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Transmission cooler or not Thread

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Mad Max, Oct 12, 2020.

  1. Apr 3, 2021 at 5:55 PM
    #601
    Ruggybuggy

    Ruggybuggy Seasoned Veteran

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    I bet if he had an older Tundra with the cooler he wouldn't have had a problem. Maybe he actually had a older Tundra and towed the trailer successfully. Buy a new Tundra then cooks the tranny thinking that there would be a cooler like the old one.
     
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  2. Apr 4, 2021 at 2:25 AM
    #602
    blanchard7684

    blanchard7684 New Member

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    good point. And who knows how much gear and other junk was crammed into that thing.
     
  3. Apr 4, 2021 at 5:57 AM
    #603
    Jtundra81

    Jtundra81 Just a member

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    Happy Easter .
    I have been towing my 4.5k lb trailer in Maine , New Hampshire and Vermont and never went above 220 on hills (pan that is )
    that would be with tow /haul on and S4 and driving 60 mph .
    Personally wouldn’t want to tow anything above 6500 lb with my truck for safety and second putting too much strain on the truck.
     
  4. Apr 4, 2021 at 3:02 PM
    #604
    Catmann1972

    Catmann1972 New Member

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    I'm typically towing 6.5k all around, from south carolina to canada and my trans temp have reached 300*f. without towing i see my trans temps running as high as 250*F. Putting on the cooler very soon.
     
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  5. Apr 4, 2021 at 3:58 PM
    #605
    Jtundra81

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    Are you towing on s4 or just drive ? Hills or flat ? Speed ?
    I average 215 while towing on flat .
    I have attached sample from my collected data
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Apr 4, 2021 at 4:25 PM
    #606
    Catmann1972

    Catmann1972 New Member

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    I always have tow/haul activated and i'm always in S4 when towing, and select the proper gear when going up and down hills. I live in RI, and if i'm headed north to Maine or New hampshire or even Canada, it's usually very hilly, If i'm headed south to the Carolines then it will be somewhat flat, some hills but not as bad as when I head south. The trans temps are just out of my comfort zone. I am a mechanic/technician for Caterpillar so I thoroughly understand the importance of the viscosity of fluids and what happens when they get heated to a certain point. Sad that we have top spend 50K on a truck and another 1K on adding a tran scooler, when Toyota should have done it them selves.
     
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  7. Apr 4, 2021 at 4:33 PM
    #607
    Jtundra81

    Jtundra81 Just a member

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    Interesting that you’re seeing 250 on pan , that is for sure high , never seen it higher then 221 pan on mine , I have seen torque in the upper 240s briefly .

    If you tow year round , I would definitely add a cooler and yes I agree , it would have been nice if Toyota included a cooler on these trucks.
    On a side note , Ford went same direction and only include an air to oil cooler on raptor and their v6 engine (non turbo) , the rest like Toyota liquid to liquid cooler , they’re also reporting high temps , same for f250 and 350
     
  8. Apr 4, 2021 at 4:35 PM
    #608
    Mad Max

    Mad Max [OP] New Member

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    F250 Diesel transmission has it own cooling system for trans it pegs at 195 and never moves.
     
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  9. Apr 4, 2021 at 4:43 PM
    #609
    Jtundra81

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    Have you checked the Ford forums for the latest models ? take a look and you will see , Ford claims that it is normal .

    195 may be the Normal for the older transmission not the new ones
     
  10. Apr 4, 2021 at 4:47 PM
    #610
    Catmann1972

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    Wow, i didn't know that about the ford. Almost went that direction, i would have been in the same situation, with a worse truck. Not a ford fan at all, but the wife pushed me to look at one. I made her happy and looked at one for about 30 minutes and hell no way. At least the tundra still has the reliability. Yeah my temps a very crazy. Using the scan gage, without towing i see temps from 200*F to 250*F when not towing and when towing from 215*F to 275*F and that is with ambient temps around 80 - 90*F. I think this to very high temps and out of the norm. When I had my 2013 Tacoma I towed the same travel trailer and I added a larger trans cooler to that truck. I never saw temps above 225*F when towing up hills in maine, new hampshire or Canada. When not towing the trans temps stayed around 175-190*F. These are the temps I expect to see with the Tundra.
     
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  11. Apr 5, 2021 at 1:36 AM
    #611
    blanchard7684

    blanchard7684 New Member

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    Correction from my earlier post.

    The 21 4 runner I have has an in tank style cooler.

    ( previous post indicated no cooler but I was looking at wrong lines)

    It’ll be interesting to see what the temps do. This is a 5 spd and 3.73 rear gear.

    the in tank style coolers aren’t much different than the hockey puck.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2021
  12. Apr 5, 2021 at 5:23 AM
    #612
    JohnLakeman

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    Exactly correct.

    Radiator in-tank cooling was used successfully since automatic transmissions first invented...for passenger cars.

    Then some smart engineer at Toyota realized it made no sense to be tubing ATF up to the radiator, while temperature-regulated coolant was being piped back to the heater core. The subtle implication of switching supply from the radiator (typically cooler than engine temp) to the regulated temp of the engine block, is that emphasis had changed to "warming" quickly, rather than cooling.

    Heat exchange area of the "hockey puck" more technically complicated, but roughly equivalent to the old in-tank tube-style exchangers...for passenger cars.
     
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  13. Apr 5, 2021 at 6:00 AM
    #613
    Mad Max

    Mad Max [OP] New Member

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    I owned a 2017 and it was pegged at 195 so I asked my buddy who had a 2019 and he said that was perfectly normal. It is controlled by a thermostat. To funny I thought 195 was to hot at one time, then came the Tundra.....
     
  14. Apr 5, 2021 at 7:08 AM
    #614
    Ruggybuggy

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    Almost all older trucks and car used the radiator cooler and it worked very well. It was common knowledge that if you decided to tow the first thing you did was add a cooler. The Tundra is in the exact same situation. If your towing just add the cooler. If not or towing small and not often you will be perfectly fine.
     
  15. Apr 5, 2021 at 7:23 AM
    #615
    Cpl_Punishment

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    I was talking to a friend of mine who drives GM and he doesn't like to run below about 180 if I recall correctly. I think the GMs run around 195 these days too.
     
  16. Apr 5, 2021 at 7:27 AM
    #616
    Bammer

    Bammer I'm disinclined to acquiesce your request.

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    Just an FYI my new work vehicle , 2021 Colorado V6 4x4 with the towing package runs 144° max during normal driving. Sure that is pan temp, have not towed with it, probably never will.
     
  17. Apr 5, 2021 at 7:59 AM
    #617
    14burrito

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    Wifes 6 speed Tahoe usually never saw under about 195 cool amb temps and with temps over 100F it was always hovering 205F+. That's unloaded, 1 person in the vehicle. (Temp off DIC, not a scanguage or OBD tool/app).

    Screenshot_20210405-080118_Drive.jpg
     
  18. Apr 5, 2021 at 8:00 AM
    #618
    Cpl_Punishment

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    Hmm, I wonder why the midsizes are different from the full sizes.
     
  19. Apr 5, 2021 at 8:01 AM
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    Terndrerrr

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    I keep an eye on our 2012 Yukon XL’s transmission temps. It is usually running around 165°F. Highest I’ve seen on long steep grades trying to maintain cruise is 190s.
     
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  20. Apr 5, 2021 at 8:15 AM
    #620
    JohnLakeman

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    Haha. :D I was including lightly-used, passenger trucks in the "passenger cars" definition.
     
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  21. Apr 5, 2021 at 8:20 AM
    #621
    blanchard7684

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    This is the size of it right here.

    "Back in the day" I knew I had a temp issue on my old Ford trucks when the C6 would puke out of the vent.
     
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  22. Apr 9, 2021 at 12:17 PM
    #622
    Acedude

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    I did order the chasenicholas full MHX-514 kit. We tow through the Rockies often, always 5500ft+ altitude in CO, NM, UT, AZ no matter hooked up or unhooked.

    We bought the truck with 30k miles on it and I bragged it would last 250k miles easily, so I better back that up. Thanks for the advice.
     
  23. Apr 9, 2021 at 12:46 PM
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    JohnLakeman

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    With 30K on the clock before you owned, I would suggest evaluating the transmission fluid condition when you install the kit. During the install, keep the transmission work area, hands, tools, containers, and new parts surgically clean, and you'll be fine.

    Catch a fluid sample before you start the install. If you open the "Check Port" without the engine running, fluid will drain out. Thoroughly clean the check port/plug area beforehand. Expect to replace the check plug quickly to avoid excessive loss, and to make up any loss when the final level check is done. About 5-6 ounces sample should be plenty; making up lost WS fluid will not be cheap.

    Unless you are experienced, simply eye-balling the fluid for clarity and darkening won't yield much value imo. I would consider sending a fluid sample to Blackstone Laboratories.

    OTOH, if you know the history of the truck, and it was never used to tow, a visual inspection is probably good enough.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2021
  24. Apr 9, 2021 at 2:01 PM
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    Acedude

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    Thanks for the advice. I checked the 7-pin and receiver before we bought it, no indication of towing. No scuffing in the receiver or safety hooks, 7-pin looked brand new (I always look for those things buying used).

    I'm too old to be crawling on a creeper to do the chasenicholas install, will go to an independent shop I trust and cross my fingers. My local Toy dealer said they will not touch it. The independent seemed confident they can it get it done for $300.
     
  25. Apr 20, 2021 at 3:47 PM
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    SSPey

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    Question about getting the aftermarket cooler on a 2021. I’m in break-in now, tracking temps with torque pro, and will start some towing soon. I’ll be towing a 3500 lb boat from 35-55 mph, curvy roads and some hills. 1 hr trips at sea level. I did this same towing previously with a 4runner and know how to use S mode to prioritize rpms and a locked torque converter. I ignore mpg completely when towing.

    I only expect to drive 7K miles annually (just under half that towing). I will likely reach “years” before “miles” on suggested service intervals (e.g., will hit 5 years before 50K miles), so the transmission fluid will get changed before excessive use. I’ll be servicing at the dealer on the tow schedule. I’m a bit hesitant to install an aftermarket cooler because of low expected mileage and of course the threat of voided warranty.

    Is there a specific pan temperature, however, which if I’m seeing often, that I should really change my plan and find someone to install Nick’s cooler kit?
     
  26. Apr 20, 2021 at 3:52 PM
    #626
    Kywildman

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    I don’t like to see anything in the pan above the Eng OT. But even then I’m sweating. I’d say 220 and less. Not having the cooler on a 19+ I don’t think it’s possible. Mine was hitting 227 on my commute to work In south Florida. Since the install I haven’t seen Anything over 186
     
  27. Apr 20, 2021 at 5:05 PM
    #627
    Jtundra81

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    I tow 4000 lb travel trailer and average 215 on s4 with tow haul and keeping speed between 55 and 60 mph.
    Test it out and see what you get , personally I am ok with these temps . i will service transmission at the dealer at 60 k per the manual .
    attached sample from my towing collected data
     

    Attached Files:

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  28. Apr 20, 2021 at 5:09 PM
    #628
    Kywildman

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    Do you have aftermarket cooler and what program is that?
     
  29. Apr 20, 2021 at 5:29 PM
    #629
    Jtundra81

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    No cooler installed , I use veapeek obd2 reader with OBD fusion app on my iPhone
     
  30. Apr 20, 2021 at 5:37 PM
    #630
    Ruggybuggy

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    You're not towing heavy enough or often enough to need a aftermarket cooler add on. I wouldn't sweat it.
     
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