TRANSMISSION . Transmission coolers for all Toyotas ... Write up with many pictures

I am using a Scangauge II.

I know Virginia will never get to -40 degrees. I have driven/camped in 7 degrees though

 

OK next thing to look at is your engine temps . If your thermostat in your engine remains open , the engine and trans will never get to operating temp .This will make your truck very rich and cost you and arm and a leg on fuel .
Keep in mind that the engine temp has the duty of prewarming the transmission .
Did you plumb the 4454 in series with the transmission cooler built into your rad ?

 

After driving, the water temp, I guess coolant, stays at 190.

 

Also, keep in mind, i have weight. 35s, full skids, full bumpers, RTT, and Im regeared.

 

Coolers dont hold much fluid at all . Far less than a quart providing you are at the full level before the cooler was installed
Once the cooler is installed , take the truck for a good ride making sure your transmission gets warm . This will open the thermostat on the new cooler and allow it to fill . After the transmission cools down , check the fluid level

 

Thanks! I plan to do a drain and fill at the same time I install the cooler. You recommend running the cooler after the factory radiator correct? I have a 1st gen V6 automatic if that makes any difference.

 

Is the rad newer ? are you worried about the strawberry milkshake issue ?
I usually recommend running the cooler after the radiator cooler for cold climates in order for the engine to warm up the transmission quicker .
Because you live in OC where its warmer year round , you do have the option of going straight from the transmission to the new cooler and eliminating the rad cooler completely .
The advantages to plumbing your new cooler straight to the transmission create less chances of your transmission leaking due to cracked hoses or loose connections and never having to worry about the internal rad cooler failing which turns your transmission fluid to the dreaded strawberry milkshake effect $$$$$$$$

 

I recently got an ultra gauge from the group buy and programmed TC and pan temps. Then went for a hunting trip. This involved a few hundred miles of city and highway driving, towing my trailer (3000) lbs a few hundred miles and a couple weeks worth of wheeling in 4Lo and high up and down logging roads and steep inclines.

Only a couple times did the TC temp even get close to 200, this was climbing steep shale roads in 4 hi with lots of throttle. The same climbs in 4 lo did not create much heat at all. Pan temps stayed quite low the whole time.

City driving where the TC is unlocked most of the time while pulling the trailer would spike up the TC temps, as would long highway climbs with the trailer hooked up when the TC unlocked.

If you can keep it in 4th and keep your speed up to where the TC stays locked there is very little heat buildup even pulling grades fully loaded for 14 days of bush hunting.

You would have to really be pushing the limits to need another cooler IMO. My truck has the factory tow package and I do a full fluid replacement every 60k miles.

 

It sure would be nice to have a tow/haul button in these trucks that would lock it up in 3rd gear. That would solve 3/4 of temp problems. Or maybe I'm way off.

 

The radiator has been replace about 1.5 years ago I think. so fairly new. I have read about the strawberry milkshake issues. Yes, I live in southern California so cold weather really isn't an issue. I do like to winter camp. Bryce in Utah is probably the coldest temp I have taken the truck to. Other than that the winter spots I go to would prob be around 30s-50s at night.

 

Gearcruncher, on a totally different note, what cooler would you recommend for a 2107 Camry with the 2.5lt
4 banger. Have seen summer temps 210-220 at times.

 

I heard the 2107 Camry runs on recycled waste and has no transmission.

 

I am not familiar with the fitment where the cooler would mount to the front but if you have the room , the 4454 would work well . The Tacoma has a lot of room for large coolers up front but un sure regarding the Camry
On the first page of this post , there is a link to the True cool website where you can follow their application chart based on the GVW of your car

 

Thanks!

 

That explains everything lol!!

 

Got my Tru-Cool 4454 installed today. Nice to be able to use existing mount points, and straps in the kit; I did replace their hardware with grade 5. 11/32" hose that came with the kit was a little tight over the OE 3/8" fittings, but with a little fluid for lube it eventually seated up.

Over the summer I saw 200 degree temps without any towing so I feel a little better about the additional cooling going forward.

 

You did a fantastic job mounting that cooler . Almost looks factory

 

Thanks - Just following your recommendations! Any guestimates how much additional cooling capacity the 4454 (13k BTU per the box) has over the OE cooler?

 

Great question
Judging by the size comparison , I am going to guess that you almost doubled your aftercooling btu rating .
I dont beleive Toyota has ever released specifications on the tiny factory aftercooler btu rating .
I am sure if we measured out the factory cooler and did the math , we could figure it out .
As far as I am concerned , Toyota puts a very light tow package together .

 

I am curious as to what temp the OE tranny fluid thermostat opens, but couldn't find any definitive info/specs. Looking online for info related to Tacoma's or Tundra's, there seems to be a huge variance (200 - 240) where others feel it opens. In rudimentary testing (feeling the hoses to the cooler), it appears to open around 190 degrees. At 180, both the hose and cooler were at ambient temperature. As I pulled into the drive with temps just hitting 189/190 (Scangauge), the entry side of the cooler and hose started to feel a little warmer - return side not so much.

It would be nice to have an option to update/modify the factory thermostat to open at a lower temp - possibly 175 +/-, as that would seem to be a nice compromise between Toyota's economy objectives (warmer fluid) and fluid longevity.