19-22 Tundra Owners Transmission Important

So I have been dealing with Toyota Corporate about the whole Transmission Cooler delete thing and logging my numbers (230 AT PAN and 249 Torque Converter) just me driving around the city in 40 degree weather but I guess according to Toyota its the new norm. I started to notice that the transmission was shifting all over the place with delayed shifts or RPMs spiking with no power to the wheels etc. and the problem/frequency was getting worse. I had the Truck at the dealership a week ago and after waiting for 3 hours they told me that they couldn't replicate the problem and the Transmission was too hot to check the level. So after driving for a week and experiencing the same problems I spent another 4 hours at the dealership yesterday with the request that they check the fluid level first. Turns out the transmission was OVERFILLED by the factory by *drum roll* the exact amount that the manual specifies for a Truck equipped with the towing package. So it appears, that in their haste to pull that supplemental transmission cooler out of the trucks without informing the dealers and their media department (never mind the unaware consumer) they didn't pass that info to the factory either. There is no way that on a brand new truck coming from the factory any fluid level should be incorrect. This is not some guy in overalls and a funnel filling thousands of trucks a day. I strongly suggest that if you own a 2019 and up Tundra you 1. Open a case with Toyota about the missing Transmission Cooler and obtain a file#. 2. Have them give you in writing that they are not willing to do anything about it. 3. Make notes of every conversation and email exchange you have had and their names. 4. Track and log your Transmission Temperatures and go to a dealership to verify the Level of your Transmission fluid. In modern transmissions even a slight Overfill can cause premature wear, higher temps and pressure build up. I bought my truck brand new and it has 3500 miles on it...

 

This is interesting; thanks for posting this. I'll have to follow up on this.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I don't understand why Toyota bothered just to save a few dollars a vehicle. I'm highly considering getting a 21 Pro but this has me concerned and I don't feel like I should pay for someone else to put one in. I think I'm going to wait for the 22 and let it be out for at least 6 months and see what people are saying. Glad you got it solved somewhat.

 

Interesting. I installed the aftermarket cooler. I was surprised at how little fluid I had to add after the installation of the cooler. It appeares most used a quart after the install I used a 1/5th of quart. I was between the correct temperature range blah blah blah. Probably check again for grins.

So once they corrected your fluid level is it shifting correctly?

 

Installed Nicks cooler kit at 800 miles, set the level, never looked back.

 

How many other people on here are having "I started to notice that the transmission was shifting all over the place with delayed shifts or RPMs spiking with no power to the wheels etc." On their 2019-2021's? 20k miles on my 2020 and not a single issue.

 

I’ve had my 2020 for over a year now and no issues here either. Love driving this truck

 

The only issue I have noticed is the slower shifts when cold after sitting all night. Otherwise no issues. I did order the cooler kit others have installed as I am planning to tower a travel trailer and like the insurance.

 

Same!

Now, I don't have a scan gauge to stare at my temps and I don't tow daily.

 

2020 manual says 11.7 qt.





2018 manual says 11.7 qt without tow package, 12.3 qt with tow package.





Would .6 qt make a big difference?

 

I haven’t noticed any issues with gear hunting or dives in RPM.

On a latter note though, TSS likes to all of a sudden beep the crap out of the cabin and tell me to brake... out of the blue.

 

Toyota isn’t going to do anything about your “missing transmission cooler” cause you do have one. They didn’t lie on the sticker. The effectiveness is another debate.

 

I'm at about 19K on my 2020 with my only issues being the battery, and weather stripping.

 

My transmission shifts pretty good, under light throttle and coasting about 8-10 mph it will down shift into first pretty abruptly.

 

2021 here and only had it since 1/4/2021, currently at about 1500 miles on it and not a problem with the shifting yet. Fluid levels seemed at the right level when I checked the other day. Thanks for the write up and info though, I'll keep an eye on things now.

 

Yeah. Cool your tranny with hot antifreeze.

 

I've noticed *something* like that exactly twice.....but it's not what I'd call abnormal, and I've seen it in my other vehicles. Only time I've noticed it was when I was driving slow for a decent amount of time and then stepped on the gas a little bit - e.g., when I'm picking my son up @ school. I figure it has more to do with adapting to my driving style @ the time than any potential transmission issue.

 

5k on my 2020 with about 1000 of it towing and never noticed an issue with mine. Drives just like my father's 2014.

 

Quantity is reference only due to "*". This means it is pointless, lol!

 

Yeah i've felt quirkieness like that in other vehicles. I think it has more to do with computers than it does actual transmission. Again though, that's all based off of my opinion and experiences. It would suck to have a newer vehicle that is shifting odd or having issues.

 

My transmission oil temp., before I install my cooler was 230- 240*F , now the pan temp. is constant 150*F and convertor will vary up until it goes into lock mode, then it comes back down to 150*F.

 

OP it's doubtful you'll be able to recruit anyone else to force Toyota to add the cooler back on. Reality: Most Tundra owners don't tow a lot and Toyota has done the math on transmission reliability for those that do. I hope you get it sorted out, car companies are a PITA to deal with. How is it shifting with the extra fluid out of there?

I installed one of Nick's kits and haven't looked back. (Not going to track the temps since plenty of people already do that - the kit works)
https://www.tundras.com/threads/installed-a-setrab-transmission-cooling-kit.84797/

 

Actually, now I know it is. So I got my truck back from the dealer yesterday afternoon, after having a damper something-or-other replaced; and to do so, they have to disconnect the battery for 3 hours or so (as that's how long the replacement takes).

Drove it on the way home and back to work, and it's driving like Mario Andretti got a hold of it. LOL So I'm pretty sure the *very* occasional 'slow' shift was due to it going "Wait a second...you drive easy most of the time, what is this sh*t?" LOL

 

2020 Platinum with about 8,000 miles. No weird shifting, I have a Scan Gauge installed and rarely see temps over 210, mostly under 200. Have not towed with it yet.

 

Haha yep that's gotta be it. But good to know if anyone wants to reset the computer and start with a refresh.

 

I just drove down and back to Florida with my boat. Maybe 4,000 pounds. Speed mostly 78mph. Most of the time in cruise control. Trans temps hit a high of 241 towing in overdrive without tow/haul mode on. With tow/haul mode on still got into the upper 230s. With tow/haul mode and S6..same thing. S5 temps were constantly around 222. S4 temps always went down and stayed at about 203 to 212 depending on outside air temp. The problem with S4 is the rpms are always at 3,500, but it pulls damn good in S4. Even going up some steeper grads the trans temp did not get any hotter. If the tranny was getting hot I could put it in S4 and it would always cool down.

The uphill grades that heated up the tranny were not the steepest ones but rather those that had the truck downshifting back and forth. I don't know if I like rpms at 3,500, but it sure keeps the tranny temps down.

I settled in on driving with tow/haul and S5. RPMS are about 2,500 and temp stays about 222. This was my test run to see if I needed a trans cooler. I put it to the test. In the hills from Paduka to Atlanta I never let up. Even ran in the left lane through "downtown" Atlanta. Had to hit 90 in spots to keep up.

 

Should be in S4 towing, 3500 won't hurt a thing at all.

 

Thanks for all the interest. Just to clarify this is not another where is my cooler thread I think all has been said regarding that issue until we see failure rates in the field. I am just saying keep a record of everything so you have documentation for any issues you have had. Too much Transmission fluid will lead to higher pressure, premature wear and other problems maybe not immediate but down the road. I am going to see in a few days if the overfill contributed to the higher temperatures or not. I have ordered a kit from Nic as well and it should be here Monday. Again keep all receipts and costs incurred because having to spend extra $$ and time to make the truck do what you bought it for isn't right. I hope that down the road there will be a class action lawsuit and that everyone with a 2019 and up makes a complaint to Toyota about the issue to get a case number. I talked to our Fleet Mechanic the other day and he said not even our Firetrucks running up and down big hills come anywhere close to the temperatures we are seeing...

 

To funny. Everyone says Toyota says no transmission cooler needed. BUT when towing stay in S4. NO NO NO. Put in Drive and let it do its thing in tow haul mode. Why are Toyota engineers right about no cooler but don't mention S4 while towing?

 

I have had this happen a couple times on a relatively open road when a car has sped past me.