External transmission cooler??

So im getting ready to do the timing belt on my new to me 03 ac 4.7l 2wd and plan on replacing the radiator and hoses. Been reading a little about the "milkshake " My question is can we just put an external tranny cooler in front of the radiator to eliminate the possibility of the milkshake?

 

Does your truck already have the cooler in front of the radiator? I really forget if that's standard equipment for all years or just a towing package thing.

The radiator "cooler" is more of a warmer to help the transmission come up to temp quicker. Some people have bypassed it with no issues. Really depends on the climate you live in.

 

No it is integrated into the radiator as one unit. Thus the issue with coolant mixing in with the transmission fluid.

 

Yes but many Tundras already have an "auxiliary" cooler in front of the radiator as standard equipment in addition to the rad "cooler" as seen in this pic

 

I've been running the external cooler exclusively for a couple years (the Radiator connections were disconnected when I got the truck).
I live in MI. Not saying it's ideal because the trans does not get the benefit of the Rad warming the fluid on those cold days.

 

If you are putting in a new rad I would just hook it back up and not worry. The milkshake comes from that cell (the red highlighted in that pic) breaching into the main rad fluid. I think that's just caused by age of radiator?
There is a way to run both on a temp controlled valve, so it cools in the summer through the external, and warms in the winter/cold months with the internal.
I will search and see if I can find that link, someone else will probably beat me to it (I hope).

 

Ok thank you for the info! I'll just hook it back up and make sure I swap the radiator with every timing belt change. Right now truck has 129,000 miles original tb and radiator.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-professional-hand-model-reinvestment-‘build’-a-chronological-story.46816/page-9#post-2107669

"Search is hard"

 

I wouldn’t overthink it too much. Install a new Denso radiator and plumb the tranny hoses back up to it. It should be fine for another 20 years.