Transmission cooler?

I'll start by saying that, yes, I searched the site first and read what was available.

So, I bought a 2019 AT tacoma in July because the transmission on my 2003 jeep overheated after a cross country road trip (6k miles in 2 weeks). I still go on very long drives often and would like to prevent any overheating problems with the truck's transmission in the future.

I know folks will install a trans cooler when they tow heavy but I'm thinking of putting one in anyway as a preventative measure since I lost my jeep to an overheated trans.

Any thoughts on solid brands and/or costs for this mod?

 

If you have the 6 cylinder (I think they all come with the tow package), it will already have a trans cooler. Just look in front of your radiator.

 

Trans cooler was included in my tow package.

 

Like the previous posters mentioned, you may already have a transmission cooler in your Taco. If you wind up going aftermarket, I’d go with a stacked plate cooler. I’ve used Tru Cool 4454 in my FJ Cruisers and assume that size would be a good fit in the Tacoma as well.

 

Check to see if you already have a tranny cooler. Whether you tow or not a tranny cooler is a good thing to have. In any event it prolongs transmission life.

 

As said. A Tru Cool stacked plate cooler is a good choice.
Some Tacoma owners have overheated their trucks while crawling around in the desert.
As the transmission has a thermostat, more cooling capacity to prevent high temperatures or transmission overheating never hurts.
Tru Cool 4589 stacked plate cooler. A 4590 will also fit. Stock cooler.

 

These trucks do have transmission coolers, however the issue is airflow. Personally, I think the cooling fan setup on these trucks is a little under-designed. It's adequate in most cases, but they are somewhat vulnerable in high heat, slow moving situations (low airflow) where the torque converter isnt locked up and you are working the engine hard for extended periods of time (i.e. crawling off-road in high heat). There have been reports of 3rd gen trannies overheating while off-roading.

If OP plans to do a lot of driving in these types of conditions, I believe Toyota officially added a TSB that installs an electric aux fan. Worth looking into. I don't know if they will pay for it, but they should be able to officially install one for you, or you could always go your own route.

 

To those of you who had a stock cooler and opted for higher capacity:
Have you installed the new cooler in line with the stock cooler?
Or replaced the stock cooler with a larger one?

 

Advice - DO NOT purchase from an On-Line supplier and be weary of Tru-Cool. Buy it local so you can return it if it is bad. I bought the Tru-Cool LPD 4590 on line - looked perfect visually. Installed with no issues. Fired up the truck and found the TRU-Cool had a bad core. Pissing ATF all over the place. What a mess. So I went down to the local Auto Parts store and bought a

$52 Hayden 679 Universal 11” Rapid-Cool Add-On Transmission Cooler to Enhance Cooling (not for direct replacement of the factory unit)

Hayden 679. Installed it with no issues. No leaks. Tru-Cool has a good reputation - but they were purchased by another mega parts company - then they began expanding manufacturing - they are no longer made solely in the USA or Canada - they do not pressure test each unit manufactured - they do not give a shit about quality control. Hayden tests every cooler they manufacturer before they leave the plant or are shipped. I really thought the Tru-Cool was a quality product - but they are not. I got my purchase price back and the seller got their unit back - probably to throw over the border fence so it could be re-packaged and sold again. If you have the tow package connect the additional cooler is series (the outlet from the oem tow cooler becomes the inlet to the additional, and the outlet from the additional cooler becomes the return to the transmission) by removing the top hose where it comes through the radiator to the oem tow cooler. GL.

@GmanCement18

 

Wow this has been super helpful! Thank you all for the tips. I’ll be looking into the products y’all recommended. I do live and in New Mexico so I will be wheeling in the desert, not much of a rock crawler, but I want some insurance nontheless.


Thanks again!

 

New Mexico gang