5.7L Transmission Cooler Kits

Sounds just about right! The Setrab cooler holds .45 quarts and to fill the lines in approximately .5 quarts.

Also, don't hesitate to shoot me an email with any questions. I try and get back to everyone within a couple minutes.

 

I installed the same outstanding kit on the same truck recently. Your description matched my own experience to a T. Good luck and enjoy the lower temps and personal satisfaction of completing the work yourself!!

 

You made a wise decision. During that last trip to the forest we drove in 4 wheel drive for about 10 miles and the trans pan got up to 214 degrees at one point. That was with a cooler. Ended up putting it in S2 and it came down to 206 degrees, torque converter probably stayed locked I'm guessing. I couldn't imagine how hot it would have been without the cooler.

 

Yeah I am a bit nervous about our trip today - headed to deep creek lake which has a lot of mountain (east coast type) hills to climb….just going to take it slow and steady and take my time. The camper is an ultra-lite and weighs right around 4000 lbs but still makes me a bit nervous.

This is likely our last trip with the camper until the fall so I will save my nickels and order the transmission cooler kit and necessary parts when funds allow but certainly before the next time we take the camper on a long trip.

 

If you don't have a way to monitor the temp yet just keep it in tow/haul mode and put the trans in S mode. Then keep it in S4 and you should be fine.

 

Here’s a good write up with temperature charts:
https://www.tundratalk.net/threads/low-speed-transmission-overheating-documented.693442/

 

I should post in this thread too... I finally got around to installing my kit last week, before starting this 8,000mi trip. What an absolutely wonderful set up! Getting the cooler's soft lines on the hard lines was a bit of a pain, but all in it was easily under 3hrs to install, with no guesswork and everything just fits and works.

In normal highway driving my pan temps dropped around 30°F (now in the low 190s), it's been a fun game to see if I can get the temps to rise thus far... Next week we enter the SW desert heat and high passes; but thus far in South Florida's temps the ATF temp hasn't budged from what it was with 20+°F cooler ambient temps

Thanks to @chasenicholas93 for creating something to fix one of the "flaws" of these trucks!

 

How do these numbers look (70 mph freeway, 92 degrees ambient)

 

Look fine but surprised that the pan temp is that low. Did you keep the pin in on the thermostat?

 

I did. I'm in Phoenix, it's 90 at 3am and will never be under 60. Average temp has been 115 the last week & is not going to be much lower for the foreseeable future.

Thanks

 

BTW, anyone running this kit + light bars behind grill?

 

I would unpin the thermostat. Toyota designed the thermostat to allow the transmission to get to operating temperature quicker. Once the thermostat is open it makes no difference if it's pinned or not. Look at it this way. You wouldn't remove your coolant thermostat because you live in a hot climate so why would you pin open your transmission thermostat?

 

The system is at or near "operating temp" all the time. It never gets cool enough to get below it.

 

It takes longer for it to warm up to operating temperature even in warmer weather. Transmission fluid is directed to the "puck" to allow for quicker warm up then starts to flow to the ambient cooler as the transmission warms past operating temperature. By pinning your effectively eliminating the operation of the thermostat. Toyota designed it to work in all operating conditions. When the thermostat is open, it's open and pinning it does nothing.

 

1 minute after start, 100 degrees ambient.



10 minutes later after driving on the street in traffic for 10 minutes



The system is designed to work in Arizona and Alaska.

I'll never be in Alaska.

I have also disabled the throttle warming nonsense in every car I have had since 1995. I don't need help warming anything up in the desert.

 

Nope, it did not change. I had an '18 and just last week traded for a '21. I still had the 2018 manual PDF saved and just checked. The wording is all identical to the 2021 manual.

I never knew that was their recommendation. The whole time I had my '18 I just towed in D, but always with Tow/Haul engaged, even with an empty trailer. Only time I ever used S was to get better engine braking down long hills.

 

Is there an actual thread where people have indicated the failure of their transmission in newer transmissions without the old style cooler. Specifically as to temperature related issues when towing or under other things like hill climbing or off road in 4 wheel drive?

 

No.

 

We don't need no stinking failure.

Cooler is better!

 

TFL truck has a video on temps while towing with a new Tundra. Check it out. No failure but a good example of what happens when under heavy load with our newer trucks.

 

It appears this thread was started by someone selling a kit and has taken on a life of its own. I have been an owner of many trucks over the years that have done many things and I to used to believe the cooler hype. Yes it will reduce temperature under certain circumstances but also that it is not a do or die thing. A BMW universal stacked plate cooler works just as good for any application as it can be run in line or by itself. But AGAIN it is not necessary and if Toyota thought their old coolers were necessary they would still be there besides the obvious cost savings. Its like putting high octane gas in a vehicle that does not require it. No verified benefit just talk about no ping and stuff.

 

Here's my ATF thermal degradation estimate at 5000 miles (4500 without the cooler, no towing).

Toyota's repair manual states that "If 50000 or more is displayed for the Data List item "ATF Thermal Degradation Estimate", thermal degradation of the ATF is suspected. Perform ATF Thermal Degradation Estimate Reset after replacing the ATF".

It would be interesting to get the same value for comparison from someone at 20-30k miles with no cooler and with towing.

 

Again. Your transmission will NOT fail. All you did was pay someone for a test. ALL fluids degrade under heat. Did you also know if the fluid it too cooled the transmission won't operate at its best. Not looking to split hairs here just stating facts.

Why did you have the test done?

 

I'd be interested to know how this estimated degradation is determined.

 

@sd172

@sd172 where is that in TS? I would like to see those results for my truck.

 

What is the point you are trying to make? Im not sure the analogy of what BMW stacked plate has to do with Toyota. Other than “owning many trucks” do you have information that shows “it’s not a do or die thing” and “not necessary”? Hopefully you can respect and understand if someone has the means to install an item they feel will help prolong the life of their vehicle it’s acceptable? By the way I also use full synthetic oil though it’s not necessary, burn premium though not needed, AND took brand new tires off my Toyota and got bigger ones just because they look better!!

 

How would I go about getting that value? Bit over 24k and I have towed 3-4k lbs for approximately 2600-2800 miles total. So a bit over 10% towing.

 

Engine and ECT Live - Data List. This screenshot was taken in Mexico.
https://youtu.be/vDElMyfDxg4

 

The transmission is monitoring how solenoids operate and shift pressures, as well as the speeds of the input and output shafts. Older fluid is losing some of the ‘grip’ and the trans has to bump up the pressure to avoid slipping.

 

You might as well yank the coolant thermostat as well.

There was a reason why I knew you had the pin still in based on your numbers. Like I said before, there is absolutely no benefit in leaving the pin in. An open thermostat is open so having the pin installed your not gaining anything.