Best Transmission Cooler for the money?

[1985taylor1925]

Its time for me to get one. My transmission has been cheating death for a while now. Ive seen at least 4 different brands, and Im sure there are many more.

So according to those of you who have them installed, which one would you recommend for under $100? Also, do they come with everything needed to be installed? Thanks,

"Jitters"

 

[LittleCaesar]

Any tranny cooler is good IMHO as long as it has a LPD, which would allow the ATF to not pass through the cooler until it reaches operating temp (usually 170).

I like the B&M 70264, but in the South with 100+ degree temps, I need it. For you either the B&M 70268 or Tru Cool 4454 would be fine. Just make sure it is right up against the condenser.

Get an extra 6ft of ATF hose and a quart of ATF.

 

[kball]

I'd get either the B&M 70268 or 70264 if it gets hot where you live or you tow often. They are really stout coolers.

I just installed my second 70268 on my Taco this weekend. They come with most hardware you'll need but in my experience you'll need more hose and some assorted nuts, bolts, washers depending on how you mount it. They also come with the zip ties for mounting to the condensor.

 

[1985taylor1925]

A few more questions.

- How do you know for sure that installing the cooler will prevent the radiator from going still? Im not exactly sure how it works, but I know that internal seal goes and the coolant and tranny fluid mix. So once you bypass it on the tranny side by installing the external tranny cooler . . . if that seal has been degraded over the years, isnt there still a good chance that the seal can eventually get destroyed on the coolant side?

- Is this something I can wait to do when it warms up since its gonna be freezing here in WI for the next three months? I mean wont the cold temps keep things pretty cool in the radiator/tranny cooler?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Now I will tell ya to use the search engine for BFAD's DIY write up on how he installed his 70268.

The ATF would not run through the radiator any longer; hence no chance of the pink milkshake happening.

I would think you could wait until March at least.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Now I will tell ya to use the search engine for BFAD's DIY write up on how he installed his 70268.

The ATF would not run through the radiator any longer; hence no chance of the pink milkshake happening.

I would think you could wait until March at least.

Ya I just saw that today. Ill use his write up when I do the install. So I know that you couldnt have the pink milk shake since the tranny fluid would run through an external cooler. But what would happen if the coolant ruined the seal on the other side and began to leak through?

 

[kball]

You just need to run some hose between the two nipples on the radiator so if the coolant makes its way into the old cooler it will stay inside and not make it out to the ground. I'm sure Bigfish's writeup has a picture of this.

 

[bolantej]

I, along with a few others here, just used the old tranny to radiator hose to connect the two nipples on the radiator.

I do wish I bought some larger hose, as the B&M hose was pretty snug.

 

[catalina34]

I, along with a few others here, just used the old tranny to radiator hose to connect the two nipples on the radiator.

I do wish I bought some larger hose, as the B&M hose was pretty snug.

I used the old hose as well to connect the nipples on the radiator. I also didn't find that I needed to buy anything in addition to what came with the B&M. I had just enough hose and didn't have a particularly hard time with the diameter of the provided hose. I found getting the old line off of the tranny hard lines was harder than getting the new lines on due to the limited space to move my razor blade under there.

 

[Beach Runner]

I followed pdx's (member) advice and ran water and compressed air through the existing tranny cooler before I connected the two nipples on the radiator together. That way if/when the old cooler gives out, there is nothing but coolant in the system. Though its only a minimum amount of trans fluid left, it made me feel better knowing I had completly flushed the entire system. FWIW

 

[1985taylor1925]

Good advice. Thanks all

 

[shiftmx]

I'll just throw it out there that the hayden 678 is the same as the TRD cooler without the nicer brackets. I have one waiting to be installed. I figured if it was good enough to be used by TRD then it has to be a quality piece...

 

[IanB]

I bought a snowmobile and trailer this year, so I'll be doing some towing. As a result a tranny cooler has been bumped to the front of my "to-do" list, and I'll be going with the smaller B&M 70268 as I have real-deal winter up here, and don't likely need the same cooling capacity as those living in the southern US.

Edit: found the 70255 which is a bit smaller than the 70268, and is likely all I need. I'll be going with that one instead.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

I used the Hayden since it was a little cheaper and readily available and have had no problems.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Get an extra 6ft of ATF hose and a quart of ATF.

So I couldn't just have any truck shop install one for me since the installation would need to have some extra ATF? I highly doubt they would have some Toyota ATF fluid on hand and I would be pissed if they didn't use Toyota ATF.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Go to Little China or an Auto Parts Store, grab 1qt of Castrol Import ATF, and take it with you. You don't need Toyota ATF to do the job.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Go to Little China or an Auto Parts Store, grab 1qt of Castrol Import ATF, and take it with you. You don't need Toyota ATF to do the job.

Oh ok cool thanks. I would have imagined you would need Toyota ATF though.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Nope. The Castrol Import ATF is good stuff and can still be gotten for under $5 a qt.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Go to Little China or an Auto Parts Store, grab 1qt of Castrol Import ATF, and take it with you. You don't need Toyota ATF to do the job.

Oh ok cool thanks. I would have imagined you would need Toyota ATF though.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Sorry for the double post moderator. My browser was acting up.