V8 transmission coolers ? -aftermarket

[the great him]

I don't know that there was one thing that I did that caused the trans to die. I had been out spending the day exploring with some friends as our families like to do on the weekends -no hard wheeling or serious off roading. Just back country/fs/logging roads and the like, anyhow we had gone through about a 3mile section of unplowed snow about 18" deep taking turns breaking trail. I had just come out onnthe far side and went to back up. That's when I found I had no reverse. Over the next 40+ mi I lost most of my ability to accelerate. Limped it to my father in-laws (who's a master tech for Toyota and been working for a dealer for over 30) anyhow after letting it sit for about 40min it had its forward acceleration back, but no reverse and it finally threw a p2714 code. We cleared the code and I drove it the 80+ miles home after doing some research and assessment of the rig and what had happened we both felt the trans was already damaged bad enough to warrant not trying to save. It made it home but by the time I was home it was slipping bad in all forward gears.

I have noticed for several weeks now that when I back out of our driveway in the mornings and shift into drive there was a noticeable delay, and a hard clunk/thud along with that. I have also noticed nit smelling very very hot after regular drives even my less than 10mi commute. Hot to the point where it's alarming to smell when you step outta the rig. I crawled under it last week and looked around where I noticed a composite skid plate at the back of the trans skid had is edges melted, I just figured it was from the cats... Guess not.

I have 157k miles on the truck, its never had a transmission service done and I think that is the biggest issue.

That is why with the new trans I want to add a cooler and a remote filter to keep fluid cool, and clean, as well as add a little extra to the capacity may only 1-2 qts, but that's roughly a 10-15% increase...

 

[the great him]

My 4runner has 300k miles on it, original transmission, and I wheel the piss outta it and drive it much harder in much harsher conditions and but bigger loads on it. To me it's pretty clear than the reason its transmission has lasted as long as it has, is the fact I have dual coolers with an electric fan as well as dual filters for it.

Hence the reason I'm looking for those of you who have done aftermarket coolers on your V8s to post up what ones you have gone with and how you like them. I will only get a cooler with a fan. But would like to know sizes.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I don't know that there was one thing that I did that caused the trans to die. I had been out spending the day exploring with some friends as our families like to do on the weekends -no hard wheeling or serious off roading. Just back country/fs/logging roads and the like, anyhow we had gone through about a 3mile section of unplowed snow about 18" deep taking turns breaking trail. I had just come out onnthe far side and went to back up. That's when I found I had no reverse. Over the next 40+ mi I lost most of my ability to accelerate. Limped it to my father in-laws (who's a master tech for Toyota and been working for a dealer for over 30) anyhow after letting it sit for about 40min it had its forward acceleration back, but no reverse and it finally threw a p2714 code. We cleared the code and I drove it the 80+ miles home after doing some research and assessment of the rig and what had happened we both felt the trans was already damaged bad enough to warrant not trying to save. It made it home but by the time I was home it was slipping bad in all forward gears.

I have noticed for several weeks now that when I back out of our driveway in the mornings and shift into drive there was a noticeable delay, and a hard clunk/thud along with that. I have also noticed nit smelling very very hot after regular drives even my less than 10mi commute. Hot to the point where it's alarming to smell when you step outta the rig. I crawled under it last week and looked around where I noticed a composite skid plate at the back of the trans skid had is edges melted, I just figured it was from the cats... Guess not.

I have 157k miles on the truck, its never had a transmission service done and I think that is the biggest issue.

That is why with the new trans I want to add a cooler and a remote filter to keep fluid cool, and clean, as well as add a little extra to the capacity may only 1-2 qts, but that's roughly a 10-15% increase...

I'm wondering if the cooler became plugged up with snow/ice and/or debris internally and if the transmission was a bit low on fluid to begin with. It doesn't seem normal for it to be heating up that badly unless there's another cause. It's up to you if you want to run a larger cooler; just keep in mind that the larger the cooler, the more air it will heat up before it passes through the condenser and eventually the radiator. It's not as big a deal for the most part, but if you're going a bit bigger than stock it could affect A/C performance and theoretically radiator performance due to airflow.

I would maybe first have the stock cooler boiled/flushed and see what comes out, it may have been restricted.

 

[Morphyne]

I found what I was looking for.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...-working-formula-tranny-temp.html#post1757216

Why can't it just come preloaded is beyond me.

 

[fdbyrne]

I found what I was looking for.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...-working-formula-tranny-temp.html#post1757216

Why can't it just come preloaded is beyond me.

I don't understand why my paid version of the Torque app does transmission temperature and nobody else's does. I've not entered any fancy equations or bought any adons. Just the paid version of the app.

Here's what I see. The temperature is low because it's been sitting for a few hours. During a normal drive it's between 150 and 180.

 

[the great him]

I'm wondering if the cooler became plugged up with snow/ice and/or debris internally and if the transmission was a bit low on fluid to begin with. It doesn't seem normal for it to be heating up that badly unless there's another cause. It's up to you if you want to run a larger cooler; just keep in mind that the larger the cooler, the more air it will heat up before it passes through the condenser and eventually the radiator. It's not as big a deal for the most part, but if you're going a bit bigger than stock it could affect A/C performance and theoretically radiator performance due to airflow.

I would maybe first have the stock cooler boiled/flushed and see what comes out, it may have been restricted.

Possibly but what's done is done, I can do that later. Everyone I have talked to say I can't have this transmission rebuild for cheaper than 1500... I bought one for 1200 shipped with less than a 100k mi on it outta a wrecked truck. I will take my chances on a OE unit before I let some shop "try" and rebuild mine. I don't see a lot of failures with these, so I wouldn't trust a shop to know it well enough to feel comfortable with a rebuild. Now a powerstroke transmission or a dodge transmission sure, as those are needing rebuilds all the time so guys do them quite often.

I'll let you guys all know the quality of the fluid I get outta my cooked one when I pull it. I will try and cut the cooler in half to see what it looks like as well.

 

[T4R2014]

Lifetime fluid is a load of bullshit. That is all.

 

[the great him]

Lifetime fluid is a load of bullshit. That is all.

Fact!

 

[Morphyne]

No offense intended but if the OP was wheeling in a vehicle with 157k miles and original fluid I think the issue is pretty obvious. Unfortunate, but obvious. Things break, regardless of who makes them. That's why we all obsessively lubricate our vices with the finest synthetics etc...

I just wish these stupid things had dipsticks.

 

[Morphyne]

I don't understand why my paid version of the Torque app does transmission temperature and nobody else's does. I've not entered any fancy equations or bought any adons. Just the paid version of the app.

Here's what I see. The temperature is low because it's been sitting for a few hours. During a normal drive it's between 150 and 180.

I don't either. Could it be the adapter I wonder?

 

[the great him]

No offense intended but if the OP was wheeling in a vehicle with 157k miles and original fluid I think the issue is pretty obvious. Unfortunate, but obvious. Things break, regardless of who makes them. That's why we all obsessively lubricate our vices with the finest synthetics etc...

I just wish these stupid things had dipsticks.

Well if you knew anything about my vehicles and background with maintenance and or how meticulous I am about things you wouldn't say why you just did... For one I was not wheeling it, I was on a road clearly marked in range land. It's shown on all maps and my wife has driven the same road in her yaris... Had I know there would be an issue or that in fact this was the original fluid I would not have done this, and I would have had the trans serviced when I bought the truck...

You wanta make silly statements and try to cover your butt by saying something like "no offence..." Yeah don't even bother with that part. Keep your armchair mechanics to yourself. I didn't ask for your opinion, nor do I care about it. My post was asking what guys have done for aftermarket coolers. Obviously what I have isn't working and what's done is done, we can all have perfect hindsight and say "yeah that was dumb" or whatever. Me personally I'm glad it happened when and where it did, I wasn't trying to pull out onto the highway, or into traffic, that could been bad news. When and where it happened allowed me time to plan ahead and gave me plenty of warning to know I had an issue before it was critical. I'd much rather it happened there on my own time rather than on my way to Wyoming for work and be forced to pay the closest shop to do whatever to it...

Probably less than a mile before finding out I lost reverse I backed up with absolutely zero issues. This was like a tidal wave, no warning and all of the sudden big issues.

Hope you never have an issue where you learn something from it, and if you do hope others are nicer to you about it. And not so pompous.

 

[Morphyne]

Well if you knew anything about my vehicles and background with maintenance and or how meticulous I am about things you wouldn't say why you just did... For one I was not wheeling it, I was on a road clearly marked in range land. It's shown on all maps and my wife has driven the same road in her yaris... Had I know there would be an issue or that in fact this was the original fluid I would not have done this, and I would have had the trans serviced when I bought the truck...

You wanta make silly statements and try to cover your butt by saying something like "no offence..." Yeah don't even bother with that part. Keep your armchair mechanics to yourself. I didn't ask for your opinion, nor do I care about it. My post was asking what guys have done for aftermarket coolers. Obviously what I have isn't working and what's done is done, we can all have perfect hindsight and say "yeah that was dumb" or whatever. Me personally I'm glad it happened when and where it did, I wasn't trying to pull out onto the highway, or into traffic, that could been bad news. When and where it happened allowed me time to plan ahead and gave me plenty of warning to know I had an issue before it was critical. I'd much rather it happened there on my own time rather than on my way to Wyoming for work and be forced to pay the closest shop to do whatever to it...

Probably less than a mile before finding out I lost reverse I backed up with absolutely zero issues. This was like a tidal wave, no warning and all of the sudden big issues.

Hope you never have an issue where you learn something from it, and if you do hope others are nicer to you about it. And not so pompous.

Well, let me put this a different way. first I hopped all over your thread and I apologize and I will butt out. As far as aftermarket coolers are concerned, I love the idea. I was just noting that you said your tranny never had any service and that the reason for failure was pretty obvious. you could not have been that meticulous if you never changed out the fluid. And then others were trying to "figure out" why this happened". That's all.

Transmissions are expensive and it sucks that your died. But you've got a 10 year old vehicle with 150K+ on it. I hope it never happens to me.

No flame bud, just talkin.

 

[the great him]

I've owned the vehicle for just over a year, and put 25k miles on it... One thing if I knew its full history. But I bought it from a dealer with no records...

Everything seamed fine until Sunday

 

[Morphyne]

So, while I like the idea of a transmission cooler for towing and hard use what it sounds like to me is that your tranny died under normal use prematurely for this vehicle, considering they are known for going long beyond your mileage. I am guessing that your PO was not nice to your tranny. Or you may be the victim of bad luck. Not sure if the cooler would have helped or not.

Regardless, if you put one in I look forward to the results.

 

[the great him]

welp got the new trans in and filled, as well as a new bigger trans cooler and inline filter. so far every thing is ok. the one thing that will kill a transmission is heat, and is almost impossible to keep one too cold. basically as long as it shifts into overdrive is warm enough. the minimum temp needed to do a fluid level check is 114* f. so not that warm at all.

 

[Dpassmore]

I use the LeLink with Enginelink app and compared to a scan on scanner and it was within about 5 degrees. When towing the dirt bikes it usually stays under 190.


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[RunnerMike]

Sorry you had a tranny fail. I have an 05 GX as well. I had some small radiator leak on it for 2 years before I finally replaced it with a new one. While replacing the radiator, I also flushed the "lifetime" transmission because I don't think the fluid can last a lifetime. Maybe Toyota meant 100,000 mi as lifetime. The fluid stank and looked dark red/black. I drained the fluid, replaced the filter, and flushed it out the xmsn cooler line. I used the fill port in the transmission to manually hand pump the same amount of xmsn fluid in that I flushed out. I did about 2 qt at a time when flushing. I put in about 14-16qt until I see new xmsn fluid come out. Now the truck shifts smoother. I plan to change my xmsn fluid between 60,000 to 90,000 so it matches up with my timing belt change. I have over 170,000mi on my GX now, transmission fluid was done around 130,000mi by myself. I kept the stock xmsn cooler on the GX since I rarely tow. I also replaced the radiator on my 1999 4Runner the same time I replaced the radiator on my GX but I have a Trucool xmsn cooler on the Runner.

Off topic here, good job on Search and Rescue. It's a tough and very rewarding job. You never forget the rescues and the amazing areas you fly to. I fly overwater and overland SAR in central CA with the Navy and work with the Coast Guard from San Fransisco. One of my friends fly up north with NAS Whidbey Island SAR. The H-60 is a great helo to fly in.