Towing problems- No transmission cooler on 2020 TRD Pro

If I burn out my transmission while towing, I'll dump my truck for something with more payload.

 

Just here so I can post

 

I keep wondering why people want to tell others how to spend their money.

You want to pay more for a TRD Pro and immediately change the suspension? Everyone asks if they can buy your
Pro suspension and wants pictures of new setup.

You get new tires on you truck with less than 1000 miles? People want pictures.

You want to add a trans cooler with your own money? Let me tell you how wrong you are and how you just ruined your truck, warranty, and will die alone.

 

You drank that Toyota bath water. Good luck with your puck and keeping temps below 265 towing 5000lbs or more.

 

I don't think anyone here is telling people how to spend their money, hell, spending money on Mods is what most of this forum is all about. I think it gets lost on some, that pushing a purchase for a problem that doesn't really even exist yet can get pretty tiresome.

 

I’m an idiot, so I guess I need this explained more slowly...

Why are people concerned about trans fluid temps around 230-240 when the idiot light doesn’t come on until after 300? Seems pointless except to tell you to head to the dealer for a new transmission. Sorry, something just doesn’t add up if the fluid is already “cooked” well before that.

 

Good luck with your 2018. Ive never seen anywhere near 265 so thanks for your concern.

 

^ This! Just did a 12 qt drain and fill at 120k on my '18 (tow 8k 5ver and 5k boat 5-10k miles a year). The old fluid was as clean as the new going in...

 

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone force or push others into buying a trans cooler. But some people are strongly against others buying one. I didn’t really need a led light bar, but no one is posting data on the lumens of the lights that Toyota provided and saying I was fine without it and it’ll void my warranty. There’s been no proof Toyota will void warranties if someone adds the cooler. If someone adds a trans cooler, it seems to be the end of the world.

 

If you have the 5.7, then you have a trans cooler. This is kinda an argument FOR having one. You shouldn’t have ever reached temps at or over 230/240.

 

I don’t mean to derail this thread or anything, but I asked on another thread and never got much traction.

Is the lack of transmission cooler on the 2019+ Tundra specific or 5.7l specific?

Do the 2019+ sequoias not have a transmission cooler?

Did they ever have a transmission cooler?

 

I use obd fusion app 2 moniter pan and tc temps. With just me and a few hundred lbs of tools in the truck I can see temps 225-230 (even in winter), on long hills/going thru mountains. Pretty sure toyota knows what they are doing.

 

Some 19-21 guys have posted seeing over 250. I never said Toyota didn’t know what they were doing. I don’t care one way or the other because I’ll never own a 19-21 tundra. Just pointing out the irony of you posting that things are good in a thread about the removal of the cooler when you have the factory cooler.

Looks like Toyota knew what they were doing when they added a cooler to your truck.

 

What I am trying 2 say is that in certain conditions I have seen the same/near the same temps with a cooler that the non cooler people are so worried about. Even when temps are in the 30's.

 

There’s an an extremely simply solution to Toyota not putting a trans cooler in the Tundra.

Slow down... Towing at 65 will create significantly less transmission heat than driving 70 +.

I personally could care less about it. I drive according to what my vehicle can handle and the conditions present. My personal opinion is that if you care about your Tundra, use it for what you need but don’t beat the piss out of it. And with that said the vast majority of Tundras with no transmission coolers will not self destruct in the years to come.

 

For 11 years of production 200F was the temp that Toyota decided was best for the Tundra then all of a sudden they realized that up to 260F was good and the transmission didn't need an external cooler. OK.

The reason the cooler was dropped in 2019 was because the AC refrigerant when to R1234YF. They could no longer use the AC to cool the transmission because the new refrigerant isnt as efficient. The decision was made based on cost and testing shows no problems under normal conditions. Normal condition are not towing up a mountain at 90F. The few owners that do abnormal towing would be covered under the warranty.

 

All right, that makes sense. I guess I’m having trouble with the statements saying it’s “common knowledge” that your fluid will be “cooked” if it hits 265-275 when that is still well before the idiot light. Again, I’m a moron when it comes to this stuff... still doesn’t add up.

 

I bought, have yet to install, the cooler kit from Nick. Maybe I need it maybe not. I live in an area with a lot of hills and tow 3000 to 6000 frequently and my temps run 225° when towing. The only harm that I see from installing the kit is to my wallet and a possible argument with Toyota if I have a transmission failure. However, I feel that Toyota will have an uphill battle explaining to me how a kit with many Toyota parts caused harm to a transmission.

 

Higher trans temps that hit "higher" temps will just shorten the service life of the transmission fluid. My personal experience was that I was seeing above 245F towing and it was easier for me to install the cooler kit than to have to change the trans fluid every year.

 

The interesting thing will be to see what Toyota does with the 2022. God help this board if they put the transmission cooler back on. The “I’m going to sue Toyota and get my trans cooler” crowd will be back in full force.

If they leave it off again it may suggest the end of the previous generation was kind of a test towards the future

 

Ya I'm not sure what all the fuss is about the cooler being off. Most really dont need it and if you do, install it. Twenty years ago most trucks just had a cooler in the rad and if you wanted to tow it was necessary to install a ambient trans cooler.

 

The 2018 and older models with tow package used the AC refrigerant to cool trans fluid? I thought it was an external air-to-oil cooler.

 

2014-2018 that used the AC condenser to cool. 2013 and prior used a ambient cooler in front of the rad.

 

Of the ones that have installed a cooler, have you left the puck unpinned or pinned?

 

Always remove the pin. It allows the thermostat to work correctly and control the temperature of the transmission.

 

That is what I was leaning towards.

 

but the head toyota mechanic said "they dont need them"

 

Who's the head mechanic? Automotive technicians are not engineers.

 

I meant head engineer

https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/08/missing-transmission-oil-cooler-2019-2020-toyota-tundra/

 

Just for the sake of numbers, I have towed my 7600 lbs TT from AZ to Norcal, on Tuesday. 2012 with tow package. The highest I have seen was 242° at the TC, while going up hill in 3S.