Transmission cooler fitment

[johnb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johnb]

I am getting a transmission cooler fitted to my 150. Plenty of space in the front to fit it. Any discussions about where it should go in relation oil flow, after the cooler inside the radiator or by pass the radiator internal cooler all together???
I have not had any transmision overheat problems towing the van, but am going to Lake Eyre in November so I want to be sure of keeping the oil cool.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

I found confilicting opinions on the net regarding the best location in the circuit. But based on advice from an automatic tramsission specialist and the local installer
mine's installed in the return path after the radiator.

Leachy

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

I just installed a Davies Craig cooler. They recommend installing the cooler after the radiator. ie oil flows from trans to radiator then through to cooler then back to trans. They reckon this supplies the coolest oil back to the trans. I've mounted the cooler on the front left side of the condenser so it gets the clean air straight through the grill. According to DC, if it is mounted in series it will not void warranty. If you bypass the radiator then you may void warranty.

[johnb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johnb]

I had my transmission cooler fitted two weeks ago, great job, no holes drilled, used existing mount points in front ot the aircon condensor on the left hand side. It was fitted in the return line after the radiator. Done by a local tranmission place I have used before. He has done a few cooler installs on Prados now. We are off to Lake eyre on three weeks. I will give some feed back when we return. Thanks everyone for the advice.

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

Johnb any chance of some photos of the cooler install. Ive had similar issues with the hilux until cooler fitted so when prado arrives i plan to fit one.

[Tezza222z Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tezza222z]

leachy can you tell me who fitted your trans oil cooler. I will be in Perth next week and would like to get one while I'm there. Now that I can see my trans oil temp on the scan guage it worries me everytime it goes over 90 C and that happens when I am not towing.
Cheers
Terry

[Tonner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tonner]

leachy can you tell me who fitted your trans oil cooler. I will be in Perth next week and would like to get one while I'm there. Now that I can see my trans oil temp on the scan guage it worries me everytime it goes over 90 C and that happens when I am not towing.
Cheers
Terry

... so Scan Guage can see Trans Oil Temps now??? I was under the inpression that was a no go with those, can you fill me in on what these are cappable of on the 150 TD Prados now days?

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

leachy can you tell me who fitted your trans oil cooler. I will be in Perth next week and would like to get one while I'm there. Now that I can see my trans oil temp on the scan guage it worries me everytime it goes over 90 C and that happens when I am not towing.
Cheers
Terry

Robson Brothers 4WD in Welshpool.

[Tezza222z Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tezza222z]

Hi Tonner; Scan guage only recently worked out how to display the trans oil temp so now you can make it an "X guage" (they are just programable guages that can display a variety of functions). Apparently the ATF temp gauge will not work with older operating systems of the ScanGuage but you can get them updated. It does work with the new ScanGuages and appears to be very accurate, and worrying!!! My ATF temp is fine for driving around my home town, Bunbury, but as soon as I get to Perth the temp shoots up into the 90's with the stop start traffic. From what I read as the temp approaches the 100 C mark the life expectancy of your transmission reduces considerably. I would like to know the temerature that the warning light is programed to come on at and to what temperature Toyota have increased this to before the warning light comes on (for those who had complained about it happening when towing). Besides the ATF temp the ScanGuage will display numerous functions like water temp and an accurate speed (it agrees with my sat nav unlike the speedo). The fuel consumption and trip cost details are also usefull and accurate. Have a look at the Scanguage website for all of the other functions. Money well spent!!!!
http://www.scangauge.com/

Cheers Terry

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Hi All,

Can anyone please post a photo of their cooler installs?

Cheers

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Any chance of some photo's of the coolers installed?

[Strider Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strider]

Any chance of some photo's of the coolers installed?

+1 this is on my must do list before the Simoson in July.

Cheers
Alan

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Has anyone got a definitive answer from Toyota about how fitting a cooler effects warranty.?

I went to a couple of places for quotes, 500-600 fitted. Both places recommended bypassing the radiator to improve reliability of the cooler. One place also recommended using synthetic oil and said most dealers use pretty cheap low grade oil.

[A10 Member Find all posts View Profile Close A10]

Someone on here recommended the Davies Craig 678 cooler - it is on the Supercheap web site for $139.00. $500-600 seems a bit much for supply and fit of a cooler. From the instructions on the Davies Craig web site, it seems very simple to install one.

A couple of questions for those that have fitted one themselves.

How can you check the transmission oil level or condition - it doesn't seem to get mentioned in the Toyota manual.

I presume no oil runs out when you disconnect the hoses from the existing cooler in the radiator.

Do you need to add any extra oil to the transmission to allow for the new cooler and hoses.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

500 was for parts including hoses etc and making up a mounting so about 3 hours labour. Happy to do itself but I'm assuming need to make up special length hoses or pipes and brackets?

Keen to hear what's involved, I thought there was a thread with info but can't find it.