Transmission cooler or not Thread

It reads as two buddies talking. He mentions no statistical data to back up opinion. If he would have said we experienced a failure rate of % due to thermal degradation of fluid and components it would have caught my attention. Degradation occurs at XX miles or hours. He seen defects in trucks from overheated fluid? Engineer would say we have seen defects in transmissions (not trucks) for overheated fluid which caused adhesive failure on the clutches leading to slipping. The first question my design function would ask him is, where is your data to support your claim?

Trucks been the same since 2014 but people who design them don't know how they are used. Avoid 2022 at all cost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

X2 That seals the deal. Before I tow a travel trailer I will install a cooler. Thank you @ColoradoTJ for sharing this, and tell your friend thanks as well!

 

You're exactly right. Two buddies who trust each others' educated and experienced opinion. I've been an engineer for well over 20 years. There are several engineers and designers I know who don't make statements lightly about issues similar to this transmission cooling issue. Although there are appropriate times to ask, I don't push them for data on every issue because that would tell them that I don't trust their years, sometimes DECADES of experience. If @ColoradoTJ trusts the experienced opinion of this guy, then I'm not going to ask @ColoradoTJ to potentially offend his buddy by pushing for that.

I plan to keep my Tundra for well over 10 years, well past even extended warranty coverage. Running the transmission hot now could decrease the life of the transmission in ways that do not reveal themselves until the warranty coverage has expired. And it certainly doesn't help that the light does not illuminate until the temp is significantly higher than the fluid is rated for, OR that there are no ATF temp gauges! I don't tow often, but when I need to tow, I might not have enough time to get the cooler parts delivered and installed before the trip. If the parts are installed carefully and properly, then the burden of proof is on Toyota if they want to deny a warranty claim, and it is quite easy to illustrate the BENEFIT of the cooler as evidenced by the decreased operational temps.

I personally plan to install the cooler, but likely not until next Spring or Summer because I'm pretty certain that I won't be towing anything significant before then.

I read every post on the other threads regarding this subject. I know they got heated, and then locked due to some people being offended by the opinions of others - opinions based on actual observed and recorded ATF temps that were higher than experienced tow-ers were comfortable with. It is my opinion that this thread was started to continue the argument ad nauseum, but I am glad it was started because of @ColoradoTJ's post. That post just reinforced my decision to add the cooler.

 

Kinda my thoughts as well. I think spring time I will try to get it done. Winter is basically here, and I only tow my little utility trailer with Quadzilla on it, for now.

 

Think the 'minority' that use their trucks as trucks will install after market coolers. So Toyota may never see the ramifications of this.

 

If this decision by Toyota causes significant issues, the few of us on Tundras.com installing the coolers won't change things. I don't care if there are never any issues. I still believe, based on all of the discussion on this site, that the best way to get the longest life out of my Tundra is to control the temps better than the OEM design.

 

Thanks ColoradoTJ !

My decision has been made, and my kit is ordered. but this solidifies my decision as the right one for me.

 

No half ton is designed for 100% duty rating at max capability. I believe how the vast majority (95%) use their truck they will never have an issue related to transmission temperature issues. Towing less than 10% of time. Only my opinion I don't have any secret information. If you are towing 75% of time get a Superduty, their transmission are 3 foot longer than Toyotas with their own water cooled system. They are designed for 100% duty rating. Only issue is you will live with its own set of demons. Toyota made the right decision based on ROI. I don't tow even close to 10% of the time, no cooler for me.

 

If you tow within capacity, why not a half ton? Landscapers do it all the time. All depends on the application.

 

And they had the older shift mapping that built up more heat.

 

When towing without a cooler can feel the heat pouring into the cabin when you stop and roll down the windows to back up.

Think more cooling happens with heat transfer to the air then to the heater/cooler.

 

Well, if I have a 2019+ Tundra, I would get on. I spent more money on silly things than trany cooler.

 

That Million Mile Tundra that was in the news a few months ago was a work horse - towing and hauling hot shot equipment for its entire life. So yes, Toyota does design for full duty. Or at least they used to. I would love to hear from a 2019 owner who has put his truck through its paces with regards to towing and hauling with the OEM setup. I'm not sure we have anyone like that on this forum. They're probably too busy driving!

 

We have a guy on our AZTG FB page who has a MY19 and tows what seems like almost daily. I'll reach out to him, get more details, see if we can get him signed up and then maybe try an get a sample pulled for Blqckatone analysis.

 

That'd be awesome. More data, excuse me @hagrid... More ROCK SOLID data is never a bad thing.

 

TJ. Does your buddy have any comment on the current formulation of the WS fluid? There has been info floating around that it was reformulated as a full synthetic at some point in the last few years.

 

I have good news, I'll post more specifics after I call the tech who will be working on his truck

 

And wasn’t it the 4.6 setup as well with no cooler?

 

Transmissions - (Automatic) Bearings, bushings, gear shafts, clutch plates and drums, oil pumps, servo units, rings, governor, torus units, torque converter, and valves. (Standard) Bearings, bushings, shafts and spacers, main drive gear, main shaft, synchronizing drum, second gear, low gear, reverse gear, and all other internal gears. No coverage is provided for any electrical component pertaining to the operation of any transmission. *The transmission case on both standard and automatic transmissions are also covered if mechanical failure was the direct result of the failure of a part covered by this policy. The odometer driven gear, manual transmission clutch disc, pressure plate, clutch release bearing and pilot bearing are not covered at any time or for any reason.

So....I copied and pasted Toyota's "Lifetime" power train warranty (for transmission) above...all work (new scheduled maintenance and repairs) must be done within the specified timeframe as listed in owners manual and subsequent repairs after warranty must also be performed at dealer to qualify. What are they leaving out with respect to transmission?

 

If you are getting that from Team Toyota website, that’s the dealers warranty and not Toyota. A lot of dealers do a “lifetime” powertrain warranty to get you to do all your service there. If you don’t, I think it’s void.


Team Toyota

• 1788 O'Neal Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816

https://www.team-toyota.com/lifetime-powertrain-warranty.html

 

Curious how Toyota tests the trucks under load or when towing or test any design changes? That's engineering 101. Isn't there a towing test in the desert and how can the Truck pass these test?
Maybe they don't test it anymore!

 

It was already addressed in one of the many many threads, might have been part of the clean up though.

Davis Dam, it passed the tow test without the front mount aux cooler.

SAEJ2807