

 

I relocated mine for that same reason. Made some brackets and extended the lines. Sits right behind the lower grill to the left. Fresh air

 

Have any of you guy's put a accurate temp Gauge in the line before and after your relocation to see if it really makes a difference? ....Just curious.

 

I did not. But I wasnt really worried about the trans temp. I moved it mainly because I wanted it to stop blocking air from my intercooler.

 

and how do you know this....? seriously, just wondering....the guy below has a good suggestion...

finally someone that speaks fact, not just hearsay or opinions...

^im w/ him...!

 

I need some tinfoil for my new hat!

 

It's its stock location, almost the entire cooler is hidden behind solid plastic.

There is virtually zero air flow over it. Now logic would suggest moving that so that air does flow over it would increase its efficiency.

I dont have stats to back that up, but then again I havent seen anyone here prove me wrong either.

 

^ hidden behind plastic...virtually zero airflow... really...how much room is between this plastic and the front of the cooler?! you forget that air doesnt always go straight...it travels around things...

i wish i had one of those handheld wind measuring devices to prove you wrong...anyone out there have one that they can mount to the front of the trans cooler?

 

One of the members on TTORA installed a temp gauge and noticed that the OEM cooler was only performing moderate at best. He proceeded to add an aftermarket cooler for less than $100 in a location that received more airflow.

Temps were recorded with both the plastic front bumper cover on and off the truck with the OEM cooler. Temps ran cooler with the bumper cover removed:
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78433&highlight=atf+cooler

Not my test - just passing on the results.

 

Im with you. I mean ask youself. whats the number one killer of trans? HEAT. this is like a 30min mod that you may or may not need. but why not?

i had a 94 explorer and i was driving back from houston to dallas and the trans started to over heat and blow trans fluid out the vent hose. so i went to autozone bought a trans cooler for an RV, installed it and never had the prob again.
i think im gonna do the same for my taco.

 

Well I disagree. I believe there is a difference between something being open to air, and air moving across it. And I don't know if you are meaning to come off as rude right now, but it seems that way. If you don't want to do this simple mod then don't do it.

Again, like I said, the main reason I moved mine was to get it out of the way of my intercooler. When I went from a stock grill to a grillcraft mx grill I saw a drop in coolant temps from the extra air flow. URD lists that grill as one of their recommendations for the MKII superchargr kit. Even they know air moving across a heat exchanger makes a difference.

To each his own

 

An interesting read. Thanks for posting that. It would seem that the bumper cover test does show that improved air flow helped cool the trans fluid quicker.

After reading that, I now think that the location Toyota chose for the trans cooler was a compromise between winter and summer driving.

Also, does anyone know if the transmission can stop fluid from circulating through the cooler if its too cold like in Alaska or Canada or does it always circulate through the cooler regardless of outside temperature?