Upgrade to a Derale Transmission Cooler!

Update: I have had a few people reach out to me regarding this install; I have changed the setup and it has worked flawlessly since!

A) I had issues with the original inline thermostat kicking the fan on at hwy speeds and popping the inline fuse. B) During winter the trans struggled to get up to operating temps. C) The vibrant performance hose bled ATF.

If you have any questions or want different pictures feel free to ask

This install is on my 2015 Tacoma 4x4 Sport w/ factory towing package and cooler. I imagine this can be incorporated with other years and different setups. If you do not have the factory cooler then you can come off of the radiator hook ups instead, you would just need more hose.

Updated Parts Needed:

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$220 Derale 13750 Atomic-Cool Remote Cooler , Black

Derale Atomic Cool 13705
- Derale Fluid Control Thermostat 25011
- Derale Thermostat Mount Kit 13026
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$27 RUSSELL/EDEL Russell 624163 Twist-Lok Black 6-AN 90° Straight Hose End

Russell 624163 Twist-Lok 90 Deg
- Gates 27061 3/8 Oil Cooler Hose (need 5 feet)
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$13 Glarks 12Pack 16-18mm Stainless Steel Mini Fuel Injection Hose Clamps Adjustable Pipe Hose Clip Tube Clamps Set (5/8''-23/32'' Dia)

SS Fuel Hose Clamps 16-18mm
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$11 uxcell M6 Male Female Rubber Mounts, Shock Absorber, for Motor Generator Compressor Garage Reverse Osmosis Pump Impact Air Generator Car Bobbins, D20mmxH10mm 4pcs

Uxcell M6 20mm x 10mm Rubber Mounts
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$14 Permatex 56521 High Performance Thread Sealant, 50 ml , White (Packaging may vary)

Permatex 56521 Thread Sealant
- AOB OEM Style Switch
- 12v Relay
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$8 Invincible Marine Waterproof in-Line ATC Fuse Holder

In-Line Fuse Holder (will want a 10a fuse)
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$28 Koehler Enterprises RA990 Multi-Use Siphon Fuel Transfer Pump Kit (for Gas Oil and Liquids), Red medium

Fluid Transfer Pump
- 1/16 x 1 1/2 Aluminum Angle

1) Fluid control thermostat regulates the flow to the cooler, under 180F it is mostly closed and slowly opens as the temps creep up, at 180F it is fully opened. I have not seen my temps over 181F with this setup. I towed my 14' trailer with no temp issues and low speed operations I have not needed the fan.....yet.

2) Ditched the inline thermostat for a relay/switch setup. Realistically you only need the fan if you are mounting remotely or at slow speeds (crawling, traffic etc.)

3) The AOB switch fits OEM holes and comes in a few different colors, search their site (or ebay) for the colors and switch type you want. The one I linked is Green/Red for the center console area.

4) The SS clamps I linked work great but are a tight fit to get started. OEM Clamps will also work just fine.

5) If you intend to do a flush, find a guide on here and expect to purchase at least 4 gallons of ATF to perform this job, flush 3 gallons and leave the 4th to fill everything back up.

6) You will need to get your Derale Cooler top bracket made and mock up the mounting so you can get the proper hole alignment marked for the bottom bracket as the truck brace you drill into sits at an angle so the bottom bracket is offset.

7) The rubber mounts are not necessary but highly recommended so the cooler is not rigid and potentially cause stress cracks down the road. The mounts seem best between the truck frame and the aluminum angle with the cooler mounted straight to the brackets you make.















*I will update with pictures of this setup later today, I've gotta find them or take new ones.

 

Cool project. Sounds like you're replacing the stock one?
I recently had a TruCool transmission cooler installed in series with my stock one. Originally I was going to install it myself. Got lazy and just paid my mech to do it. I also originally wanted the stock one replaced, but I'm good with how it runs now. On average I'm getting 15 deg cooler temps when I'm on the go with my typical weekend load of adventure gear.

 

Yessum, I replaced the stock cooler with this one. So far I have seen a good drop in temps, cruising around town at 30-55 MPH I am seeing between 125-135F on the hwy at 65-75 MPH I am seeing 150-153F as a good constant. My reason for the upgrade is towing my SXS through the hills, my trip to Colorado I was seeing temps up to 220+F loaded down trailer and truck and pulled over a few times to let temps come down.

 

I have the Derale Atomic on my air cooled vw. It works great. I added a valve to divert the cold oil back into the engine until it gets warmed up. Owners with an automatic trans in an area thar has really cold temperatures need this valve. Have you ever had a transmission that shifted like crap when its cold? This helps. Summit Racing sell the same one and other brands.
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1724.htm

 

I live in Texas so I wouldn't know about cold temps but thank you for the advice for all the others!

 

There is an optimal temp for trans fluid. the 160-180*F temp range. This will allow the evaporation of moisture and allow it to flow properly. You can overcool it (not super likely in warmer climates). Im in socal and plan on replacing the little stock aux cooler with a bigger one and putting a Tstat in to allow for quicker fluid warm up and stabler temps.

 

You are correct on optimal temps, I am pretty sure all of these trucks have the ATF running through the radiator to assist bring fluid to temp so as long as you don't bypass that I would think most should be good. The bypass valve that @jbaker1976 mentioned would be good use for you cold weather guys, here in Texas though, especially in the summer, I have seen my temps approach 200F with no load just cruising down the hwy.

Also for anyone who cares to know, the temps I am reporting are through my HeadUnit from the OBD port, I do not know where it grabs that temp from but I would assume it is pan temp. The actual fluid coursing through the tranny will be much hotter so the lower temps I am seeing don't really concern me at all.

 

I did similar but less intricate to my 2010 DCLB many years ago.

On mine, I totally omitted the use of trans fluid going into the engine coolant radiator. I did not install an electric fan. I did not install a thermal switch or device to control fluid temps. I did convert the oem trans cooler into a power steering cooler.

No true cold days here. Even when first driving away at each ride, transmission acts fine. Typical is 165*f max, but often about 160 after warmed up. If cruising on the highway, temp drops down towards 145*f. Using Mobil 1 ATF for a long time now.

 

Using the OEM Aux cooler for a PS cooler.... interesting!

 

That's a very interesting use for the oem cooler, something I wouldn't of thought of. I'm curious though, is cooling the steering fluid something that is needed but generally over looked or just an extra measure to provide longevity?

 

Was looking at this one. TruCool LPD4920* https://trucool.com/products/tru-cool-max Its ~$100+ searching around and has the cold weather bypass.

 

Those kits look nice, those coolers look like they might be more difficult to get a good mounting position though. If you do it post it up!

 

They make these too https://trucool.com/products/tru-cool-lpd

 

I think i might be needing to do this, I have noticed that on a large hill out here that the speed limit is slow on that I wind up getting up there on my trans temps. How hard would it be to add the cold weather bypass on the first cooler? Is it just pipe it inline, or is there additional hookups on it?

 

Great write up!

I just added a transmission cooler to mine.

 

Where did get those black mounting brackets, they’re sharp looking. Mine cooler is a little larger so it was a bit tighter, so I used the brackets included in the Tru-Cool kit. My anti-vibration mounts are on order and will install and replace the current bolts once they arrive.

 

3rd gens come stock with a power steering cooler if that means anything.

 

Looks to be just some good ole' aluminum stock (angle and strap) that has been sized up and spray painted black.

Shouldn't be hard, just need more hose and clamps. The basis would be run your bypass lines to the cooler and your other lines from the radiator to the bypass. When the temps are low it will circulate normal through your radiator and when its hot enough to bypass the valve will open up to let fluid pass through cooler.

Thank You, Your's came out nice too!

I will definitely be looking into re-using my oem cooler for this then, shouldn't be too hard just running the extra hose and adding a bunch of PS fluid. lol

 

Installed this prototype pan from pml towards the end of last summer. Their available for sale now. It did add about three qrts of extra fluid. I haven’t done any temp checks yet.

 

Any leaks or issues. I see that since the lip is thicker you have to use different bolts, did they come with the kit?