for those who have installed an aux. tranny cooler....

did you bypass the radiator...or go ahead and keep it as is and run thru it? im getting a cooler soon, and im probably gonna keep it ran thru the radiator as is now(yeah....no tow package on my truck), but i figured i'd see how ya'll did it.

 

this is very true.....

 

ive actually been doing alot of looking into this chris anddddd this might be the only time i ever help you instead of me.
what im going to do is is split the lines cap the lines and mount a new cooler with an electric water pump and fan in my spare tire spot. or on the tire gate im going to make.
you could do it for under 200 and it will be kick butt.

 

my bad i thought it was chis's post.

 

I got a steal of a deal on a TRD cooler and just hooked it up as directed. I can't remember if it hooks in after the tranny fluid goes into the radiator or before. Regardless, my tranny fluid still goes into my radiator.

 

I bypassed the radiator. Used a Trucool. Coolant temp is about 190. That is too hot to be an effective trans cooler. Plus the strawberry milkshake threat is there.

 

definetly bypass it...the only benefit of having it run through the rad would be to help warm up the tranny oil possibly....but i'd think the tranny would warm up before the engine coolant anyways

 

Anyone wanna elaborate on the "strawberry milkshake"deal?

 

Ah.....I see. I'm prolly gonna install the cooler and run it as is now and keep it going thru the radiator. It's probably few and far between on milkshake incidents anyway. I keep my radiator clean....so unless something rupture one of the lines at some point....I should be good to go.

 

I think there are some advantages to running thru the radiator, especially in colder climates.

According to my scangauge, the water temps come up to running temp well before the tranny fluid temps do from a cold start. Under these circumstances, it would seem as though the radiator is actually helping.

Again, according to my SG, in normal road driving the radiator alone is enough to keep the TF temps reasonable. The real advantage for the external cooler is in severe conditions. Low speed wheelin on warmer days is the only time I've seen the TF temps exceed the water temps.

Not sure if there are long term implications if the tranny fluid is lower than its ideal running temps. Not even sure what those ideal temps are.

 

Not sure about what parts are the same across the trucks but if you search the 4runner forums the milkshake is a common problem on the 3rd gen models.
Haven't had much time with my truck but preventitive mods are on my list.

 

Having installed tranny coolers on most of my vehicles including a class C motorhome I always run the lines into the auxillary cooler first and then into the radiator. If you do it the other way you will transfer a good deal of the heat from an overworked tranny to the engine coolant and not using the radiator at all would mean a pretty large tranny cooler would be required and you lose the ability of the engine coolant to bring the tranny up to its proper operating temperature, something important for proper shifting and simple survival of the tranny, at least her in the frigid north.

 

Has anyone really ever had problems with their tranny overheating on a tacoma? I have been thinking about getting a cooler also because I do some towing on occasion and am just wondering if it is a common problem with our trucks

 

I blew the intermediate clutch pack out of my A43D auto in less than 100miles @ 12psi. Too much slippage and heat.

Im running the biggest trans cooler summitracing has available. I welded a temp bung in the pan, but I havent driven the truck to know what my temps will be.

 

I would run through the radiator as in the winter it would take too long to heat up the trans fluid and delay shifts, I also think that by leaving it hooked to the radiator the cooling effect would be more efficient useing both especially in the summer!

 

Bats how I'm looking at it as well,Tom.