Towing problems- No transmission cooler on 2020 TRD Pro

You cannot void the warranty using fluid specified as meeting the WS standards.

 

I already have a cooler and have done the ridiculous process to check the fluid level. Was just curious how much the dealer charged for your flush cuz I'm thinking about having that done. Already have a 2.5 gal bottle of the Amsoil WS. I was gonna just drain and fill multiple times but may have the dealer flush instead. Just don't know if I trust them.

 

I do a few things with all my towing vehicles, I lock out the overdrive gears unless on flat ground and I usually buy or usually negotiate into the deal an extended powertrain warranty that takes me to about 120K...Then I use the crap out of the truck and trade before warranty is up. Toyotas almost always trade well, and keeping them until I smoke the transmission makes no financial sense to me at the costs of replacements and the lost resale having a truck with a bad transmission. Luckily Toyotas are not known for their transmission or power train problems.... If Toyota wants to remove the trans cooler thats cool with me, if the transmission fails I'll take it in and have them put in a new one at their cost.

 

I understand the trust thing. A few years ago I was having them do the oil changes. 3 different times with two different trucks I came home parked in the driveway only to find fresh oil on the ground later from the “tech” not tightening the drain plug and the skid plate missing screws.

If I do take it in for anything now I check all their work before I leave the dealership. I’m back to doing my own fluid changes now except ofcourse the trans fluid flush. I checked every connection and fastener before I drove off.

 

He edited it.

 

I know but I like dealing with small numbers............

 

I wonder if Toyota’s reputation for solid transmissions will continue now that they’ve removed the cooler. I’m not being sarcastic, I’m totally serious.

My cooler install and flush cost less than a new transmission a probably about the same or a little more than a extended drivetrain warranty.

All that matters really is how one gets their “warm and fuzzies” and with my transmission that’s how I get mine.

 

I was all set to do the drain and fill then I found a Toyota dealer who would do the flush.

 

Seems like other automakers are designing transmissions without external coolers. It very well may become a thing of the past. That doesn’t change the fact that the transmission in our trucks was originally designed with one, and I think all of us 2019+ owners who have gone the cooler route very much prefer the temps we see with one installed.

 

Totally agree that cooler temps. are better, but still waiting for the proof/data that these hotter temps. are destructive to our trans. Time will tell I guess.

 

Post 133 is why I installed one: https://www.tundras.com/posts/2158424

 

this is my thinking as well.

Tacoma got their cooler yanked as well.

Other systems are running without an aux cooler or have an aux cooler with controls to ensure temps stay in tight range albeit elevated.

my 4Runner doesn’t have an aux cooler but is ice cold.

 

I remember that post, to be perfectly clear I have no problem with people adding coolers if that's what they want, and the ones available here are top notch quality. I have a 19 as well, so this does effect me to a certain point. I just need more info before dropping money on a problem that hasn't really been proven to be a problem yet.

 

Take a sample of your fluid and look at it and smell it. You’d at least know the basic condition of it. I’d be interested to know what you find.

 

Not trying to be combative here, but the look and smell of your trans fluid without a lab analysis means pretty much nothing nowadays. Did you do an analysis before you decided to add the cooler?

 

Understood. No offense meant or taken.

Lab analysis is by far the best way to check the fluid characteristics hands down. Having said that, if the fluid is black and smells burnt then you would know that and could make a decision whether or not to do something about it. You could also share what you found with this thread. It wouldn’t cost anything either.
I was and am genuinely curious.

 

Not sure what to tell you. There are lots of vids of dark and dirty looking trans fluid coming back from the lab with perfectly great results. Its totally up to you how you deal with what you think is unacceptable, I'm not here to judge.

 

Wondering if 2022's will have an external cooler and if not will it be possible to add one after the fact. As 19-21 owners we are fortunate enough to be able to do so.

 

a lot of us here are finding this technical detail the most intriguing thing about the new generation.

my take is it will probably be like the hd trucks: targeting elevated trans pan temps BUT have systems to control it . Aux cooler , thermostat, and with fan with temp set points .

so you will still see 250 degree temps but there will be multiple layers of control to make sure they stay there.

 

Me me me!!

I has teh judgy-ness!

 

That’s a good question and I agree, we are fortunate. REALLY fortunate.

My prediction is it will not. At least not what we can retrofit today. It’ll take at least 2-3 years or more to work out the bugs anyway. Always happens with the “new and improved.”

Until a fluid is made that can easily withstand the 220+ temps on a regular basis I won’t run without a cooler.

Currently, according to a Schaeffer oil expert I spoke to, there is no fluid available that can run nearly continuously at these high temps without
starting the serious oil breakdown.

He went on to say if I ever saw 240 degrees fluid temp I should do a flush as soon as possible no matter the fluid I was using.

Since my truck did not come with a fluid temp gauge or cooler and I towed numerous heavy loads through the mountains, I decided a pre-emptive strike was in order and I put on a cooler and had the trans flushed with AMSOIL.

 

Some interesting insight in this video of how the towing capacity on a vehicle is determined when they do the Davis Dam test. Kind of makes sense how the newer tundras were able to keep their current tow rating without the trans cooler. This vehicle is specifically about an f-150 overheating but the tundra is mentioned about halfway through

 

My plan thus far has been to just not worry about it and if any issues come up, to let the warranty handle it. But I have to say, the TFT numbers are pretty crazy. Yesterday I drove the truck with no load (just me and 3/4 of a tank of gas). Ambient temperature of 79 degrees. I drove for about 20 minutes and hit 210 deg F. No wonder I'm hitting 230 when towing.

 

chevrolet having similar issues with their 2021 6.2. 7k pounds and they hit 300 on the trans temp. Also some questions in the video about if Chevrolet has also moved away from the trans cooler

 

My 2020 came with an exterior transmission cooler…it’s called Alaska

 

that’s crazy. Overheated it twice

 

Ditto

 

I used a thermal gun to check pan temp after driving 25 miles no load in 90 ambient.
I aimed the red dot on the pan drain plug: 178, overflow plug: 188. It ain’t one hundred percent accurate but it’ll do until I get a scangaugeII.

 

Try running with another fluid like AMSOIL. Even without a cooler it might help. My 2020 3/4T Chevy ran 10-15deg cooler with a fluid flush and I’m nearly positive it did not have a cooler. At that time I had it flushed with the Schaeffer fluid.

 

Lol the Tundra on ike gauntlet did not over heat but these trucks did guess we do not need coolers