Transmission cooler fitment

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

How do you check the a/t fluid. There doesn't appear to be any easy way to get a sample to look at.

through the filler on the side of the box.

In the bottom of the pan there is 2 plugs , 1 to drain and 1 has a tube inside to get the level right.
Take the level plug out and it will dribble alittle, note do this when it is cold.

Wooley, What are your thoughts on the oil cooler with fan?

" I too was really keen on the B&M cooler with fan but think the fan will run too often and restrict air flow at high speeds.

Sean

Fan would be good for low vehicle speeds, but usually the trans temp isn't too bad as the revs are up.

I really no have no idea about its effects at high speed though.

As Bushy has said, this is the way that I install them. Model number 678 kit.
Wooley, that's a bit hot mate. You don't have an oil cooler on that vehicle of yours yet. Put one on and save your transmission.
The Roo.

I don't, I'll get around to it, If only for a proper temp gauge that reads temp just before cooler.

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

The cooler I have ordered comes a thermostatic switch that cuts on at 80c and cuts out at 60c. My thought are you could either replace the switch with a different range switch or remove it and fit a temp sender too suit what ever gauge you want to run and just add another switch/relay to activate the fan . (thread is 16x1.5) that would give you a better tempreture reading of overall trans temp.

Sean

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

Has anyone tried the PWR transmisison coolers?
I see they do a 280x250x19mm Heavy duty with AN-6 fitting for $129.
Its to fit into a 120 series prado.
Wheres the bets place to mount them?
Cheers

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

Lots of good info in this thread. Just doing some reading on the Davies Craig site and they recommend the 679 for 4wd and not the smaller 678, so not sure which to choose.

Also a few questions.

1. How has everyone connected the new cooler, just disconnected the hose near the radiator and then clamp on a rubber hose for the new cooler?
2. Which hose is the outlet, top or bottom?
3. Where have you run the hose to the new cooler?

[A10 Member Find all posts View Profile Close A10]

Lots of good info in this thread. Just doing some reading on the Davies Craig site and they recommend the 679 for 4wd and not the smaller 678, so not sure which to choose.

Also a few questions.

1. How has everyone connected the new cooler, just disconnected the hose near the radiator and then clamp on a rubber hose for the new cooler?
2. Which hose is the outlet, top or bottom?
3. Where have you run the hose to the new cooler?

The Davies Craig selection sheet (http://www.daviescraig.com.au/Images...ecs%202011.pdf) shows 678, 679 or 691 suitable for 4wd

Your other questions -
1. Yes and connect the other hose from the cooler to the one you pull off the standard cooler.
2. As far as I can make out, it is the top one.
3. Depends where you put the new cooler. My cooler is on the left side in front of the condenser and I just ran the hoses across behind the grill to the right side where the standard cooler is fitted.

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

Getting the trans cooler fitted today, will be in series after the existing in core cooler, also taking the opportunity to have a service done before we head up to Shark Bay towing a 2 tonne van, will be getting them to keep a sample of the oil, as I am interested to confirm Toyotas claim that it never needs changing. If my suspicions are correct I may take the sample with me to Toyota tomorrow when it goes in for it's 40,000k service.
Will post up this Arvo with the results either way.

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

Having looked at my trans temps in great detail recently I think it's a necessity to have a thermostat.

It took close to two hours for my trans temp to get to 70degrees the other night (and it stayed there for the rest of the trip), it was only 8 degrees out but I'd hate to think how low it would have been had I had a trans cooler installed or had it been winter?

Surely pumping a thick shake of oil through your trans is also bad.

The only problem is this morning trans was up to 120 ish through the hills.

I still don't quite believe any of these numbers.

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

Getting the trans cooler fitted today, will be in series after the existing in core cooler, also taking the opportunity to have a service done before we head up to Shark Bay towing a 2 tonne van, will be getting them to keep a sample of the oil, as I am interested to confirm Toyotas claim that it never needs changing. If my suspicions are correct I may take the sample with me to Toyota tomorrow when it goes in for it's 40,000k service.
Will post up this Arvo with the results either way.

Ok cooler is fitted - looks the part and is fitted after the in core cooler. Oil was very dark brown and dirty but definitely didn't smell burnt at all, that said no real low range work or heavy towing to this stage.
Down side was the extra cost for the 5 speed trans (apparently) not really sure how an extra gear adds a hunge to the cost, will check with Toyota tomorrow how much they charge to compare.

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

Wooley, Automatic Transmission Fluid or ATF is not like engine oil. It's actually along the lines of hydraulic oil, so keeping it cool is a good thing. By doing this you are preserving the lubricating properties from breaking down. Very important this, especially when it comes to the pump. Up to you Wooley, but my advise is to stop stuffing around, looking at your temperatures and install an oil cooler. I know you want to do it, so just do it, you won't look back and neither will your auto transmission.
.

Hydraulic oil also needs to be at operating temperature to work correctly. When it's cold it's too viscous and blows out seals etc if too much load is placed on it. Obviously temperature is its enemy. But once again you need to find that medium.

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

[QUOTE=
Kev, you need to change your ATF in that box. Once the red colour turns to brown, time to change is the golden rule here. Under normal operation, you should do it at least every 50,000 kms. Take the Toyota schedule as the bear minimum requirement with everything. If you go above and beyond that requirement, your vehicle will thank you by doing more kms trouble free in most cases. Clean and rich (full of properties minus the metal) fluids = a vehicle that will have a long life without to much trouble, especially the newer designed vehicles. You have to remember with the newer vehicles that a lot of components are now electronic. Extra heat is it's enemy. A good example of this is the modern valve body now controlled by solenoids through the ECU. In most vehicles it's now two ECUs for autos.
The Roo.[/QUOTE]
Oil was changed and new filter installed, $285 for service is cheap insurance for a $5k plus auto rebuild. To all who are tossing up on this one, i never did any hard work up til now and the fluid has got brown and dirty in 40 k, as the Roo has stated a quality cooler and regular servicing are necessary for longevity of your transmission. Can't say much more than that really, proof was in the oil sample.

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

Yes Kev, that's what I am talking about. $4,000 to $5,000 for a new box or $200 to $300 for a service. It's a no brainer and so is the oil cooler.
The Roo.

Further justification ( if it's needed) just towed a 2 tonne full size van to sharkbay and back, including into a 30 - 40 Km/h head wind through from Shark bay to Geraldton and never saw the A/T light ever, kept it in sport mode4 and only saw it drop out of lock up 4th on a couple of occasions at the top of hills.

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

Finally got around to fitting my oil cooler and all I can say is it works well.
Cruising on the highway temps are down by 15 degrees and the same when towing
Big oil cooler 13.5" long by 9.5" wide with 9" fan takes up one whole side of the grill and holds 2.5 lts of oil

Sean

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

Finally got around to fitting my oil cooler and all I can say is it works well.
Cruising on the highway temps are down by 15 degrees and the same when towing
Big oil cooler 13.5" long by 9.5" wide with 9" fan takes up one whole side of the grill and holds 2.5 lts of oil

Sean

Sean, which cooler did you get and did you fit it yourself? I'm unclear about how to top up the oil if I fit it.

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

Krypto,

I bought a B&M cooler from Summit racing in the states. It is the largest B&M with a fan mounted on it (can get without fan).
I fabricated all of the brackets and had a mate tig it together. Because of the size it has to be all assembled in there.
If you slide under your car you will see 2 bungs on the pan one with drain and the other with level stamped next to them. The fill plug is on the RHS (24mm) of the trans kind of looks like it is in no-mans land between the trans/transfer. Just have the car running in Park and remove the level plug to check, if required top up until it dripples out of the level plug hole.

Sean

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

Thanks Sean.