TransCooler

I am interested in adding a Derale 13960 25 Row Hyper-Cool Remote Transmission Cooler Kit, -6AN to my 2002 SR5 V6 Tundra as I tow a 2500lb trailer in 90-100F temps and at the end of the towing I have to move the trailer back and forth ~10x to get it on my driveway because I live on road with a 15 degree grade and I don’t have any room on the opposite side of the road across from my driveway to straighten out. I have a ScanGuage2 and the a340e transmission temps go up quickly and have gone as high as 240F during this back and forth. Typically temps are 180F when driving, but going up the hill adjacent to my driveway over and over with no airflow crossing the radiator on a marked grade causes temps to go up quickly and I figured
1. Since I’m towing I probably should have a trans cooler anyway
2. With a built in fan I can keep the trans at lower temps when at very low speeds/idle for prolonged periods
3. Avoids pink milkshake on old truck over 300K with original radiator if the trans lines bypass the original radiator and only go to and from the trans cooler.
BTW I don’t have the money to store the trailer somewhere else, am not moving, and am not getting a V8 in the short term.

Is there room to install it in front of the radiator on the V6? (Etrailers says there is room In front of the V8). I haven’t seen anyone do this on the V8, or the V6 Tundra or V6 Tacoma, but that could be because it’s new. If you think this is a bad idea please tell me why, before I buy. It looks like a pretty easy job even for a weekend mechanic. Please let me know what you think. Thanks

 

This was popular mod on the first gen Tacomas with the 3.4L V6. Many from the factory came with em if they had the tow package. You should have plenty of room.

 

I mean, if you give a shit about the truck, you shouldn't still be running the original radiator with 300k on it. I can only imagine how much crap is built up in that radiator after 300k miles. It should've been replaced 200k ago. New Denso radiator from Rock Auto is like $120 last I checked.

I can't recall if the V6 had a trans cooler or not, I know the V8s do. The trans line still passes thru the radiator with that config, solely to help the trans fluid to get up to temp more quickly, for a quicker entry to optimal operation. I'm not sure if removing that link is a good idea ... just replace the radiator, and do what Toyota did with the V8 w/tow package: Route thru the radiator and onto the cooler.

I'd borrow the cooler, brackets and lines from a V8 truck. Find a junkyard with any 2005-2006 V8 truck, it should have all the bits and pieces you need.

 

My transmission temperatures run about the same in my V8 pulling my TT. I have the factory trans cooler as well as the lines that run through the radiator. Pop the hood and take a picture of your radiator from the front

 

@The Black Mamba needs to weigh in. No one has more experience with the 5vz and putting shit in front of its radiator

 

When I went to take a picture of the radiator I found a date code 2/2014 so the radiator has been replaced. I was thinking that adding a fan might make a difference because the temps shoot up so much during these forward/reverse hill climbs under 5mph, but I’m certainly no expert. I’m willing to put in the stock trans cooler from the V8 if you guys think it’s the best option. Here’s the picture of the radiator:

 

You got this. All day. Plenty of room. Very common mod for the 5vz with auto trans.
(Same trans as the 00-04 V8)


Trans cooler with an e-fan on it would be a great mod. Either set the fan to come on when the fluid hits a certain temp or wire it to a switch and monitor it yourself, engage fan yourself.

 

Stealing from @Upshot Knothole so you can see where it is, how it's mounted up. You have all the notches and holes, you just need to find a donor. Ignore the yellow & blue Hellas, some people are just hornier than others.

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Hella horny

Here's a few more photos of the trans cooler. Bolts to the center support and both lines run down around the passenger side of the bottom of the radiator.