ATF Burned!

Yea I’ve seen the post of people posting their 230 degree trans temps thinking the world is ending. This isn’t 1998 anymore where your transmission explodes at 210 degrees. I guess ppl are going to do what they want but I bought a new truck with a power train warranty for a reason.

 

Toyota says s4, but okay.

 

I'll be watching, I don't tow but I go over the So Cal grapevine weekly, which is 1500 ft to 4000 ft pretty quickly and I'll do this for years.

I don't know the details so my question is, the fluid, with the cooler installed, is it still going through the "puck"? Just a question of "I added this in addition to Toyota's solution" versus, "I replaced Toyota's solution".

 

Can you please post a screenshot?

because last I remember seeing, S4 was strictly called out for downhill grades to maintain charging system.

 

It lists engine braking and charging efficiency as the reasons (not transmission temp) but it does say use S4 not D. I agree there is some ambiguity but I don't think Toyota would expect a layman to know when they need to "maintain engine braking and charging system performance".

 

Thank you!
Couldn't remember the exact context and I was having issues finding the page looking through the manual on my phone lol

 

Boy... I bet the atf has viewed this thread a couple of times

 

^This 100%.

 

I have a lift and no where in the notes from my oil changes does it mention a lift. They even did a free alignment for me and claimed it under warranty. I think you have a crappy dealer.

 

I have found that if you are understanding and not a complete knob to deal with, more often than not people are willing to hook it up a little when they can.

 

I’m not going to criticize you for putting an aux cooler on your truck but I’m positive it won’t cost $15K to replace the transmission.

 

I think it’s weird the amount of people getting angry at how others spend their money on their own truck. Do these same people go in to lift threads and complain about warranty issues?

 

Yeah. My 2010 tundra had a sc, headers, lift, and a lot of other modifications. I never had an issue with getting anything covered under warranty. Even the trans at 59k miles.

 

Mine went out in my 2010 tundra at 59k miles and it was about $4000-$5000 if I remember right. Covered under warranty. Even though I had numerous modifications.

 

We had a forum member replace one recently and it was around $7.5k.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/2019-2020-transmission-cooler-missing.72484/page-25#post-1871316

 

Mine might have been less due to warranty reimbursement or maybe that was only the trans and no labor. I can’t remember. It was in 2015.

 

Agreed. I think he ordered brand new. I'd imagine they use reman for warranty claims.

 

It was definitely a remanufactured one. It had issues too and I could tell it was going out when I traded the truck in at about 95k, even though the tech said it was fine. Got an email from carfax recently about an oil change, guess my email is still associated with that vin, and I looked it up and the new owner had to replace that trans at 110k.

 

You miss the point, but aight.

 

Exactly lol.

 

I don't think anybody is "blindly" defending Toyota, but their long history of reliability buys them some benefit of the doubt. Do I wish the 19-20 still had a trans cooler? Absolutely, but having just bought a new 2020 with less than 2000 miles there is NO way in hell I am taking the chance of installing a modification that most dealers have implicitly said would void the warranty regarding tranny work. I would much rather just buy an extended warranty for the same price of a cooler and be covered bumper to bumper up to 100k miles.

 

I can understand that line of thinking for most buyers. I plan to keep this truck until it dies so the warranty isn't as helpful as a cooler for me.
If, and I recognize it is a big if, the lack of the cooler causes issues that don't present until 150k or 200k miles the warranty didn't do anything of use. However, if installing the cooler can prevent those issues from ever occurring, then it has a greater appeal to long term owners. Now, if your going to sell or trade in the first 100k miles, or shortly after, by all means the warranty is a fine route.

Personally, I'd rather gamble that these solid and proven transmissions will outlast the warranty with or without the cooler, and so the threat of warranty denials (irritates me to no end when people say it voids the warranty) aren't going to be a worry. I also plan to talk to the service managers in the area and see how they are about these types of things.

 

The grapevine eats cars for breakfast. On our way to Dodger's games, me and my son count the cars. Its always 20+

 

I have to say toyota pissed me off about
Removing our tranny cooler for 19’ models!

 

Agree that is material and temp, but in my non professional opinion, more the material used. The difference between your AW4 and the Tundra transmission is the ability to partially lock the TC referred to as flex lock, other manufacturers do this also. From what I understand at this point, the materials used in the TC require higher operating temps. The base normal temp for the Tundra transmission is coolant temp so 195-197F by default. Can’t say definitively, but I’ve looked through calibrations for a few different year Tundras(no 19 or 20) and 257F ATF or coolant temp is the switch to hot TC lock tables, so operating over 257F is planned for. I would install a cooler and not give it another thought if needed.

 

My truck is currently at the dealer and gets its cooler installed tomorrow...For what it’s worth the service manager told me he would not deny a warranty claim with a cooler. I think it depends who you take your truck to. The dealer wants to charge Toyota for the Warranty. But who knows? It’s why I paid the dealer to install it.

I plan on keeping my truck for a long time and I currently tow a boat. I may purchase a TT. It’s just peace of mind to have a cooler. I asked for them to keep a sample of my fluid too by the way. If it’s super burnt looking I may have it analyzed.
I have towed my boat in 100 plus heat at 70+ miles mph from Shasta home. I think I’m fine. I would worry more if I was Towing heavier.

 

Welcome Chris Bunch of compromise for mpg, not sure it applies to HD/performance vehicles. Probably complete waste of my time on here, but found it interesting. @Greg Marmalard definitely tortured his truck, live in the same area and travel the same routes. This summer was brutal and that’s a big trailer, so his Blackstone results will be a good baseline.

 

I’ve lived in AZ my entire life and this summer takes the cake for hottest/driest ever.