ATF Burned!

Howdy!

So I installed Nick's ATF cooler kit today! Attached is my ATF and some fresh for reference...

I towed a 25' Airstream ~7000 payload throughout desert southwest this summer. I was in temps as high as 105°++ and hit plenty of passes...

When I did monitor temps I was hitting almost 260° on long 4% up hill grades at 90°... I was hitting longer 6% grades on hotter days but didn't monitor temps those days..

I had topped off the ATF earlier this year before towing and it was almost as new...

What do you think? It has a cloudy appearance when poured...

 

Send it for analysis

 

It is burned thats for sure - How was the filter ? Any metal in the pan ?

 

To confirm, were you only seeing 160 on the trans temp? Or did you mean 260 degrees?
I have an Edge obd2 gauge display, and I see 180-185 during normal daily driving after 20 minutes on the highway. When towing a 26 foot, 6k camper, i see around 200. I am regeared with 5.29s. Before gears I would see 210-220 when towing.

 

260°. Sorry fixed that...

 

You are lucky to only have seen 260 with a 2019. I am sure you have seen the 2 or 3 large threads about the 2019 and up not having a trans fluid cooler which leads to overheating of the fluid when towing. There is a member here in San Antonio that has had the trans temp warning light come on multiple times. I beleave the temp setting for that warning is at 300 degrees, which is very hot for an oil. I have not followed those threads in a few weeks, but last descussion I recall was the trans oil starts to break down above 250.

 

That does not look good! How did the install go?

 

Yeah send it for analysis. That’ll be one way to know if the fluid can handle the temps that Toyota says it can.

 

I'll pay for your analysis to be sent to Blackstone labs.

 

This thread further reinforces the belief that the 2019's and 2020's are gonna be a serious problem for Toyota long term.

The sooner an aux cooler is installed, the better.
Mine went on before I hit 4000 miles and the fluid still looked new.
I also pinned the Tstat open fulltime and plan to leave it that way.

Any of you still on the fence... should get your wallet out and order one of Chase's kits ASAP.

 

If that were my truck I would have the dealer flush, drop the pan and install new filter and refill with fresh fluid. I would also have them document the condition of the fluid because you may be dealing with a powertrain warranty claim in the future.

 

Install was a piece of cake! Yer a genius! Thanks for being so detailed in the instructions!

I opted not to drop skid plate (TRD Pro one piece) and got lucky as hard lines fell right into place! Basically took a little over 2 hours.

I took it for a run out here in Tucson. Temps ~100° I hit 85mph up slight incline. ATF temp 179°. When getting off and hitting stop light; idling it spiked to 194° and dropped back to 180° when going 35mph.

Compare that with 75° days going 65mph on similar terrain and getting 230°.

Shifted like a champ! No issues...aside from the burnt ATF! More on that to come after I send in to Blackstone tomorrow!

Thanks!

 

I have read on other forums that Toyota ATF turns dark really fast. So dark doesn't necessarily mean burned. I do agree with others that you should send it to Blackstone labs.

 

Send your sample through UPS or fed ex. I sent mine through USPS and it took about 6 weeks to make it there.

 

Watching thread for the follow up. Very interested in the results

 

Eh honestly that fluid doesnt look too uncommon for anything with over 30k miles honestly.. the WS fluid looks like hell really early on. i do a drain and fill every other oil change on all my cars that have it. lol

 

Cool!

I'm sending it in today!

Not sure how long it takes to get back but I'll certainly post results!

 

What will you do when the results say the oil is fine?

 

Smile!



Question is what if it's bad?! I'm absorbing the cost of the ATF cooler but Toyota is going to have to answer on some level about this.

I seriously doubt it's "fine" I towed across the Mojave this summer. Up Cajon Pass in 90°+. Up I-40 to Flagstaff in 90°++.

If I got 260° on a 4% grade in 90° you can rest assured I pushed past that both in grade slope and time....

 

No no no no no...

 

Found the comment at about 3:23 to be interesting as it goes along with the image of Toyota WS....

 

I’ll add, have access to how the transmission is programmed and learning lots. The fluid will be dark regardless of brand, we have flex lock torque converter to improve fuel economy. Torque converter has the ability to partially lock, leaving it in a constant slip scenario resulting in the color. Early on in Tundra production the torque converter clutch material had to be changed due to partial lock shudder. I would never use anything but WS fluid after seeing how the transmission operates.

 

Well, by adding the cooler you just voided any future claims you had towards warranty work on your transmission.

 

He said it took about 2 hours to install. Can probably be removed in half that time. Toyota would never know. Plus there are reports of people with one going in and the techs don’t even notice it.

 

How did you operate the transmission? Meaning, left it in D or downshifted manually to S5 or S4?

 

I was wondering this as well.

If I was making that same trek, I'd be locked to 4th gear.

 

I'm not saying his entire warranty will be voided, but if he goes in for a tranny issue they will certainly refuse to cover that under warranty. I don't agree with it, but you are kind of forced to play their games regarding "modifications". He certainly could take it off.

 

How would they know if he removed the cooler before taking it in?