My Trans a Cooler With a Fan Install

Subbed.

Thought this was gonna be a "pink milkshake" story. Luckily I haven't heard of it happening with the 2nd gens.

 

I wonder about 2 of this and disconnect from radiator?

 

I simply removed the inlet hose from the stock AUX cooler and put it to the new one. Then, the outlet from the new cooler to the stock one. It now flows through the new cooler then into the stock AUX cooler. From there it follows it's normal path.

I kept the factory cooler because it's there already. Free cooling. Simple as that. The B&M cooler controls flow by viscosity. If the fluid is cold and thick it bypasses most of the cooler. When it warms it flows through the rest. That's another reason I didn't want the kit that comes with the fan and t-stat. It doesn't regulate flow like the Super Cooler does.

I figured this would make over cooling less of a risk, so why not leave the stock one? We'll see if I was right I guess.

 

Oh, you're talking about the cooler in the bottom of the Rad. I thought you meant the stock external AUX. Cooler. I thought about bypassing the Rad. Cooler too, but it doesn't seem to be a problem with these trucks.

I may re-evaluate when the truck gets closer to ten years old. For now, I'm feeling comfortable.

 

X2
And with TX heat and going on 8 yrs for me.

 

Very nice

 

Good job I put a cooler in this summer after some trans over heating on the dunes... I didn't put a fan on yet but I'm thinking about it... Works great keeps it cool on the dunes and towing....

 

So, it's cold in NJ right now... The trans is too cool. 115-130F after my 20 mile drive to work on the interstate.

I know that when it warms up and I'm towing, I'll like having both coolers, so I don't want to just remove the factory external cooler.

This is what I came up with. I made a cover for it.

I found this thin diamond plate sheet in Home Depot. I forget the gauge, but it's thin enough to bend by hand. They have a thicker version, but I don't have access to a brake. I knew I wouldn't be able to work the thicker version.


This is what I ended up with. It's not perfect, but I was working with tin snips, a rubber mallet, and a block of wood... Notice I notched out the cover for the raised lip on th upper cooler mounting bracket.




Not sure if you can pick it up, but it put a couple of wire ties around the cover and cooler. I don't think it would fall off with the upper notch, but better safe than sorry. I'm going to come up with some sort of reusable strap for easier removal and install.

 

The fan is on a toggle switch, so That's not the problem. If the cover doesn't help, I'll just ditch the stock external cooler.

 

It's all on the same loop, so if I put a valve in in its current configuration, it would just stop the flow all together when closed.

 

We'll see if the cover helps in the AM.

 

Any update on if the cover is helping? Excellent information in your thread by the way.

 

I tought that was powersteering cooler, Thats what they get now for Transmission cooler. MY God Toyota is getting cheap.

However, does that mean now they install transmission thermostat too like all other Toyotas ?

 

Unfortunately the cover didn't really do anything. I took the factory cooler off. It's better now. It does take a while to heat up in the cold weather, but it does heat up now.

To be honest, prior to installing the new cooler, I never paid any attention to the temps when NOT towing. But, I'm happy with it now.

 

Do you know if your truck has Transmission Thermostat (a round can on the side of transmission)?

 

Sorry, I don't. Now I'm curios too.

 

stock setup has a trans fluid thermostat afik.

 

Older 2gens did not had thermostat so runnig 100F in -14F outside is almost normal.
I had never seen my truck go over 200F even when towing because older trucks have transmission fluid goign through radiator which has own fan anyway.
However, if you have thermostat that's probably what makes your truck go to 200+ while towing.
Toyota Transmission Thermostat does not fully open until like 220F. It starts opening around 190F
If you have thermostat that would mean your transmission cooler no longer goes through Radiator. Those coolers have separate lines to keep transmission fluid heated. It circulates straight from the engine.
Looks like Toyota installed the setup from other Toyotas.

 

Update.

I finally had the chance to tow something with a little weight to it today. I got a Line on a free pile of Oak beside the road. Not really fireplace wood, but it'll be nice in the fire pit.

Some in the trailer:


Some in the bed:


Ride Rites doing their job:


I had to drive about 30 miles home with this load on the interstate. Normally, I leave the truck in 4th while towing, but I wanted to test out the cooler...

The biggest difference I see I with the bigger cooler is that the pan temp stays much cooler relative to the torque convertor temps.

I had to go up a couple of big hills on the way home. On the first one, I left the truck in OD part way up. I watched the TC temp rise to 195 before dropping it into 4th. When the TC was at 195, the Pan was still at 155. I never saw a 40 degree difference like that prior to the larger trans cooler.

When I dropped it down into 4th, the TC temp fell very quickly to match the pan temp.

On the second hill, I went down to 4th at the beginning. The temp barely budged in either location.

The fan also seemed to do its job on the last part of the trip. Normally, the trans gets the hottest around town and up,the big hill to my house. Today, leaving it in 3rd with the fan on, I stayed WELL below 200 degrees.

These are all obvious and expected results. Needless to say, I think the install was worth it. The truck is staying much cooler with this setup over stock. Now, I'm looking forward to seeing how it does in the summer heat.

 

Thanks for the update!