What Toyota says about v6 tranny cooler install

[TheBlueWave]

I also posted this in the sticky in the accessories catagory.

I got news back from the Toyota people. The following was cut and pasted from my email.

Response (Jessica C) 01/26/2007 08:17 AM Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize; we do not recommend or assist with modifying our vehicles from their original factory specifications.
Modifications could affect the vehicle

 

[LV4R]

I also posted this in the sticky in the accessories catagory.

I got news back from the Toyota people. The following was cut and pasted from my email.

Response (Jessica C) 01/26/2007 08:17 AM Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize; we do not recommend or assist with modifying our vehicles from their original factory specifications.
Modifications could affect the vehicle

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah it is pretty much a "CYA" response...

 

[LV4R]

I have to chime in once more on this post as well because in my owners manual it clearly states that to increase the towing capacity to 6700#'s you have to add an external tranny cooler and weight distributing hitch. If they do not want you doing this why would the owners manual state this? Just some food for thought...

 

[Thai]

I have to chime in once more on this post as well because in my owners manual it clearly states that to increase the towing capacity to 6700#'s you have to add an external tranny cooler and weight distributing hitch. If they do not want you doing this why would the owners manual state this? Just some food for thought...

Hmm, i thought that the V6 4runner can only tow 5000 lbs max?? If not, then do you remember what page in the owner's manual did you read that?? Then, we can email Toyota back and shove it in their face!

 

[gizmopt2002]

Lol. Nice Thai. I would look it up, but I lost my owners manual. I could have sworn it was 6,400#'s though, with tranny cooler and weight - distributing hitch.

 

[Thai]

Lol. Nice Thai. I would look it up, but I lost my owners manual. I could have sworn it was 6,400#'s though, with tranny cooler and weight - distributing hitch.

You could be right...Toyota website states 5000 lbs for V6 model.

 

[Baba Booey]

I am too lazy to run outside and get my manual, but a properly equipped V6 Tacoma can be had with an OEM tranny oil cooler that is installed at the factory and is rated to tow 6500 lbs.

We all know the 4Runner frame, suspension, tires, wheelbase, etc. can handle the 6500 lbs. that a Tacoma can handle, and so if a 1GR-FE V6 Tacoma with the same engine and transmission as a V6 4Runner can handle 6500lbs., then I believe a properly equipped V6 4Runner can handle more than 5000 lbs.

Here is a link to the Tacoma capacities:

Tacoma Specs

 

[gizmopt2002]

Don't forget the 4Runner is also heavier than the Tacoma.

 

[Thai]

Thanks Baby Booey...i wonder why Toyota left out the "Tow Prep Package" in the 4runner V6?? I guess that Gizmopt2002 may have a point about the 4runner being significantly heavier (thus, reducing overall payload capability??).

Does the 4runner have "heavy-duty battery, 130-amp alternator"?? I know that all 4runners have an engine oil cooler.

Off topic, did you guys read Car & Driver's long-term test of the Tacoma?? By the end of the 30K mile test, the Tacoma was creaking and rattling so much that C&D thinks that the frame maybe too weak!! The Tacoma frame is NOT fully-boxed like the 4runner...it is boxed only in the front/cab section with C-frame in the middle and back. It is disappointing that Toyota chose this area to cheapen the Tacoma. Most newly design pickups nowadays have fully-boxed frame front to rear such as Nissan Frontier and even Chevy Colorado!

 

[Grreatdog]

That response is more than some minimum wage slave in a call center blowing you off. I got the same response from two different Toyota service managers about my 2000 T4R when I asked about intalling a TRD tranny cooler for towing a 4000 pound boat.

They said it is rated to tow 5000 so as long as you are towing under that don't screw with it. Their opinions were that if it broke from towing they would fix it. But if it broke from towing and it had ANY aftermarket tranny cooler or other mechanical modification then I might be in for a hassle.

When I asked what the 4Runner tow package consists of they said that it is only the hitch and wiring. They set to set the ECT to power and turn off OD and it is ready to tow to the 5000 pound rating. So we added a Reese hitch and a wiring pigtail and never had any problems with it.

 

[jeober]

Toyota has spent time and money to develop and validate the 4Runner at the rated capacity. This includes wind tunnel testing, proving grounds, and hot testing out West.

Efforts to "improve" are likely to be counterproductive. Adding an additional heat exchanger to the transmission cooling system will not increase towing capacity.

 

[JungleJim]

Toyota has spent time and money to develop and validate the 4Runner at the rated capacity. This includes wind tunnel testing, proving grounds, and hot testing out West.

Efforts to "improve" are likely to be counterproductive. Adding an additional heat exchanger to the transmission cooling system will not increase towing capacity.

Yes, but some of you are missing the point about what is stated in the V6 manual.... that it states that to increase the towing capacity to 6700#'s you have to add an external tranny cooler and weight distributing hitch. This has been covered many times on this forum over the years, yet mostly in reference to the upgraded hitch.

Toyota is verbally contradicting what they have in writing. Since it is in writing in the manual, I think that would cover you in any court.

Has anyone contacted Toyota about what is written in the V6 manual? I'd like to here them explain that you can officially raise the towing capacity by adding the transmission cooler & hitch, but we don't recommend doing it. :

 

[Grreatdog]

What manual and/or year 4Runner are referring to? Neither my 1999 or 2000 owners manuals say anything about towing except that the V6 has a 5000 pound trailer towing rating. There is no other information except that they want you to use a weight ditributing hitch over 2000 pounds.

I am not disputing that a tranny cooler could help improve your transmission's odds of surviving. I am only saying what my owner's manual says and what the Carmax Toyota service manager and the Annapolis Toyota service manager said to me.

 

[gizmopt2002]

I'm sorry we never stated what gen we are talking about. My bad. We are talking about the 4th gen, which is 03+.

 

[LV4R]

Ok I have to correct myself to what I said previously because the manual does not state that the cooler is required just a weight distributing hitch. I scanned the page from the manual for everyone to see. The cooler is extra insurance though for sure.

 

[JungleJim]

What manual and/or year 4Runner are referring to? Neither my 1999 or 2000 owners manuals say anything about towing except that the V6 has a 5000 pound trailer towing rating. There is no other information except that they want you to use a weight ditributing hitch over 2000 pounds.

That's interesting about the gen 3 4Runners requiring a weight distributing hitch for over 2000 lbs. I thought I remember someone saying that Toyota does not recommend the use of a weight distributing hitch with the hitch that comes on the gen 4 V6? (Something about that it would change the handling characteristics, etc...)

 

[TheBlueWave]

Wow guys thanks for the responses. I figured I'd get some debate out of this one. I would like to have the cooler there just for cooler operation of the automatic transmission, but the warranty issue scares me. Afterall, I paid good money for the platinum service and if I have an unrelated to the cooler tranny problem it looks like the cooler would be an excuse to not do the work under warranty.
That brings me to the next subject. Has anyone had tranny problems yet in the 4th gen? If you are describing a problem, please indicate weather or not you have an external tranny cooler. Also state the year and powertrain so we know if you had a 4 or 5-speed. V6's are required, V8's are encouraged.

Thanks everyone.

 

[LV4R]

If anything happens you could always pull it before you bring it in but you did not hear this from me because I would never do that