4.0 owners: how many added Trans cooler?
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jpless
New member
I've got a 4.0 and a tranny cooler sitting around. I nicked my condenser when drilling holes in the vertical bar up front to mount it. I'm going to install it once I get around to buying a new condenser and swap it out. I could put it in but it'll be easier to do the condenser first.
I only tow my 19' grady white about a mile each time I use so I'm not too worried. My 98's transmission blew while putting the boat away on July 4th weekend last year. That's what led to my 06 purchase and and the tranny cooler to keep it running better longer.
I would suggest it. Cheap, easy, just take your time and dont create other problems during the install, like I did! man. a cheap mod turned into an expensive fix for something else in my case!
I only tow my 19' grady white about a mile each time I use so I'm not too worried. My 98's transmission blew while putting the boat away on July 4th weekend last year. That's what led to my 06 purchase and and the tranny cooler to keep it running better longer.
I would suggest it. Cheap, easy, just take your time and dont create other problems during the install, like I did! man. a cheap mod turned into an expensive fix for something else in my case!
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
I took the liberty of adding a poll... I hope that's ok; I too am curious how many have done it. I have one (link in sig). I think it's great, cheap insurance for the very expensive transmission.
Without an added cooler and doing some towing I would suggest changing the trans fluid at 45k. With an added cooler and occasional, modest towing I would think the Toyota recommended 60k would be ok. (Scroll down and read "Driving while towing": http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=1&y=2008&int_id=12 ) IMHO Toyota recommendations for transmission fluid changes are spaced out a bit too far.
Lots of stuff on transmission fluid, flush, level checking etc in the sticky at the top of the "Maintenance" section.
Without an added cooler and doing some towing I would suggest changing the trans fluid at 45k. With an added cooler and occasional, modest towing I would think the Toyota recommended 60k would be ok. (Scroll down and read "Driving while towing": http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=1&y=2008&int_id=12 ) IMHO Toyota recommendations for transmission fluid changes are spaced out a bit too far.
Lots of stuff on transmission fluid, flush, level checking etc in the sticky at the top of the "Maintenance" section.
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Will_4R
Member
Isn't there is a temp sensor in the tranny with a red light on that lights up on the dash if it gets too hot? How good an indicator is this of overheating your tranny. I mean if the lights never comes on does that mean you are OK without a cooler, or does the light only come on when it is too late? I don't have a cooler, but I don't tow anything either. Just wondering how useful the warning light really is.
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Yes, there's a light. The temp threshold is pretty high to turn the light on, 245 I think. If the light comes on it's damn hot. Stop immediately, place in N or P and DO NOT SHUT IT OFF! At idle or a slightly fast idle (1500rpm) wait until the light goes out then shut it off or continue. Don't do anymore of what you were doing to turn it on in the first place
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Shop more... That's crazy! Where do live?
I have an 08 v6 and added a tranny cooler and an engine oil cooler. I tow a 6x12 trailer around town a bit and also will be towing a 19' travel trailer this summer to Yellowstone. I was able to install both for about than $300.00. I went with braided steel lines and connectors so the cost was a bit more. You can do the tranny cooler for about $125.00 if you go with standard rubber lines. I have pics of the install and how I fabricated the mounting brackets. I am planning on doing and install thread but I need to convert all my pics for the 3mb files to smaller ones before I can post them. If you are interested in doing the install yourself I can send you the pics.
RocNYRunner
New member
I have to agree with the cheap insurance part. I tow a 19' travel trailer that weighs 3500#, figure the couple hundred bucks for the cooler would be better than stranded on the roadside on vacation.
olsen_karl
New member
For those who added a transmission cooler --
What did you do to top off the transmission fluid level? The cooler and lines will need to be filled -- not a lot of fluid, obviously, but there's still some that has to go in there.
The lengthy proper method for replacing transmission fluid on these is the main reason I haven't bothered with installing a cooler.
What did you do to top off the transmission fluid level? The cooler and lines will need to be filled -- not a lot of fluid, obviously, but there's still some that has to go in there.
The lengthy proper method for replacing transmission fluid on these is the main reason I haven't bothered with installing a cooler.
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
I have read the whole install thread and others plus had my own first-hand experience:
1) All the posts that I have read indicate there's no need to add fluid. It appears Toyota 'factory-fills' the transmissions to the very upper-end of full or slightly overfilled. That was indeed the case with mine.
2) The volume of fluid the cooler and line holds is small. The amount it lowers fluid level in the pan is virtually insignificant. One clever member, IIRC, filled his cooler to get the fluid capacity. During the install they patiently funneled in approximately that amount to the cooler & line just before completing the last connection (of course saving the highest connection for last). Clever but overkill IMHO. If you're really that worried about it it's a great idea. Don't 'over think' it though; put in just what the cooler holds, don't try to add some for the lines. Why? They hold a tiny amount, probably exactly the correct amount to compensate for warm vs. cool fluid. The level checking procedure is done with warm fluid.
I say go for it!
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morphius909
New member
Doesn't the 4.0 V6 have a Auto Tranny Cooler factory installed affront of the radiator??
titaniumsport
New member
there is one that is integrated into the radiator, but not seperate.
question for you guys, are you running your coolers inline with the factory radiator cooler or bypassing it and only running the Auxiliary only?
CJ3Flyr
Super Moderator
Most 4th gen guys (self included) seem to run it inline. With the 3rd gens it's popular to bypass it as they occasionally will blow the radiator allowing anti-freeze and transmission fluid to co-mingle.
Maybe as the 4th gens age we'll do the same thing.
dgsmith15
New member
JUST finished installing my B&M cooler not an hour ago. The instructions that came with it said that they're designed to run in series with the radiator. Given those instructions, that's how mine was installed.
Also, it took me roughly 5 hours from start to finish. Some of the hardest things involved (for me at least):
1. Mounting the cooler. I spent an hour alone on this part of the install.
2. Removing the skid plate with out jacking up the front end. I was extremely lazy and didn't feel like jacking it up. But after a lot of effort, I was able to get it off without the jack.
3. Opening my beers with tranny fluid on my hands.
This is the first time I've ever tackled a job like this and so I definitely took my time. However, looking back at the entire process, it wasn't hard at all. Installing my HIDs actually may have been slightly harder.
titaniumsport
New member
i installed one on my mustang, at first i ran it inline but then bought a new radiator and broke the fitting so i just bypassed it.
wasnt too hard of an install plus i had much less room to work in than the 4Runner, which should make the 4Runner a breeze (knock on wood)
wasnt too hard of an install plus i had much less room to work in than the 4Runner, which should make the 4Runner a breeze (knock on wood)
