Transmission cooler or not Thread

The CEL was for solonoid d. Toyota just replaced it under warranty and didn’t say why it went out. They did say there were metal shavings in the fluid. I don’t blame the SC. Maybe the way I drove it. I could tell it was going out - hesitating to shift, holding gears - but it still pulled a 3k lb uhaul from MO to TX and didn’t leave me stranded before I got it replaced.

 

I'll jump in on this one...The S/C is transparent when you drive normal. like it isn't there. it's only giving boost when you want it to. heavy pedal.

now, when you do stomp it...just make sure you have a VERY reliable tune. I verified my AFR's during the tuning phase. all is well.

more intouch folks will tell you to put in an AFR gauge. I watch mine via the scangauge 3. and am in the process of putting in a innovate AFR/Boost gauge

just keep it under ~600hp @ crank.

My installer has an older Tundra (09?) with ~300k miles. nearly all with the Magnuson.

Life is short. get a S/C.

 

My guess is when you add a sc you like to hit the gas pretty hard and that extra toque on the tranny doesnt play well maybe?

 

They only had three transmission coolers instead of the recommended six.

Arranged radially.















On a mast.

 

Even if you don't tow the fluid temps can get really high compared to the trucks built with a cooler. The OEM thermostat opens around 180° for trucks with a cooler. Before I added a cooler to my 2019 it would be normal to see temps if 220+ with just normal driving. Now i stay around 185°. Its no secret that the higher the fluid temps the faster it degrades.

 

I was on the fence about the cooler, even when towing, until I took a trip, unloaded (not towing) across the state and hit 230 in D on a 75 degree day at about 75 mph. Made me concerned that I could never drag my trailer over to that part of the state, which I would like to do, without hitting something even higher.

Maybe those temps (230...240...250) won't be detrimental to the transmission. I honestly don't know. But I am just a lot more comfortable now with the cooler and no longer very concerned.

 

But when the issue isn’t an issue according to Toyota, then you can’t use those visits to qualify for lemon law. They maintain that the truck can handle those higher temps. The warning light coming on is the truck properly functioning to let you know that you need to stop whatever you’re doing that is causing high temps. Unless you can prove that the transmission is getting too hot for no reason, nothing is malfunctioning according to them.

I put a cooler on my ‘21. I wanted it to operate like a pre-2019 truck. I still think removing it was a cost cutting measure. They’re tough trucks, and I don’t see hardly anyone having issues within a standard warranty period. I plan on keeping this truck as long as possible. I commute a lot, but I also offroad a lot and haul a bit, and I wanted the kinds of miles I put on to be with a cooler, especially as they add up quickly. I’m at 31k already.

 

Same, if I planned to only keep it only during its warranty period I wouldn't have bothered adding a cooler. Im sure the transmission will outlast the warranty period with the higher temps without a problem, and Toyota knows that too or else they wouldn't have removed it. The higher temps over a long period of time is what I would assume will causes the transmissions without a cooler to start failing before the ones with a cooler. If you dont plan to add a cooler I'd at least suggest changing the fluid more often. I've done a drain and fill at 15k, 22k, and 33k and the fluid definitely was not still bright red. Before adding my cooler I dropped the pan and changed the filter, that was after recently doing a drain and fill so now my fluid is bright red and I have the cooler so I'll feel more comfortable going longer between drain and fills. This was my atf at 15k on the right.

 

Didn't someone get Blackstone to analyse some transmission fluid that looked and smelled terrible only to find that everything was within spec, or am I misremembering?

 

That was ravenol tcase oil iirc

 

Oh I'm sure that the fluid is still within spec and not suggesting the color means its not good, but that was only at 15k. No way would I trust cooking that oil at 230+ until what like 60k I think is when they suggest a drain and fill.

 

One of the reasons I shied away from buying a 2019 or 2020 GM 1500 was the lack of comprehensive lemon laws in Canada.

 

You don't touch any coolant lines adding a cooler, coolant actually still runs to the transmission in order to warm it up faster. The cooler takes the transmission fluid to a radiator in front if the truck and returns it to the pan cooled. Most of the coolers people are using are using all the OEM parts from 2018 and under trucks except for the radiator so if a tech looked under the truck everything would look like a pre 2019 truck, the kits from here https://genuinecoolingsystems.com/ use OEM Thermostat, hard lines, two of the 4 hoses, basically the only thing not OEM is the radiator itself and the hoses that connect to it from the hard lines. Toyota would have to prove that you adding a cooler caused what ever under warranty failed which lets face it, adding the cooler back to the truck is not going to cause the failure. Waiting until you're out of warranty could already take time off of your transmission and I plan to keep this truck forever and want to do everything possible to make it last.

I didn't, I had planned to but never did.

 

You guys realize that the pre 2018 trucks had an engine coolant transmission cooler?
These only cool the fluid to the coolant temp of right about 200 degrees.
I recently dug out a post from another member(s) who was complaining about high transmission temps on a pre 2018 truck that had the "cooler."
https://www.tundras.com/threads/transmission-temperatures.3236/
I don't believe that the cooler that was on the pre 2018 trucks was actually doing enough to justify the cost??????
I don't believe that the post 2018 trucks are really any different than the pre from a trans temp standpoint.
Now, rumor has it that the 2007 to 2010s had a legit air to oil cooler?

 

You're incorrect. 2018 trucks with a tow package have atf lines running to the upper corner of the AC condenser. All trucks have the coolant puck that is more of a warmer than a cooler.

 

My 2007 has a tow package so it has the air to oil transmission cooler in addition to the engine coolant loop.

 

Yeah my cooler setup includes OEM lines and an OEM transmission thermostat that runs to an external radiator up front. Those OEM parts are found on any Toyota parts website with 2018 parts numbers.

The ‘19-‘21 trucks have a thermostat-shaped block-off plate where the 2018 thermostat used to go. Same exact tranny. Allegedly different shift points, chases lockup better to reduce heat. But it’s literally the same transmission that was originally designed to operate with an external cooler years before.

 

Blackstone reports are "so so" at best. Watched a video on YouTube of 2017 Camry with 170K miles using 3 quarts every 1K miles. Oil changed every 10K miles at dealer with receipts. Blackstone samples are from the oil in pan, you really need to take sample on piston oil ring (have to take engine apart) it was coked up which prevented it to conforming to cylinder wall and scored the cylinder. Same with your transmission take a seal that has been subjected to high temperatures and get it analyzed. Blackstone is false sense of security, may find a problem but doesn't guarantee there isn't one.

 

Yes, they have lines that run to the upper passenger side of the truck. the lines come out in front of the condenser and then enter a second coolant puck that also uses engine coolant to transfer heat out of the ATF.
Nice picture of the set-up here from another member who installed a cooler in addition to the puck because their pre-2018 was running warm as well:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/install-complete-on-additional-transmission-cooler.12385/

 

Theres only one coolant puck and that attaches to either a thermostat or a block off plate depending on if you have a cooler or not. The fluid always flows through the warmer but won't flow into the cooler until the thermostat reaches 180° then when it returns it goes back into the pan not the puck. Because the atf runs to the condenser already it's easy to add an additional cooler to a 2018 or under, https://genuinecoolingsystems.com/ sells those as well. Your previous post said that the 2018 trucks only had a coolant cooler which is not true, they also had an air cooler, they just used the condenser as it's radiator rather than a dedicated one like the first gen. The coolers you add on are actually more effective than using the condenser which is why some people add a second cooler. The atf running to the condenser did a better job than just the coolant puck alone. Trust me I tried to convince myself that I didn't need a cooler as well but after constantly monitoring my temps I bit the bullet and installed one.

 

OK, that is the oddest thing I have seen in a long time. Why use the AC condenser?
My 2015 looked a lot like another puck style. Looking closer now, I see that I am wrong....
I guess my point is that the pre 2018s did not run all that cold either.

 

I think that if someone needs to get a cooler based on thread comments, go for it if it makes you happy. Unless one has a specific trans temperature gauge they would never know of anything stated in the threads and would go on perfectly happy. Its all about choice, same as changing oil before 10K!

 

Some people care more about their vehicles than others is all. The Tundra used to have a trans temp gauge on the dash cluster, but they removed. An uneducated consumer is easier to please.

The 10,000 mile thing, no one reads the fine print. Right on Toyotas website.
https://support.toyota.com/s/article/What-are-the-oil-chan-7604?language=en_US

Very informative video on it as well.
https://youtu.be/TJhFAwFv-O0

 

As far as oil change intervals going back as far as I can recall there were exceptions to the rule. As far as the U tube video its a U tube video. Yes trans temps are greater without a cooler but that would be the same with any vehicle. Does or would it effect the factory warranty or trans longevity? Again one should do whatever they feel necessary.