Missing Transmission cooler.

The 2016-2020 use the same radiator, it's only different between automatic and manual, but hasn't changed.

What has changed is that the auxiliary air-oil cooler mounted near the radiator is no longer included in trucks built after March of 2020. 2020 models built up to March will have it, after that they are no longer equipped with them - with or without tow package.

To be clear, the tow package is standard, but no longer appears to include an auxiliary transmission cooler, just the one in the radiator.

No changes appear to have been made to the listed towing capacities, etc., of the 2020's anywhere I can see.

Jeff

 

I wonder if the addition of the powerseat option had any impact on this decision?

 

If you would like to add the air oil cooler to any 2016-2020 Tacoma, with or without the towing package, here are the part numbers to do so:

32920-04040 - Cooler, Transmission Oil
32907-04060 - Tube, Oil Cooler
32941-04120 - Hose, Oil Cooler
90466-A0014 - Clamp, Hose (Qty: 3)
90080-11371 - Bolt, Cooler to Frame (Qty: 3)

Toyota USA MSRP: $577.04 USD
Online Discount Price: $406.88 USD

Jeff

 

I knew this couldn't possibly be a factory defect

 

Nothing should be plugged, the hose simply goes to the radiator instead of to the cooler and then to the radiator.

Jeff

 

Thanks!

 

Toyota's parts catalog is usually ahead of or right alongside production actually. Not always head, but generally speaking I will usually see parts catalog updates before the vehicles are built or at least before they land.

The last 6 of your VIN are not unique. I mean, they sort of are, but you would need to know a lot more about a Tacoma than the last 6 to identify it.

There are probably around 10 or so "3rd-gen" Tacomas running around with the same last 6 as yours.

Jeff

 

So it was either 4 or 5; not 4 and 5.
Now it's just 4.

 

No, it was 4 and 5.

Jeff

 

Is it that italian one ? It's really good

 

You're the man @Jeff Lange

 

Yeah, Marzano. It's amazing.

 

Yeah, it was a little strange. It's already a small restaurant (it's an old house) but they only had two tables in our room. There were probably 7 tables total on the whole place and a few of those were two seaters. Hand sanitizer was at the door and you wear your masks until your seated. They handled it all very well.

 

The stores seem to be handling it well. I would expect the same from most restaurants.

It sounds like it went well for everyone.

 

Do you expect this will change AT fluid life? Should I be getting ATF changed more often if doing towing? I honestly wonder why this change came about and if it will increase ATF temps when under load. I'll be contacting my dealer all the same, and see what they have to say. I refuse to pay for an aftermarket/OEM one that was included in all 2020's up until March and pulled to save a few $$ (I certainly didn't get an added discount for missing a $800 CAD part)

 

I'd imagine it increased the temps but kept them in what Toyota deems acceptable so they removed it. Good luck with the dealer but I doubt Toyota will do anything. For better or worse running changes happen all the time.

 

I wonder if they've re-tested the towing capacity with a truck without an external ATF cooler. Does it lower it by a few hundred pounds? A thousand pounds? Does it affect it at all? From what I understand, the North American towing test is quite "harsh" and they push the vehicles quite hard to get to the safe number for towing.

I'm not worried about my warranty period, but I'm definitely concerned longer term. I added a small ATF cooler to my Forester and saw 30-40 degree temp drops when towing in the mountains after adding it. So even small ATF coolers play a role in towing and lowering temps.

I called my dealer today and they didn't believe me that it wasn't there so I'll be swinging by this afternoon to show them.

 

Any updates?

 

I went to my dealer yesterday and they were as surprised as me. They had a 2020 OR Accesscab sitting in the show room, also without an ATF cooler yet all the SR5's on the lot have them. I explained that I intend on towing and expected an external auxiliary ATF cooler to be included in the price I paid etc etc.

They escalated the issue to Toyota Canada and will get back to me. One guy asked what I intended on towing and the weight and when I said a tent trailer, he said "Toyota is VERY conservative with their numbers and this truck could probably pull 10,000 lbs so your tent trailer is no problem." But that's not really my concern. My concern is that they changed the design and didn't update or change the tow rating. So perhaps they were being conservative, or perhaps I'm taking a risk by towing without one. Cooler fluid improves fluid and transmission life. I don't care if anything happens in the warranty period, but I care when 10 years down the road, my transmission is slipping or I have to change AT fluid more frequently (on my dime)

Long story, short: Hurry up and wait.