I'm planning on doing a trans flush per the good instructions throughout this forum on my sealed trans... I talked to my toyota dealer and asked what they recommended for my '04 V8 w/116k that was used for towing by the previous owner; hence the trailer brake controller currently installed. The dealer said a trans flush should definitely be performed.

My question, since I was unable to find it via searching, is if my trans cooler is in my radiator or is the small cooler that is mounted in from of my radiator on the drivers side.
Also wondering if I should drop the pan so as to get everything cleaned out and replace the trans filter.

What are you towing - a light jet ski or motorcycle? Or a 5000# boat or travel trailer? Local short trips or long trips with mountains and traffic? If the heavier loads then an added trans cooler is good insurance - plus it adds near a quart more fluid for cooling purposes. The "towing package" doesn't not include any extra cooling capacity.

Since I have only had my 4runner for a little over a month I have yet to tow anything... However the previous owner evidently did quite a bit of towing, thus the trailer brake controller.
I do plan on using it for towing which could range from light to heavy.
Regarding the trans cooler I believe I already have on installed. Or at least I'm not sure what else it could be. It sure looks to be a factory install to me.

Top pic is in front of the radiator, not that I look at it I'm thinking this a PS or oil cooler possibly? The lines for it go down and under the radiator.

Bottom pic is the passenger side of the radiator which I'm assuming those are my trans cooler lines? Any idea which is the return?

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The 4Runner has a transmission cooler, and a power steering cooler as well. No aftermarket cooling is needed IMHO. I now have 82,000 on my 4Runner.

That smaller radiator in your first photo is your external trans cooler. The top hose is the outlet from the cooler back to the trans pan...ie. the return line you're looking for. Flow goes in the bottom of the external cooler and out the top. Pick up some 3/8" ID tubing, (HD/Lowes/etc), connect it in place of the top hose route to a bucket, and you're good to go for a cooler line flush.

The radiator sandwich front to back is, external trans|a/c|engine.

The full path on the V-8 is trans-> top passenger side of engine rad for first trans cooler in the engine rad->bottom of engine rad->under engine rad to driver's side->bottom inlet on external trans cooler->top outlet trans cooler->vertically down driver's side and back over to passenger side->back to trans pan.

-Brent

Exactly what I needed to hear riverwolf thanks!!!
Do you think I should drop the pan and change the filter as well?

I'm probably the wrong person to ask. ;-) I replaced my pan back in June due to a stripped drain plug. Seems simple enough, just remove 20 or so bolts, right?...oh, yeah, you've also got to remove the exhaust crossover pipe that takes the driver's side exhaust over to the passenger side. Anyway, once I finally picked up a deep well socket for the exhaust studs...the need for which was not discovered until the truck was on stands with the fluid drained , the removal wasn't so bad. Installation was my problem...I managed to slice one of the wires going to the SL2 shift solenoid...of course, you don't know this until you've buttoned it up, refilled the ATF, and started it up. I let a local trans shop fix it since I didn't want to fight with the FIPG gasket (make sure you get a replacement cork gasket from your parts dept, it does exist even if they only use FIPG in the shop, DAMHIK). Most likely, I cut the wire with the edge of the pan while trying to catch the dipstick tube. If your '04 has the sealed trans, you won't have that issue to contend with.

Some will say you need to drop the pan to see how much "junk" is in the bottom and then clean it. Since you're not likely to do anything to the trans until/if it brakes anyway, I'm not sure I see the point, especially at 100K+ miles. I personally, would just do a drain-n-fill to remove whatever's not sticking to the *4* magnets on the bottom of the pan, followed by a cooler line flush, but I don't think I've ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express so the advice is worth the price paid.

Speaking of mileage, have you confirmed your timing belt's been changed? Toyota says 90K/72months. That's likely a more pressing concern than your ATF.

-Brent

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words...

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Yes it is A picture is worth a 1000 words...

Link added here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/mainte...on-sealed.html

Yes, I did get my timing belt and water pump changed in the first week after we purchased the 4runner.
However it was a good bargaining chip since the dealer could not tell me if it had been changed... The salesman then gave me this line about how imports are harder to work on versus domestics blah blah blah.
I told the salesmen everything nowadays is overhead cam and electronic so unless your mechanics only know how to fix old GM iron they should have NO problem changing a timing belt on a V8 4runner. That shut him up really quick and he gave me the price I wanted and a full tank of gas

Now I'm ready to do my flush hopefully this weekend. I have a case+ of Royal Purple MaxATF (I know it's not Toyota WS but the viscosities are nearly the same and my vehicle is well out of warranty).
I should be able to pull that cooler line, per the 1000 word picture thank you very much, run it till it sputters, then fill up the trans, run it once more till it sputters and then perform a final fill and level check. Since I have the sealed trans unless I drop the pan I really can't drain much of anything out of it is my understanding... In the end I should get about 11qts of old trans fluid out???

With whatever I have left of ATF I figure I'll do a power steering flush as well since mine is currently almost black in color.

Sorry, RP Max ATF can NOT be used in place of "WS" fluid.

Koz

I know Royal Purple MaxATF is not an "official" WS replacement. AMSOIL does have what they call a WS replacement and if you look at the viscosities of the AMSOIL versus the Royal Purple they are nearly identical.

Knowing this I contacted Royal Purple to see what they had to say about the viscosity of Royal Purple, AMSOIL and WS. I received a very quick response from a tech specialist who said the following...

No one but Amsoil has approved their fluid as a Toyota WS replacement. The Japanese manufacturers do not license their automotive fluid specs. Amsoil does have a product that is a light viscosity ATF that is "similar" to the Toyota WS viscosity; we do not. However, Royal Purple Max ATF (part #01320, quart bottle) is a great replacement from a performance and protection standpoint. If you are looking for a strictly warranty compliant ATF for a vehicle that specs Toyota WS, you need to purchase Toyota WS ATF. If you are looking for a superior synthetic fluid, Royal Purple Max ATF, and the Amsoil product, will be great choices.
With the slightly higher viscosity of Royal Purple over AMSOIL you will notice slightly firmer shifting. Nothing harsh at all, just less slippage between gears.
Thanks for choosing Royal Purple and have a great day!

In addition to their response they are also sending me some free Royal Purple decals for my inquiry.

Do NOT use RP ATF, you will have problems. Even Royal Purple warns not use!

Please note: Max ATF is not recommended or an approved warranty replacement for: Aisin Warner AW-1, Ford Type F, Ford Mercon SP & Mercon LV, GM Dexron VI, Mercedes Benz MB 236.12 & 236.14, Shell M1375.4 (ZF 6-Speed AT) and Toyota WS.

Why would you use this product in a VERY expensive trans?

Koz

Let's back-up a bit; The WS trans in maintenance free. The only time you need to service this trans is when the idiot light lets you know the fluid is damaged. This also includes vehicles towing at recommended weight. You can send a sample for analysis to determine its condition and look for any leaks. If you feel you must do some kind of preventive maintenance just drain the pan (make sure you measure how much you drain and how to get the new fluid in). Adding a couple quarts of fresh fluid rejuvenates the fluid where you should not have to flush the whole system. If I were to feel the need to flush the whole system, I would use the Amsoil fluid; it is engineered for severe operating conditions. It is being used for high HP ISFs (600+hp). I would think you would not have to service the trans for a very long time.

Koz

You saying that WS fluid is a lifetime fluid sure seems to go against what everyone else on this forum says about it as well as my dealer who said WS fluid is NOT a lifetime fluid and if you have done any decent amount of towing you SHOULD be changing it on a regular interval.
Only WS fluid is a "warranty replacement fluid". So whether I use Royal Purple or AMSOIL makes no difference since they are nearly identical in viscosity to one another.