Which aux tranny cooler for my tacoma?

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Do you use Toyota-specific ATF or just regular ATF? I read somewhere that you're supposed to use toyota's formula for their trannies. Maybe I was drinking my bathwater that day.
 

SLC97SR5

IDIesel
Location
Davis County
I have run it in cold temps and after some driving the gauge registers a tick above 100*. Even at FYTO I saw 115*f without the cover installed.

I use Autometer Ultra-lite II gauges on my vehicles, Summitt usually has them for decent prices.
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
awesome. Any chance you know what the min temp needs to be? What temps were you seeing when it was coming out of the stock rad in cold weather?
 

SLC97SR5

IDIesel
Location
Davis County
Toyota specs DEX/Mercon II/III for my 4Runner.

The type IV and newer is brand specific or so they want you to believe, although on a newer vehicle I would not chance it and simply use what the Manufactuer recommends.

The only Toyota specific fluid I use is TOYOTA RED coolant.
 

SLC97SR5

IDIesel
Location
Davis County
awesome. Any chance you know what the min temp needs to be? What temps were you seeing when it was coming out of the stock rad in cold weather?

Coming out of the radiator the ATF was always whatever the water temp was, in the summer I could watch the trans temp gauge rise with the rpm's when towing 2 quads out to 5 mile. That is what prompted me to look into coolers, there just didn't appear to be that much cushion with the stock radiator cooler, I dont recall when the dummy light illuminates, it's like 240-260...too hot IMO.

I know ATF specs a MIN temp but I can't remember it, it is easy for me to remember cover the cooler up as I need to cover up the Diesel anyway.

Just to clarify, I ran stock, then plumbed in a gauge, then a cooler with the gauge through the radiator and now my current setup; a gauge and aux cooler only.

I like this setup the best as it cools very efficently, eliminates a failure point and reduces heat load on the engine/radiator.
 

jeep-N-montero

Formerly black_ZJ
Location
Bountiful
Steve, I have 6 or 7 different trans/oil coolers in the garage from various projects all in different sizes, let me know if you want to look at any of them.
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I'm trying to decide between the B&M 70268 (11"x7.25") and the 70274 (11"x11"):

http://www.amazon.com/70268-SuperCo...on-Cooler/dp/B000CIGE9G/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

http://www.amazon.com/70274-SuperCooler-Black-Aluminum-Cooler/dp/B000CIIE12/ref=cm_rdp_product


I don't tow much, and when i do, it'll be under 2000 lbs. I do, however, load my truck up to the gills with camping gear. I like the B&M because it has a feature that allows cold fluid to pass straight through without getting colder. From their description:

"Controlled by viscosity, thicker ATF is returned directly to lube through two bypass openings in the stacked plate core, while thinner ATF is directed through the core to cool as operating temperatures increase."

It sounds lik 11x7.25" should be large enough. I assume that's what you have Jon?
 

Vonski

nothing to see here...
Location
Payson, Utah
As you know, we've got the exact same truck. I've been running the 11"x11" stacked plate cooler since last fall, so it will be interesting to see the difference in temps with the 11"x7.25" cooler. I should have my gauge and sending unit install done this weekend (using Autometer Phantom II short sweep elec. units).

By the way, its most common to wire into your dimmer switch for the illumination. However, in the case of the LED backlit gauges that I chose, they are so much brighter than the OEM cluster, I was having to turn the cluster down way too much. I'd recommend using a seperate dimmer switch just for your gauges, especially if you gauges are mounted in an A-pillar pod setup (since they're right in your field of vision all the time). I'll add pics when I get done...
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Cool. I'd love to see how you fit the 11x11 in there. In retrospect, I probably should have gone with the 11x11 just to be safe, but I should be fine with my current setup. I'm not running a temp gauge (and I don't plan to) so I can't compare temps, sorry.
 

Vonski

nothing to see here...
Location
Payson, Utah
Cool. I'd love to see how you fit the 11x11 in there. In retrospect, I probably should have gone with the 11x11 just to be safe, but I should be fine with my current setup. I'm not running a temp gauge (and I don't plan to) so I can't compare temps, sorry.

I'd guess that the smaller of the two coolers would be fine, since you're gonna be towing half as much weight as I sometimes do.
 

Vonski

nothing to see here...
Location
Payson, Utah
OK, so I'm finally getting around to posting up the info and pics on my tranny cooler install...

I've been using my '02 Tacoma double cab to tow a tandem-axle 8'x12' enclosed trailer. The trailer itself weighs around 3200 pounds, and loaded up with bikes and gear can weigh around 5000 pounds. I installed an 11"x11" stacked plate cooler and run it in conjunction with the stock cooler in the bottom of the radiator.

The tranny now typically runs between 150* to 165* not towing, 175* to 190* during normal towing (no steep grades), and can reach 200* to 210* on really steep/long grades. I've tried a couple different temp. senders that thread into the block and used an IR heat gun to test the accuracy, and the one that came with the anodized block by Autometer was actually the most accurate.

tacocooler1.jpgtacocooler2.jpgtacogauges.jpgtacosender.jpg
 
Top