Adding a Trans Cooler to a Tacoma that doesn't. have the factory tow package

Is it possible to add a trans cooler to my Tacoma that didn’t come with the factory tow package? I mostly want it for off-roading and snow wheeling but would also be nice to be in the green while towing. Any help is appreciated.

 

I believe that even in a non tow package truck there is still a trans cooler within the radiator, should be pretty easy to add another typical plate/fin type cooler infront of everything with some extra hose.

 

Yep. Done often.
I used a Derale cooler.

 

This is the one im replacing my factory cooler with (i have tow pkg).

Long Tru-Cool LPD Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler 4589 24000 GVW

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005XZXBYE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A34W5IA1FZ3R70&psc=1

I've read its a good idea to bypass the Radiator/trans cooler (non tow pkg) and i've read its a bad idea.. you'll find a good thread about it here

if you search "LPD 4589" you'll find a good thread about it here.

 

Yes, go to a wrecking yard and pull the cooler, brackets, bolts and lines but snap a pic of line route first so you don’t fuck it up.

For some reason hear things are crazy expensive on ebay.

 

Mount the cooler up front. Disconnect the return line at the hardline under the radiator. Run a hose from the hardline to the cooler then another from the cooler to the hardline that runs next to the engine.

 

I don’t remember seeing a trans cooler on mine. From the others trucks I see the small black trans cooler but mine doesn’t have that. How much pluming do I have to do in order for a trans cooler to be installed? Does the truck have some of the trans cooler pluming on it?

 

Look down the driver side back of the radiator you likely have a line at the top and bottom. those are stock trans cooler lines. Tow package just adds an auxiliary cooler in front of the radiator for extra cooling.

 

I will check that. Thanks for the help

 

I have a pretty good write up in my build thread on the one I installed. I have it daisy-chained with the one in the rad and the tow package one. It's easily done and good to keep the trans happy. I forgot who but someone posted a chart with trans temps and how quickly it degrades the fluid and shortens service intervals. It's interesting.

 

my trans should have failed 100k miles ago according to that temp scale

 

Yeah not that I completely agree with it since it's not really manufacturer specific or fluid specific. I would say it's kinda a hey look you may want to pay more attention and not cook the shit for long extended periods kinda thing.