Hey Guys,
I was wondering, as a step towards preventative maintenance, has anyone installed an extra trans cooler on their 5th Gen just cause?

I plan on towing right around the 5k max occasionally with my SR5, maybe once or twice a year but a 2hr drive one-way..and doing some occasional offroading here and there as well as dealing with some crap NE winters in the country...is there any reason NOT to one way or another that anyone has found? Seems that any heat you can keep away from the trans no matter how little is a good measure imho?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

When I had my supercharger installed I had an extra transmission cooler installed ahead of the heat exchanger for the intercooler. I'll try to get back to you with some accurate temp data. If I recall correctly, with the cooler, unloaded interstate cruising with the supercharger was about 80F above ambient in the summer. I haven't tested towing the boat through the mountains yet.

I’ve been meaning to add a trans cooler to mine as well, just haven’t got around to it. I see no downside of adding one aside the hit to the wallet or time to install.

If you are towing, driving in hot environments (deserts), heavy off-road… I think it’s a great idea. It keeps the trans fluid cooler which in turn helps protect it from breaking down faster from thermals. Extending life of the fluid and it's ability to project the trans.

I'm not sure if my Runner already has an AUX cooler but my 2010 Tacoma was just fine wheeling with the supercharger. The temps only went up while ascending mountain roads with the converter unlocked but they all do that.

I have considered it. My Previous SUV (2001 Durango) benefited tremendously from it when I lived in Vegas and towed my bikes to Utah.

If you are going to tow, especially at or very near the towing capacity, you should install one. I have one on my 7.3 excursion and tow a trailer just under 10k and under load all over the mountains of the west, it's never gone over 190 degrees since installed and runs ~ambient temp + 70 degrees. On the excursion the trans has a valve system that regulates trans fluid and won't allow cool flow until the temp demand calls for it, and in that case you DO NOT use any temp control valve that may come with your cooler. Also learn to feel exactly when your torque converter is locked or unlocked. Tru-Cool Max. Twice the Cooling for Your Transmission. Maximum Protection for Your Vehicle. | Tru-Cool

actually for you application look here: Tru-Cool LPD Transmission Oil Coolers. Protect Your Investment—and Your Warranties. | Tru-Cool

it seems like a waste of money to install a transmission cooler before you monitor temps and know if you actually need one

get a scangauge or torque app or something to monitor the torque converter and transmission pan temp and take your trailer for a drive and monitor temps, otherwise it seems like a lot of effort for towing something once or twice a year.

I have a scanguage2 and I can tell the 4Runner runs a few degrees 6-8 higher then the Tacoma. I can see it benefit the 4Runner in the long run and help the longevity of the transmission since heat is the # 1 killer of transmissions.

Thanks for all the input guys, really appreciate all the feedback it def gives me something to think about.

Cost and install time aside, @slprciv this is more or less exactly what I was thinking. Heat is the #1 killer, and if I can spend $300-$400 now to get an extra 25-30K (speculating here) or additional year before needing to replace the trans imo it would pay for itself pretty easily. Currently only at 40k on my T4R, but trying to be proactive in preventing things down the road..I know there's some people that don't touch their underbody, some that Fluidfilm yearly, and some that take the time to hit the rust spots and repaint/seal and do it up before Fluidfilm (of course region and salt factor into those typically) and to each their own, I just tend to fall on the side of preservation because it's always worked out for me.

As far as I know it does not, which was a bit surprising to me. I know they aren't necessarily the #1 pick for towing because of their relatively low payload and engine..but man that 4.0 engine just begs to live in OD, whether passing, going uphill, shit even beating the wind some days is tough haha. I'm considering the Magnusson route too, which would most definitely turn into an intercooler and trans cooler in that case, forced induction is a different beast.

How long did you run your supercharger on your Tacoma, was it TRD or aftermarket?

I ran TRD. Honestly it was very underwhelming and actually ran slower at the track than when I just had intake and exhaust. I swapped to a 2.85" URD pulley and it was much better but still lacking. I'd puff black smoke out of the exhaust at times. Sometimes I'd barely be faster than a stock 2nd gen Tacoma and other times it would be a rocket. I blame the very conservative TRD tune.

Installed at about 80K miles and it was running just fine when it was totaled out at 136K miles.

YouTube

I ran the TRD supercharger on my truck for 70,000 miles. Then traded for my 4Runner


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Do your research. Transmissions don’t like to run too cool either. A tranny cooler can help, but it can also hurt.

i believe pressure can also drop which is bad.

remember the more you do, the more places for failure points as well.

Dual clutch systems benefit from a trans heater and coolers. I would say change the fluid every 30k and forget it