Would this tranny cooler work?

[alexb]

I've been looking at doing the transmission cooler mod since the 4Runner I bought has just over 172K miles. The previous owner had the tranny flushed regularly but I'd still rather be safe than sorry.

I came across this one at autozone yesterday that they carry in stock Torqflo/5 x 12 3/4 in. Pro-Cool transmission cooler (401) | | AutoZone.com

It's not as large as the B&M most people seem to use but I think it would be sufficient enough? Do the transmissions in these things really get that hot or do people mainly just add the aftermarket one to by-pass the whole milkshake effect? The most load this runner will ever see is towing a small fishing boat and maybe some light wheeling.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Will it work? Sure. I don't have any experience with that brand or cooler but no reason it won't work.

 

[the great him]

in short yes it will work, but in reality no it will not, that is not big enough. i am running dual coolers, and initially only ran the larger of the two common B&M coolers, but i found that to be inadequate, even without towing. so i upgraded to a dual cooler setup with and electric fan on the second cooler. check out my build thread for more info http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/105400-rescue-runner-build-thread.html, temps have never been an issue for me after the second cooler, but i was seeing temps higher than i liked and thought was "acceptable" with just the single cooler when in stop and go traffic or under any type of a load.... you will need at the very least a cooler the size of the smaller B&M

 

[alexb]

I didn't realize high temps were such a problem. How come they aren't so high on the stock cooler, or are they? Is there any way to check the transmission temp? I have a bluetooth OBDII adapter for my phone but I don't think it gets any readings for transmission temp.

 

[the great him]

they are high, its just that our trucks do not have a temp guage in them and only the newer 3rd gens like 00(?) and newer can read tranny temps with the scanguage. the idiot light for our trannys is set at somewhere over 280* well past the danger/damage zone, and once the temps get that high they climb higher at a much faster rate. no one is complaining and or noticing it, because there are only a few of us running guages. for the most part in regular traffic with no load you will be fine, but you get a hot day, and stop and go traffic(no air flow) and heaven forbid you are hauling any load(even 4 people in your truck and or camping gear) you will have tranny temps climb.

now im also armored and so i am constantly "hauling around" extra weight, and i have bigger tires on the stock gears(more work for the trans) so thats why i run the dual coolers. for you if your still stock(and dont plan on armoring or lifting and putting bigger tires on ect) then you shouldnt need dual coolers, on should be sufficient. but i would get the larger of the two B&Ms, thats just me. i look at it this way $1700 for a used/rebuilt trans, $3500+ for one from the dealer then you have the cost of install... vs $80 for the larger cooler(70264), which is like another $20+/- over the smaller(70268) B&M. id pay the extra $20 just to be sure and have the peace of mind knowing i was "covered". JMO an my .02