Trans Cooler?

[ADH8796]

I'm looking into getting a trans cooler because I tow a trailer sometimes and I'm pushing bigger tires. So I figured this would be a smart investment. What are your suggestions on brand? where to buy? Ext.

[marko3xl3]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get one soon as well :)

A while back, when I was researching, I saw somebody use these:

http://www.importperformancetrans.com/coolers.shtml#main

and I really liked how they looked and if they hold true to their word in the description, they seem to be pretty good.

Technically, we should only need the 14,500 one, but the more you can fit the better...to an extent. Also, the write-up I saw used two small ones IIRC.

[ADH8796]

Great looks nice to me but I don't know jack about trans coolers.

[marko3xl3]

Haha, all right. Let me try to explain.

" "

Dang, I don't really know anything either :)

Here, I'll steal someone else's words (it's for a different gen, but there's plenty of good info in there!):



http://robinhood4x4.com/Pics/trannycooler/trannycooler.jpg

Although the bottom of the radiator acts as a tranny cooler, my A/T light has come on exactly 3 times in the past 10 years. The first was while coming back from Arizona, carrying a full truck load of people and gear while doing 70mph in 100 degF heat. The second time was while bombing around Pismo Dunes at 30-40mph in the soft sand. The third time was while going up an incredibley steep grade for about 1 mile while completely loaded down with people and gear. I figured all that heat probably wasn't doing the tranny any good so I added an auxiliary tranny cooler.

There are 2 types of coolers out there, the "tube and fin" style and the "plate" style. From my research on the internet I found that the plate style is the most efficient. If one is an electrician or an EE, a good analogy for the two types is the tube and fin is series and the plate style is parallel (not to be confused with how one installs the cooler in relation to the radiator).

The TRD cooler is a stacked plate style and costs a small fortune. I opted for a Hayden plate style cooler from the local auto parts store for $50. The quality is just as good as the TRD and costs a ton less. I got the smallest one they had because at the time I didn't know where I was going to mount it. It's a good thing I did though, because it fit perfectly.

Installation was pretty straight forward. Normally, the tranny cooler is mounted either in front of the radiator or behind it, but I couldn't see anywhere it would fit and I was too lazy to take off the bumper. So I got some 1/8"x1" flat bar, drilled some holes and bolted it to the tranny cooler. See below for a picture of this mount.

http://robinhood4x4.com/Pics/trannycooler/brackets.jpg

Then, I dropped the skidplate and bolted the tranny cooler up to some existing holes in the front cross member. Plumbing the cooler was really easy. I took off the line where the fluid exits the radiator and connected the new line. This new line was then routed to the tranny cooler, trying to keep the line as straight as possible, and cut. Another new line was connected to the other side of the tranny cooler and routed to the tranny inlet hard line. Very little tranny fluid came out during the whole process. Previously, I had done a tranny flush and so I remembered which line was the inlet and which was the outlet. Unfortunately, now that I write this I forgot which is which.

To increase the air flow to the tranny cooler I drilled (2) 2inch holes in the stock skidplate. The skidplate bolted right back up without interference from the cooler. I got a chance to test it out on that same steep grade and it passed with flying colors, no tranny light.

Keep in mind that because of the location of the cooler it can be vulnerable to impacts or other damage. If the cooler were to break open and loose all the fluid, you'd likely need a new transmission. But so far I don't have any dents that high in the skid plate.

Update: I did finally get the tranny light to come back on but it was under extreme conditions. I was driving in soft gravel in 4hi going fairly slow, about 15-20mph so very little air was flowing through the cooler.

Here's a couple more pictures:

http://robinhood4x4.com/Pics/trannycooler/mounted.jpg

http://robinhood4x4.com/Pics/trannycooler/mounted2.jpg

Update 3-20-07
Since doing a solid axle swap, I moved the tranny cooler up higher and out of harms way.

http://www.robinhood4x4.com/UY/Tranny%20cooler.jpg

[04 Rocko Taco]

I think Hayden is the preferred brand with most Toy drivers, they make great kits, low pressure drop coolers. I've seen them mounted anywhere from right behind the grill to under the truck, to on a frame rail, and even in the bed of a pickup with a fan on it. Google hayden trans coolers. They make at least a couple of models for us.

[slosurfer]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get one soon as well :)

A while back, when I was researching, I saw somebody use these:

http://www.importperformancetrans.com/coolers.shtml#main

and I really liked how they looked and if they hold true to their word in the description, they seem to be pretty good.

Technically, we should only need the 14,500 one, but the more you can fit the better...to an extent. Also, the write-up I saw used two small ones IIRC.


I have one of these and they are awesome, comes with awesome hardware. This is for a different gen. but the info is the same. Mine is the second post. I think it says what model I got. It was the big one.
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=216.0

[MTL_4runner]

Technically, we should only need the 14,500 one, but the more you can fit the better...to an extent. Also, the write-up I saw used two small ones IIRC.


The Hayden trnny coolers were the most popular coolers for 3rd gens because Hayden was the company that made the cooler sold under the TRD name. The cooler TRD produced was roughly equal to the Hayden 676 cooler which was an 18,000 GVW transmission cooler. People usually erred on the side of caution and the vast majority moved to the larger 24,000 GVW cooler made by Hayden (that was the famous P/N 678 cooler everyone was installing in the early days). Later a few other people took it a step further and moved up to the hayden 679 which was a 30,000 GVW cooler. The bottom line is that you can never cool your tanny fluid too much but at a bare minimum I personally wouldn't use a cooler with less than 20,000 GVW cooling capacity. There are many manufacturers including the new "low pressure drop" coolers but the critical part is just that the cooler is a stacked plate design vs a simple tube and fin style (which are less efficient).

Here's what the TRD kit looked like:
http://toyotaterritory.com/TRANSCOOLER.jpg

[Lee]

my hayden just came in yesterday!

[calrockx]

Hayden 678.
yep, i'm happy with it.

http://www.calrockx.com/etc/pics/forums/ultimateyota/tranny_cooler/DSCN1442_resize.JPG
tranny & ps coolers

[Lee]

what kind of PS cooler did you get?

Also, any other tips, pics, etc on your install would be great charles :thumbup:

i got the 678 :)

[calrockx]

It's a Derale PS cooler, like this one: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+400434+115+306501&autoview=sku

I did have to buy some extra line than what came with the kit, but other than that pretty straight forward. My friend and I reused the existing lines and clamps where we could, and got those suckers tucked away. It was tricky making some of the connetions underneath, but my buddy Matt helped out with that and we got it done.

[Lee]

only 25 bucks

holy crap. im buying that this week. thanks man.

[Lee]

hey charles, i was reviewing the install instructions on my 678, and it says to place foam pads between it and the radiator if im mounting it to that... what did you put in?

[MTL_4runner]

hey charles, i was reviewing the install instructions on my 678, and it says to place foam pads between it and the radiator if im mounting it to that... what did you put in?


I did on mine.

[Lee]

where does one get a foam pad? hahahah

the install looks SO easy.

[calrockx]

those foam pads should come with it...

[Lee]

gotcha

i didnt open the box yet :D

[MTL_4runner]

i didnt open the box yet :D


Hahaha, you might want to start there. :spit:

[Lee]

:lol:

i didnt have the time leave me alone :( :( :(

:spit:

[MTL_4runner]

We've all done stupid stuff like that.
It's like looking everywhere for your keys when you've been holding them in your hand.

[Lee]

so have we decided that tech on UY will officially start with


OPEN THE F-ING BOX!


:D

[marko3xl3]

We've all done stupid stuff like that.
It's like looking everywhere for your keys when you've been holding them in your hand.


Don't you just HATE that!! :gay:



so have we decided that tech on UY will officially start with


OPEN THE F-ING BOX!

:D


Heck yes!!

I'll probably end up over-using it though :/

[Lee]

damn you aaaaall!

:D

i am gonna open the box tomorrow, i promise!

[calrockx]

when you do open it, take pics and make a write-up please.

[Lee]

hahahah JERK

[d0ubledown]

i was wondering also about flat mounting it to the rad...but (correct me if im wrong) but isnt the AC condensor in front of the rad? how do you get those anchor pads behind it? or do you go through both the AC condensor AND the radiator fins? flat mounting it seems better and less bulky than with brackets. PS cooler done with brackets on mine...but im stil kinda :headscratch: about mounting the tranny cooler, as it doesnt have any holes for bracket mounting..so i gotta flat mount it

[ElkaholicTRD]

i was wondering also about flat mounting it to the rad...but (correct me if im wrong) but isnt the AC condensor in front of the rad? how do you get those anchor pads behind it? or do you go through both the AC condensor AND the radiator fins? flat mounting it seems better and less bulky than with brackets. PS cooler done with brackets on mine...but im stil kinda :headscratch: about mounting the tranny cooler, as it doesnt have any holes for bracket mounting..so i gotta flat mount it


I just mounted mine last week. Ill throw some pics up later. But it is quite a tight fit between the AC condensor and the center hood latch rail. Anyways once I put mine in I slid it over to the side to place the sticky foam pads onto each corner. Kinda a pain but it works. Then yes, the zip tie anchor thing goes all the way through both the condensor and radiator. You will need to cut them once installed as they interfere with the fan.

[DSN46]

I just installed a Hayden 679 last week. :thumbup: It is a monster cooler, but it fits if you go almost perfectly centered on the condensor. It was VERY easy and took only about an hour (that is after I figured out the damn clips that hold the grill on :shake:).

I plan on a Tranny Temp gauge in the next few weeks so I can really get an idea about how well the cooler is performing.... but as mentioned earlier, I dont think you can cool your tranny enough, especially if youre trail-runnin'!

James

[MTL_4runner]

DSN, I'll be curious what your tranny temps are after you mount the guage.
You're so right about never cooling the tranny fluid enough.

[DSN46]

As fast as this board is moving, this thread will probably be buried 20 pages back by the time I get the sensor and gauge installed!
I will dig this thread up from the basement and update you all when I get the stats. :D

James

[ADH8796]

Thanks for all the great infor guys.

[gpcollen]

Just installed a NAPA Heavy Duty (Hayden) cooler today. COuld have used more hose but other than that it was pretty quick and easy.