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2021 Taco AT Trans cooler

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Tacogent, Nov 26, 2020.

  1. Nov 27, 2020 at 5:41 AM
    #21
    Skydvrr

    Skydvrr IG: @kalopsianick

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    That's not a cooler. It's a heater, to heat the oil to decrease parasitic loss, for fuel economy.

    The option sheet is indeed referring to the external cooler, but Toyota weasels their way out of it with a technicality, by saying oh, there's still a cooler in the radiator
     
  2. Nov 27, 2020 at 5:53 AM
    #22
    3JOH22A

    3JOH22A トヨタ純正男娼

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    It does both (and is labeled as a cooler). :rolleyes:

    Toyota is concerned with the ATF running below operating temps (for fuel economy) as well as above operating temps. That's part of the reason for the contraption with the integrated thermostat.

    A drawback of Toyota's lean/six-sigma/just-in-time production system is long lead times for production changes. Just altering the verbiage on a label can take a year for Toyota. The testing and subsequent decision to delete the external air cooler could've been made in 2017 for all we know, just coming into effect mid-2020.
     
  3. Nov 28, 2020 at 4:36 AM
    #23
    EdgeCrusher

    EdgeCrusher Well-Known Member

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    yeah thats why I said they won't do anything for him.
     
    shakerhood likes this.
  4. Nov 28, 2020 at 4:55 AM
    #24
    Bleep100

    Bleep100 TOYOTA 4 LIFE

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    For peace of mind have a shop add a temperature gauge for you and keep an eye on it when towing . I think like some have said that you will be fine .
     
  5. Nov 28, 2020 at 5:18 AM
    #25
    Mas Olas

    Mas Olas Well-Known Member

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    Approx 165 degrees is the sweet sopt for ATF. My old Tundra would spike to 215 occasionally but no issues. Ever.
     
    Abject4x4 likes this.
  6. Nov 28, 2020 at 5:34 AM
    #26
    Gearheadesw

    Gearheadesw must modify

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    Do like we did in the '80's, strap an auxiliary cooler to the front of your radiator, intercept the lines to the radiator, stick cooler in front of that gigantic grill, and bingo.
     
  7. Nov 28, 2020 at 8:21 AM
    #27
    mattleg

    mattleg Well-Known Member

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    You're fine to tow without the aux air cooler. You still have the cooler in the radiator.

    For comparison, the Tundra has no cooler at all anymore. The thermostat warmer assembly on the side of the trans case is just a block off plate now.
     
    Tacogent[OP] likes this.
  8. Nov 28, 2020 at 8:22 AM
    #28
    Tacogent

    Tacogent [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Since I brought this thread up:
    My approach is going to be:

    Since I have an android phone -

    a) going to get the Torque pro App
    b) Ordered an ODBII diagnostic scanner
    c) will monitor the radiator and tranny oil temps when towing and during regular driving.

    I went back to the dealer and told them about this whole issue

    The young mechanic at the dealer told me that box/thermostat - on the tranny - at a certain temp, shunts the tranny oil to a vertical tube/compartment on the driver side/outside of the radiator.
    Its part of the radiator itself - that piece being piece 2" wide, 1.5" deep the whole vertical length of the radiator.
    I saw those separate hoses going into and out of the side part of the radiator.

    It appears that the thermal mass of the radiator is being used to moderate (cools or heats) the tranny oil temp tube/core. That being the case, the tranny oil temp and radiator temp will be nearly the same?
    If you have an external ATF cooler, there is no temp control like this.
    It appears this new method does for tranny oil temp, what a thermostat does for the radiator coolant.
    Not altogether a bad idea.
    Why not have a thermostat for tranny oil cooling?

    Since there is that 5 year/60,000 mile power train factor to consider here, when I have the temp facts under different conditions, determine hat actions to take.

    I know where the inflow/outflow hoses for the tranny oil are. Guess I can always add the external cooler. As usual - time and facts will tell the story and dictate actions to take.

    You guys/ladies are great. Thank you
     
    ice-pirate and Kev250R like this.
  9. Nov 28, 2020 at 8:30 AM
    #29
    mattleg

    mattleg Well-Known Member

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    Tacogent[OP] likes this.
  10. Nov 28, 2020 at 8:39 AM
    #30
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Happy towing.
     
  11. Nov 28, 2020 at 8:39 AM
    #31
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    I have watched the temp in warm up and normal driving a few times and yes indeed the coolant and transmission fluid temps closely mirror each other.
    The system is sure working well for warming the fluids up and that is great for drivability especially in winter.
    Even in driving it's moderated with the coolant. I've yet to tow with my truck so I haven't seen how it works then. Summer camping trips will be my time to test it.

    My approach is to leave it as is unless I see the fluid getting too hot.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2020
    Kev250R and Tacogent[OP] like this.
  12. Nov 28, 2020 at 8:48 AM
    #32
    hiPSI

    hiPSI Laminar Flow

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    Yes, it has an internal cooler now that will give you proper trans cooling when towing.
     
    =JSG=, shakerhood and Skydvrr like this.
  13. Nov 28, 2020 at 11:01 AM
    #33
    Bushed

    Bushed Well-Known Member

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    I don’t know what at 13 foot Scamp weighs, but I just saw a Yaris towing one down the Trans Canada.
     
  14. Nov 28, 2020 at 11:19 AM
    #34
    bacon_st

    bacon_st Well-Known Member

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    Tacogent[OP] likes this.
  15. Nov 28, 2020 at 12:24 PM
    #35
    Bleep100

    Bleep100 TOYOTA 4 LIFE

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    So all the bitching on TW about the cooler being gone and it ends up being a better system without it . I kinda wish I didn't have one now .
     
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  16. Nov 28, 2020 at 12:54 PM
    #36
    Skydvrr

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    They're the same system. If you have an external cooler you ALSO have the internal style that's in the radiator. Basically every vehicle has a trans cooler in the radiator
     
    Bleep100[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Nov 28, 2020 at 1:00 PM
    #37
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    Yep a lot of vehicles are set up that way. As long as they don't have trouble like some nissans an benz's did where the two fluids mixed together it does work well for most cars.
     
  18. Nov 28, 2020 at 1:03 PM
    #38
    Skydvrr

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    Mmmm, strawberry. I need to pull my lines from the rad and use my bigger cooler.
     
  19. Nov 28, 2020 at 3:35 PM
    #39
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    Yep strawberry milkshake. Not good for those that had those effected vehicles out of warranty. Never heard of it on toyota so far.
     
    shakerhood likes this.
  20. Nov 28, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #40
    AjaxTaco

    AjaxTaco Well-Known Member

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    I’ll start worrying when someone starts posting real world tranny over temps while towing at rated max weight versus trying to educate me based on pure speculation. #armchairengineers
     

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