Which transmission cooler should I get for a 2000 v6 Tacoma?

I purchased the Tru-Cool 4454 but I couldn't make it fit. I read a few of the installation guides I've found on here but one issue I'm having is that my front bumper is very close to my radiator, they are maybe a fingers width apart and I couldn't fit the Tru-Cool 4454 between them.

So I'm planning to send it back and I'm looking for a smaller cooler that I can fit in this roughly 7-8" tall space between the top of the bumper and top of the radiator. Anyone have any recommendations?

 

Just a question, why do you need a tranny cooler in the first place?

 

Was planning on buying a bass boat and towing it around to all the lakes within a couple hundred miles. I work from home and usually spend 2-3 days a week fishing outside of winter. I also have a couple of atv's and a sxs I'd like to tow around with this truck. I'd like for the transmission to last as long as possible. I saw this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCoWPK5gIMs where the guy had enough room to mount a hayden one which is the same width as mine between his rad a bumper. I'll take my bumper off and see if there is some way to adjust it, if all else fails I might just cut a section out of it with a sawzall.

 

For the auto trans, if you are going to be towing anything, the heat generated is too much for the stock radiator/trans cooler to sufficiently cool the trany fluid. Some people report higher than normal temps when doing a lot of off-roading as well.

A $50 cooler and 20 minutes of work beats a cooked transmission. This is one of those no brainers.


As for which trany cooler to get, it really doesn't matter too much.

I got basically, this one:
https://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Coolers/Derale/D13501.html

I installed mine in-line with the stock radiator. I've seen some people use a completely separate setup (bypass the stock radiator) so they can then swap their radiator to the smaller 5-speed radiator (it doesn't hang down as low as the auto trans, so it gives a little better ground clearance)

You can see it installed here. I just made a couple brackets from some aluminum flat bar.

 

The biggest plate style cooler that can fit like from B&M https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/sto...&submodel=&engine=&Nrpp=&No=&persistYmm=false


I'm running this same cooler in my Camaro and it keeps trans temps cool and safe as I'm running a 4200 stall converter

 

Towing capacity for the v6 is 5,000 pounds give or take. I’ve personally towed my friends 10ft alumacraft with a 30hp outboard on it in my 2.7L and I didn’t have any issues. I also think that I have a High-Torque flywheel that the previous owner installed as well, so I’m not sure if that makes any difference but ‍♂️

 

I don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases that I know of. So is that an explanation for why I have super good throttle response when I’m in 1st, and not as good response when I’m in higher gears?

 

$25 ATP JX-160 3/8" Universal In-Line Filter

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C8RAYE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler , Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CIGE9G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is what i used

 

Not sure why my bumper is so close to the radiator. Mine's a rebuilt title though, they might have got a junkyard bumper that is bowed or something, idk. There's maybe 3/8" between the bumper and the radiator which is why I cant fit the cooler in there. I think I'm just going to try to cut a portion of the bumper out to make the cooler fit when I get a chance.

 

From all of the research I did, this is the one I settled on when I bought my camper:

$51 Hayden Automotive 678 Universal Rapid-Cool 9.5” x 11” Add-On Transmission Cooler – Not for Direct Replacement of the OE Cooler

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C3DDKO/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

According to research everyone said they manufacture the TRD version for Toyota and it's simply rebranded.

 

I finally got my cooler to fit. Ended up having to bend the inside portion of the fender in a little bit with some pliers to make enough space. The cooler didn't come with enough hose so I ordered some on Amazon and I'll have to wait until that comes in to plug it in. Anyone mind telling me which of the radiator hoses is the return line from the radiator to the transmission?

 

Disconnect both transmission cooler lines and have someone start the truck for a couple seconds . You should be able to tell which line is the feed by the fluid being pushed out . The other line that doesn't spray is your return

 

Would it be better to bypass the radiator cooler all together and go straight from the transmission to the aftermarket cooler?

 

Placing an aftermarket cooler in line with the OEM just increases capacity and more cooling for your transmission

 

Good to know, I installed one awhile back on my truck and I routed it so it goes through the factory cooler first, then through the aftermarket cooler and finally back into the transmission. I wish I would have got my ScanGauge earlier to see if adding the aftermarket cooler did any significant change to the temps.

 

I forgot to mention , adding a aftermarket cooler in line with the OEM also helps warm up the trans faster during colder weather