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Do I need to install a transmission cooler?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Tovar28, Jul 6, 2014.

  1. Jul 6, 2014 at 7:38 AM
    #1
    Tovar28

    Tovar28 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a 2005 toyota tacoma without the tow package and I am planing to haul a travel trailer that weighs 4800 lbs. I will be hauling it for about 60 miles is it nessacary to add the trans cooler or not? If so how do I go about installing it? Thanks in advance:)
     
  2. Jul 6, 2014 at 7:48 AM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    FlimFlubberJAM
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    If this is a day to day tow, then Yes, installing a tranny cooler is a good thing. If its only a once in a while tow, then you should be fine
     
  3. Jul 6, 2014 at 8:16 AM
    #3
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    TRANSMISSION COOLERS
    Do not wait for the light on the dash to illuminate at 302 degrees ....you are too late by then
    If you do not have a transmission cooler on your truck and you plan to tow or haul heavy loads or you are in constant stop and go traffic every day or use 4X4 low a lot , consider purchasing a cooler . The cooler thats built into your rad is designed to cool the transmission with the weight of just the truck by itself .When you are in 4x4 low , your torque converter is usually in the stall stage and creates a tonne of additional heat .
    In 4x4 low when crawling , an additional cooler with a large electrical fan is best because you are not generating enough air flow through the cooling system .
    If you live in colder climates ,consider mounting the cooler after the internal radiator cooler as this will allow the engine coolant to warm the transmission quicker during those cold winter months .
    If you are skeptical that antifreeze is going to contaminate your transmission ,consider bypassing the interal rad cooler but go with a cooler that uses low line drop technology as suggested below.
    160 - 200 are considered normal temps providing your engine radiator is functioning properly . If your engine overheats , your transmission will also overheat when using the factory internal rad cooler .
    Normal fluid temperature in transmission to be 175 deg. F.

    Rate of oxidation to double for each temperature increase of 20 deg F above normal (175 deg F). As oxidation rate doubles, useful life of fluid is cut in half.

    At 175 deg F life is 100,000 miles
    At 195 deg F (20 deg above 175) life is 50k miles
    At 215 life is 25k miles
    At 235 life is 12k
    At 255 life is 6,250
    At 275 life is 3,000
    At 295 life is 1500
    At 315 life is 750

    At temperatures much above 300 deg F the metals in the transmission will tend to warp, twist etc. high temperatures causes the formation of varnish deposits which impair or pre vent transmission operation.

    At a fluid temperature of 415 deg F fluid life is 30 minutes!

    Source: Empire Lubricants Inc.

    Consider a scan guage to monitor your fluid temp [​IMG]http://www.amazon.com/ScanGauge-Comp.../dp/B000AAMY86
    There are also mechanical transmission temp guages that work well , but for about the same price and far less work , the scan guage will give a vast amount of functions in comparison to a mechanical guage .The Sanguage is a better option considering the mechanical guage would have to be plumbed into either the transmission pan or the incoming cooler line . With the mechanical guage , you are creating another possibility for transmission fluid to leak .
    At this point in time , the Ultra guage does not offer transmission temps

    This is how Low Pressure Drop technology works::
    When Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is cold it is viscous. The unique Tru-Cool design allows the colder, thicker ATF to flow more efficiently through two open bypass channels positioned at the top of the cooler. As operating temperatures increase, the ATF becomes hotter and thinner, It's then directed through the core where it is cooled. Tru-Cool's highly efficient cooling technology combines improved protection against lube failure with optimal heat transfer.
    [​IMG]http://www.amazon.com/Long-Tru-Cool-.../dp/B005XZXB1M
    Long Tru-Cool Oil Coolers offer advanced cooling protection for many towing applications. The advanced technology out performs TUBE & FIN Designs, Delivers up to 15 times less flow restrictions, 30% more cooling delivers maximum heat transfer, Self-Regulating for maximum lube flow protection through start-up, varied temperatures and driving conditions, heavy loads and towing.
    Here is Toyotas fluid flow guide ...Look at page 8 on this PDF http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/pdf/A750E.pdf
    And here is a guy who recently installed a cooler and bypassed his rad cooler http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st...agram-pic.html
     
    MTopp likes this.
  4. Jul 6, 2014 at 8:34 AM
    #4
    Tovar28

    Tovar28 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    How much transmission fluid would I need to add? And where to add it ?
     
  5. Jul 6, 2014 at 11:22 AM
    #5
    Tovar28

    Tovar28 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Does anyone have a write up on how to install it?
     
  6. Jul 6, 2014 at 11:29 AM
    #6
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    There is a write up at the bottom of the cooler explanation page that I posted for you . You are going to need an extra quart of transmission fluid if you add the cooler .
    have you decided if your are going to bypass the rad ?

    Read through this . There are links provided to show how to properly check and fill the transmission
    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...hift-kit-shift-recalibration-kit-2nd-gen.html
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
     
  7. Jul 6, 2014 at 11:43 AM
    #7
    Tovar28

    Tovar28 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I don't want to bypass the radiator I just want to add the cooler on to it how would I go about doing that? And where do I add the tranny fluid in the cooler?
     
  8. Jul 6, 2014 at 12:04 PM
    #8
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    Transmission fluid is added at the fill plug on the side of the transmission. When you start the truck , transmission fluid will fill the new cooler with fluid


    I suggest taking the truck to a garage or transmission shop to have a cooler installed . You can probably get everything professionally installed for about $ 250 - $300 bucks . This way you will get a nice warranty with the cooler :D
     
  9. Jul 6, 2014 at 12:12 PM
    #9
    Tovar28

    Tovar28 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Would pepboys install this kind of stuff?
     
  10. Jul 6, 2014 at 12:26 PM
    #10
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    Not sure about pep-boys , you could always call around .
    You have the tow package so you already have an additional transmission cooler .
    The trailer you are towing is within the gvw rating that our Tacomas can tow .
    With this said , you should be able to tow the trailer safely with what your truck came from the factory with . If anything , I would consider a scan guage to monitor your transmission temperature . If you see the temps going to high , you can always pull over and run the truck in park to cool the transmission down .
     
  11. Jul 6, 2014 at 12:28 PM
    #11
    Tovar28

    Tovar28 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's the problem mine doesn't have a tow package :(
     
  12. Jul 6, 2014 at 12:30 PM
    #12
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    Yah , I see that now . Thought your first post said you did have one ..... my bad for speed reading again
     
  13. Apr 19, 2016 at 6:06 PM
    #13
    M192

    M192 Well-Known Member

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    I'm gonna bring this back to life. I may add an additional cooler. I have the trans cooler in the rad and an engine oil cooler. But my truck while regular driving the temps in the pan get to and hover about 190-205. The converter gets to and runs about 210-230. Max I've seen while wheeling was pan 210 and converter 245. So I'm really thinking about adding an aux trans cooler.
     
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  14. Apr 19, 2016 at 7:30 PM
    #14
    HolyHandGrenade

    HolyHandGrenade NOOB

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