Transmission Cooler Kit

Hey guys, I sold my Tacoma over a year ago and bought a 2019 Tundra. After I bought it I realized it did not have a transmission cooler even though the window sticker said it did. Long story short Toyota removed the transmission cooler out of all 2019+ Tundras without letting anyone know nor changing their window stickers. After seeing my transmission temperatures in the high 200's I developed a solution. I'm not sure if Toyota did the same thing here with the Tacoma but if there is enough interest I can build transmission cooler kits for you guys. Check out my thread on the Tundra forum below.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2019-transmission-cooler.60550/

 

Here we go again

 

Someone already does this?

 

Almost $900 for a tranny cooler. I’d be independently wealthy if I had charged that much for the ones I’ve installed over the years.

 

It's not just the cooler for the Tundra. Look at the parts list and do some price checks and let me know what you come up with.

 

We aren't sure if its been completely deleted, but there signs that they are moving that direction.

I'm sure in the future they might be a demand for a kit, but im not sure how much of demand. I mean, it is a tacoma. Not someone's first choice for a tow rig

 

Yeah, I was looking into it and I believe some owners are reporting no transmission cooler for their 2020. If is still standard on tow packages then of course this is not needed. And you are right, most do not buy a Tacoma to tow anything.

 

Toyota removed the external transmission cooler on the taco too, but it still has the one integrated into the radiator. There’s a pretty hot (though cooling) thread on the loss of that cooler and options for adding one.

 

I have a 2020 trd OR DCLB with tow package and I have an external trans cooler on the outside of my radiator. I have no idea why anyone with a tow package doesnt have 1 cause all tow package 1's is standard equipment installed.

 

AN fittings, spring type hose clamps, hose supports with grommets - very clean install.

 

Builds around 03/20 and after with tow package don't have the external trans cooler, there is a thread about it. They still have the cooler embedded in the main radiator though.

 

I bought mine in march this year and I think it was built in December. So which is better an external 1 or inside radiator

 

Mine is a Tacoma not a tundra

 

Better for what? Who knows?
Is the external even necessary? Seems like Toyota doesn't seem to think it is.

All we can do is measure Temps with and without, while doing various tasks, and speculate if the running temps are safe or not

 

All of my vehicles have radiator tank type tranny coolers. Unknown to some is these actually also help the tranny to warm up. However, I've retrofitted each with an external tranny cooler. You simply tap off the outlet of the tank cooler, run hoses to the external that's mounted in from of the radiator then back to the return line to the tranny. A couple of fittings, a few feet of hose, some clamps and what ever you use to mount the cooler.

Max for a good cooler a couple hundred bucks. Probably less than 50 bucks for the needfuls to mount it. And many "kits" include these for the $200. If I add my time to install and charge what I used to for my job it still wouldn't come to $900.

What was it that fellow said about one being born every minute?

 

You sure about that?
I thought it was the coolant lines that run to the thermostat/warmer that accomplish this.

 

Thermostat helps warm the engine by reducing circulation to the radiator. Heat exchanger in the radiator tank initially helps the tranny come up to operating temperature (some say even help keep it warm in severe cold conditions) and once warm keeps the tranny from over heating. If you live in areas with extreme heat or put a severe load on the tranny an external/auxiliary keeps the tranny running cooler.

I've seen really fancy set ups that will bypass the tank exchanger and use just the auxiliary (needs a larger aux exchanger) depending on fluid temp. Uses a three way temperature controlled valve. I've never found that to be necessary.

 

On these trucks, the trans cooler in the engine radiator is a cooler only. There is a separate trans warmer and thermostat assembly mounted on the side of the trans. It uses coolant from the bypass circuit, much like the heater core. In this way the trans warms up as fast as possible, prior in the coolant thermostat opening.

 

Didn’t know that thanks. Haven’t had the truck long so I haven’t gotten into it to deep.

 

And, you can keep that transmission mounted thermostat in the open position with a nail or small hitch pin, allowing you to run your transmission fluid temp far below 190 degrees by using a large exterior mounted fluid cooler if desired.
That can’t be accomplished with only a cooler installed inside of the radiator.