Transmission cooler question

[sweendogie]

Looking at adding a Hayden 678 transmission cooler to my 4runner to prevent the inevitable strawberry milkshake. Question is am I going to have to add more atf to the transmission after the install and is it okay to mix or should I just drain and refill? I've never changed out atf as I've always driven a 5 speed and didn't have to worry about refilling. Just trying to decide what to do thanks in advance.

 

[Bstrom]

I'm about to do the same with a B&M Supercooler. You'll want to:

1) Isolate the cooler from the mating radiator - don't want the metals to touch and transfer their heat. The cooler connections will work best if they are the 'side' of installed position - prevents air pockets I was told by B&M. Also need to run the 'return' line from the bottom connection to get good cooling effect.

2) Check the tranny fluid level after cooler install. Dextron III is what Toyota recommends - I was just at the dealer today to confirm.

3) Flush the tranny juice out of the radiator (I'll use my air compressor) and fill the empty space with coolant (don't know how other than to use the tranny filler tube). A 'jumper' hose from the old tranny connections will need to be installed. If either cavity leaks you don't want to lose your coolant.

 

[sweendogie]

Edit: post above was deleted but I'll leave this here incase anyone else is confused.

Sorry for the confusion my 4runner is an automatic not a manual. I just want to know what my options are when I add the tranny cooler. I want to know if it's necessary to add ATF and if it is ok to mix the ATF with a different brand ATF as long as it is Dextron III. I don't want to run the transmission low on fluid but I also don't really want to flush the transmission if I don't have to.

 

[sweendogie]

I'm about to do the same with a B&M Supercooler. You'll want to:

1) Isolate the cooler from the mating radiator - don't want the metals to touch and transfer their heat. The cooler connections will work best if they are the 'side' of installed position - prevents air pockets I was told by B&M. Also need to run the 'return' line from the bottom connection to get good cooling effect.

2) Check the tranny fluid level after cooler install. Dextron III is what Toyota recommends - I was just at the dealer today to confirm.

3) Flush the tranny juice out of the radiator (I'll use my air compressor) and fill the empty space with coolant (don't know how other than to use the tranny filler tube). A 'jumper' hose from the old tranny connections will need to be installed. If either cavity leaks you don't want to lose your coolant.

Awesome thanks for the information!

 

[jgue467]

...3) Flush the tranny juice out of the rad...and fill the empty space with coolant...

why fill the 'old' trans radiator? Just clamp a hose between in/out and be done with that. :cowboy:

 

[gamefreakgc]

A drain and fill is exactly the same as just adding more ATF. The drain and fill removes about 4-5 quarts, which is only half the capacity. It "refreshes" the fluid.

After installing the cooler if you add more new fluid it's the exact same thing, but on a smaller scale. If you transmission has high miles on it, a flush in not recommended since it can kick up debris and shavings which are then re-circulated causing more shavings, etc. A drain and fill removes the shavings that collect on the magnet so eliminates that issue.

A lot of shops have stopped doing flushes all together since customers would sometimes complain of transmission issues after a flush.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The only way to remove debris from the magnet is to drop pan and remove magnets and wipe them clean.