1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

3rd gen Transmission Cooler Upgrade

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Lord Humongous, Mar 22, 2017.

  1. Sep 16, 2019 at 7:09 PM
    #241
    Lord Humongous

    Lord Humongous [OP] The Ayatolah Of RockNRolla

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2016
    Member:
    #174960
    Messages:
    2,317
    Gender:
    Male
    AZ
    Vehicle:
    Inferno 3rd gen trd offroad 4x4
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lord-humongous-gigahorse-build.436524/
    The truck normally operates between 190-200 so I'd guess the oem thermostat on the sending unit opens around 190f. If your referring to a fan that's actuated by a thermal switch I'd say that would be too agressive and almost pointless since the fan would be on all of the time. It wouldn't provide any cooling benifit since the fluid thermostat will regulate the temp to close to 190 anyway.

    I've been running mine pinned during the summer here in Phoenix. I may pull the pin when it cools off but I don't notice any Ill affects of having my trans fluid operating around the 160 range. Theres allot of debate about how hot is too hot for the WS atf. It's a reasonable thought that Toyota designed it that way to reduce friction and prevent sludge buildup but trans temps rising above 230 when the truck is working is also a legitimate concern. I've got about 44k miles on my truck. I run 35s metal bumpers and skids and also pull a trailer. As soon as I hit 60k I've having it flushed as preventative maintenance.
     
    ancient11 likes this.
  2. Sep 16, 2019 at 7:15 PM
    #242
    Lord Humongous

    Lord Humongous [OP] The Ayatolah Of RockNRolla

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2016
    Member:
    #174960
    Messages:
    2,317
    Gender:
    Male
    AZ
    Vehicle:
    Inferno 3rd gen trd offroad 4x4
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lord-humongous-gigahorse-build.436524/
    As far as bypassing the the radiator it's not a bad idea. My reason for keeping it that way was warranty. Even though I've got a bunch of mods I'd like to hope my powertrain warranty is still good.... all though the OVT FI kits are looking tempting lol. Hypothetically if my tranny gave out on me I could easily switch a couple trans cooler lines around and pull the big cooler on the side of the road before the tow truck shows up:spy:.
     
  3. Sep 16, 2019 at 7:20 PM
    #243
    Lord Humongous

    Lord Humongous [OP] The Ayatolah Of RockNRolla

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2016
    Member:
    #174960
    Messages:
    2,317
    Gender:
    Male
    AZ
    Vehicle:
    Inferno 3rd gen trd offroad 4x4
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lord-humongous-gigahorse-build.436524/
    Of course if the dealer asked about tranmission modifications I wouldn't be dishonest. I just wouldn't divulge anything that's irrelevant to the situation.
     
  4. Sep 16, 2019 at 11:37 PM
    #244
    tow-coma

    tow-coma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2017
    Member:
    #231981
    Messages:
    520
    Gender:
    Male
    You can do that if you run the thermostat pinned open. That way it would only turn on the fan when it gets above 190F and it will usually be lower than that
     
  5. Sep 16, 2019 at 11:38 PM
    #245
    tow-coma

    tow-coma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2017
    Member:
    #231981
    Messages:
    520
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm going wheeling this weekend in the open desert. Going to spend most of our time underground but we have some sites to get to on old mine roads. I'll try and pin the thermostat open and see what temps I see. I don't have a fan
     
  6. Sep 16, 2019 at 11:57 PM
    #246
    US Marine

    US Marine Semper Fi

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    Member:
    #182227
    Messages:
    14,745
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chuck
    Gallatin Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    02 Pre Runner supercharged 4cyl
    TRD supercharger , Doug Thorley header , K&N CAI 265/75-16 Toyo open country mud terrain , 15x8 Method Racing wheels , Rancho 3" lift , 4.88 gears , Detroit Locker
  7. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:36 AM
    #247
    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT

    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT bearly famous

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Member:
    #187524
    Messages:
    2,611
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Alex
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OR 4X4 DCSB Slowsand, 2017 WRX WRB
    Gotcha, I may do that. I'll have to remove it in the winter here in WI.
     
  8. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:46 AM
    #248
    ryan760

    ryan760 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2019
    Member:
    #294438
    Messages:
    1,510
    I haven't had time to read through the whole thread... did you mount the trans cooler in front of the AC condenser? If so do you notice any degradation in AC performance?
     
  9. Sep 17, 2019 at 6:16 PM
    #249
    tow-coma

    tow-coma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2017
    Member:
    #231981
    Messages:
    520
    Gender:
    Male
    This truck has a huge condesnor! I've driven in 115F sitting in traffic and it never warms up. No worries there
     
  10. Sep 20, 2019 at 4:20 PM
    #250
    GoldenBrew

    GoldenBrew Insufficient Privilege

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2016
    Member:
    #205159
    Messages:
    2,758
    Gender:
    Male
    Golden, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    Gen3 4X4 TRD OR AT - SOLD not Forgotten
    TRU-COOL 4590 INSTALL - sort of: Got my Tru-Cool last week and waited until my SG2 came so I could check transmission fluid level after a full flush and fill. Flush and fill went okay - except the WS bolt was torqued by a 600lb monkey at the dealer when they did the initial low level check (3/4 qt low from the factory = tow package cooler and not pinning thermo). So after busting my hand it came loose. Drained the pan, replaced pan nut (properly torqued) and replaced volume of fluid drained, tightened WS bolt to proper torque. After 6 flush and equal fill runs the fluid coming out looked new. I was ready to add the .84 qts additional trans fluid to equal the volume of the 4590. Done. Hook up the supply and return hoses, tighten everything up and start the engine. WTF! the TRU-COOL is pissing fluid from its core. Mother of Mary. Kill me now. What a mess. Went to local parts store and got a Hayden 679. Installed, connected hoses, tighten it all up. Start engine....Yes! Success. Still have to do final fluid level check but that will wait until tomorrow. Enough for today. Moral to the story....TRU-COOL was a POS. Never buy from anywhere except the local parts store. My fleabay bay experience will find its way to the recycle bin.

    EDIT: checked the trans. fluid level today. SG2 sure makes identifying the pan temp easy. Climbed under it before to be sure I could loosen the check plug. It was tightened by the same monkey that did the fill plug. Way too tight. Good news I got it loose and did not bust my knuckles! Up to temp and loosen plug - nothing comes out. Turn it off, pull front grill, take off return hose, pump in 1.5 qts, put all back together. Now its had an hour to cool because I decided to mow the lawn. Fire it up, check temp reached, pull check plug - out comes the extra fluid. Replace plug (torqued properly) when it is down to trickle and call it good. Ends up it was about 8 oz short. No way I lost that much fluid when the Tru-Cool took a dump and pissed its load - so even after Toyota added 3/4 qt (so they say) it was still short. Now I just want to drive!

    @GmanCement18 Go to post #1 - good pics on entire process.
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2022
    WarFab Armor, ancient11 and US Marine like this.
  11. Sep 20, 2019 at 8:57 PM
    #251
    K_Sandhu

    K_Sandhu Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2016
    Member:
    #204941
    Messages:
    1,731
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Karan
    Castro Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Double cab TRD off-road 4x4 long bed
    I am running thermostat sensor as I didn't wanted to add another switch in the cab and wanted to automate as much as possible. I got 180 F switch. Now, where you put that sensor will determine how often your fan comes on. I placed that sensor after factory tranny cooler and before new bigger tranny cooler with fan. Reason for doing so was fan wouldn't be on all the time during regular driving. Fan would only come on when small tranny cooler fails to cool down the fluid down (180 in this case). This usually happens when you are offroading at very low speed when your RPMs are low and clutch fan isn't spinning very fast and there isn't much air flowing throwing smaller tranny cooler. It has been working flawlessly as I desired.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2019
  12. Sep 21, 2019 at 6:31 AM
    #252
    GoldenBrew

    GoldenBrew Insufficient Privilege

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2016
    Member:
    #205159
    Messages:
    2,758
    Gender:
    Male
    Golden, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    Gen3 4X4 TRD OR AT - SOLD not Forgotten
    Will watch the temps and see about the fan. Considering it is close to Fall, and my camping season is done if I do a fan it will not be until next tow season. May just pin it btwn June and September next season and then reevaluate.
     
    WarFab Armor[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Sep 22, 2019 at 10:12 AM
    #253
    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT

    BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT bearly famous

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Member:
    #187524
    Messages:
    2,611
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Alex
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OR 4X4 DCSB Slowsand, 2017 WRX WRB
    Good thinking! I will probably do similar.
     
  14. Sep 22, 2019 at 6:54 PM
    #254
    GoldenBrew

    GoldenBrew Insufficient Privilege

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2016
    Member:
    #205159
    Messages:
    2,758
    Gender:
    Male
    Golden, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    Gen3 4X4 TRD OR AT - SOLD not Forgotten
    without the SG2 I never monitored my trans pan and converter temps. Went for a ride today but did not have the thermo pinned. both still went to 190. Went out for same later in the day and temps were about 150. Thinking I will leave it pinned until temps drop to below 40 for lows. ??? what have your temps been running - pinned and not. ??
     
  15. Sep 22, 2019 at 7:06 PM
    #255
    ancient11

    ancient11 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2013
    Member:
    #119094
    Messages:
    519
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    robert
    tallahassee
    Vehicle:
    2019 4 cyl srsx ac
    Unpinned..145 to 184 so far
     
  16. Sep 22, 2019 at 7:13 PM
    #256
    jdr43

    jdr43 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Member:
    #159825
    Messages:
    144
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Hamelton Montana
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma SR5
    Not pined 190 pined 160
     
  17. Jun 17, 2020 at 7:27 AM
    #257
    Ray1989

    Ray1989 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2017
    Member:
    #231592
    Messages:
    190
    Gender:
    Male
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    3rd Gen Sport
    Help Can't find where this leak is comming from checked all the hoses and no sign of a leak at all.
    Checked all the new hoses and nothing seems to be leaking. But what i did find was the front Radiator at the bottom that ruber gasket has wet marks all threw the bottom but mostly at the drivers side.
    That rubber gasket at the bottom is the only sign i see where the oil is comming from.
    Cant it be that radiator?? It is Trans Oil had my Mecanic install it. Im new to all this so i have no idea. Where else can i check

    20200617_060454.jpg
    20200617_060203.jpg
    20200617_060934.jpg
     
  18. Jun 17, 2020 at 7:38 AM
    #258
    SearArtist

    SearArtist GX poor

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Member:
    #174151
    Messages:
    18,979
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    NC
    Vehicle:
    GX470 & GX460
    Things
    not the right thread for this, as it has nothing to do with upgrading to an aftermarket cooler.

    Take it back to your mechanic since they did the work.
     
    m00seNUckLEz likes this.
  19. Jun 17, 2020 at 7:44 AM
    #259
    Ray1989

    Ray1989 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2017
    Member:
    #231592
    Messages:
    190
    Gender:
    Male
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    3rd Gen Sport
    I did upgrade the Trans Cooler

    IMG_20200617_074413_966.jpg
     
    atc250r and Lord Humongous[OP] like this.
  20. Jun 17, 2020 at 7:49 AM
    #260
    SearArtist

    SearArtist GX poor

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Member:
    #174151
    Messages:
    18,979
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    NC
    Vehicle:
    GX470 & GX460
    Things
    i would take the factory hose clamps off and go with a worm gear hose clamp. Start there as that’s probably where your leak is.

    Whenever you take the factory hose clamps loose, seems that sometimes they won’t get tight enough when putting them back on. Plus I like a worm clamp for any hose that is under pressure.
     
    synaps3 and Ray1989[QUOTED] like this.
To Top