New 150TD. Fitting a Transmission Cooler

[toyocrusa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close toyocrusa]

I recently fitted a transmission cooler to my new 150 T/D after having the light come on. I have written it up in a blog with a description and some photos but had to do it on another forum. If you click on a photo it enlarges and you can then go forward or backward through the series by clicking either side of the photo. I have no affiliation with the forum,other than being a member.As it ended up being quite large,it was just easier to do it in a blog there rather than try to fit it in a post. Thanks,Bob.
http://www.exploroz.com/members/1587...s__Cooler.aspx

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

Hey Bob

Nice post I am looking at towing a close to 2500kg van with my v6 150 and have worried about the auto. This has been extremely helpful, have a great trip.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Very informative with good pictures to show how to do it. Thanks Bob as this is on my to do list.

Cheers Derek

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

nice one toyocrusa. I also got a 150 GXL diesel auto, its my second one, picked this one up end of May.
My caravan is 2140KG add water and gear and would be pretty close to 2500kg.

I tow in 4th in manual mode and have never seen the temp light come on, at the end of November I was coming home from Cobram and even then on a 40C day no auto temp light. When I have tried to run in normal Auto mode, but it hunts a bit. Also, I don`t like dropping the revs too much, ie if you are sitting on 90-95 in auto I find the revs too low, its ok at 105. I don`t have trouble with the motor doing extra revs, better than labouring it.

I am still undecided about fitting a cooler. My neighbour works as a mechanic at Toyota and he said he wouldn`t worry about it. He has serviced both Hilux and Prado Auto`s where the owners regularly exceed the towing capacity. The bloke with the Hilux tows a trailer and bobcat and the Prado one a big boat.



How do you find the dp chip, is it worth it?

Also what sort of diesel heater have you got, I am looking at getting one?

[toyocrusa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close toyocrusa]

Hi maxjj. I have a private mechanical workshop and I have lost count over the years of the number of "burnt" autos I have seen that have been subjected to heavy work. Granted, the Toyota autos are built tough but I still advocate fitting the cooler just for that little bit extra piece of mind. Especially if you are towing in temperatures like we are experiencing at the moment (42 deg).
I am still a bit undecided on the chip. After I fitted it we came back across the flat areas and through Hay and I was not sure if I could feel too much of an improvement. I don't like putting the boot into it so just let the torque of the engine do the work. Once we left Wagga and got into the hills it did seem to pull a fair bit better. My next towing trip will be around easter so I am going to try and do some towing with and without the chip connected (It came with a standard blanking plug to replace the chip unit) to see if I can get a better feel of any difference.
I fitted a Snugger brand heater which I found through a Caravaners forum link to a site called "Ali Express." They seem to have a different brand on there now but the photos look exactly the same as the Snugger brand. All the best. Bob

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

nice one toyocrusa. I also got a 150 GXL diesel auto, its my second one, picked this one up end of May.
My caravan is 2140KG add water and gear and would be pretty close to 2500kg.

I tow in 4th in manual mode and have never seen the temp light come on, at the end of November I was coming home from Cobram and even then on a 40C day no auto temp light. When I have tried to run in normal Auto mode, but it hunts a bit. Also, I don`t like dropping the revs too much, ie if you are sitting on 90-95 in auto I find the revs too low, its ok at 105. I don`t have trouble with the motor doing extra revs, better than labouring it.

I am still undecided about fitting a cooler. My neighbour works as a mechanic at Toyota and he said he wouldn`t worry about it. He has serviced both Hilux and Prado Auto`s where the owners regularly exceed the towing capacity. The bloke with the Hilux tows a trailer and bobcat and the Prado one a big boat.



How do you find the dp chip, is it worth it?

Also what sort of diesel heater have you got, I am looking at getting one?

Get a scanguageII and enter the xguage code for your transmission fluid temp & see what sort of temps that you are getting.
I think that you will be shocked. In the long run your bank account will also. Toyota says don't worry about it.
They also tell you that you don't need to get your auto gearbox oil changed until 48 months or 80,000 km.

Is this because they want more of your hard earned $$ ??

If you tow anything with a bit of weight, do yourself a favour and go and talk to not just one, but go to a couple of auto transmission specialists and listen to what they tell you.

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

cheers, thanks
my parents have an Eberspacher diesel heater in their mobile home, when the fan is on low seems quiet enough. I haven`t been in it at night trying to sleep with it running though. Parents are happy enough with it.

On the transmission cooler it makes sense, anything running hot is going to have to affect its lifespan.
Still like I said I haven`t had the light come on yet, but I do stay in 4th and manual mode. Seems that avoiding any slip in the transmission is the key to keeping temp down. The way I understand auto transmissions keeping the revs up a bit in the engine cannot hurt as there is less slip in the auto and low revs can cause more heat and slippage.

But like anything, a bit of common sense and mechanical sympathy goes a long way.

Next time I am on a trip I might just use my infrared/laser thermometer and try and get a read on the transmission. Its going to be fairly hot tomorrow and I am heading to the beach without the van, might get a reading for reference purposes.


on the chip, sounds like its better to but the money into the holiday piggy bank. More holidays has to be good.

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

I haven't had the light come on yet either but I do have a cooler fitted which has helped.

Last week I drove up a range without towing anything at all and the temp still went up to and sat on about 114 deg for the entire climb of about 19 km. I wonder what the tempature would have got to if I had been towing my camper?

I do plan to take my camper up there (very nice camping spot) but not until I fit a larger cooler that has a fan on it as well.


Cheers
REV

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

Hmmm.... Rev. Try this one mate. Here's a link : http://www.daviescraig.com.au/Oil_Co...8-details.aspx
Mount it over the passenger side of the vehicle, in front of the radiator. With the hoses, go to the cooler first and then to the radiator. That way, the oil cooler takes all the heat, not the radiator. It's a no brainer as what is cheaper, the oil cooler or the radiator. Well, the answer is the oil cooler. I buy this one from Super Cheap for about $120.00. I have a trade card though.
It's better for the fluid to cool this way as well as the coolant system and the engine. Everything runs cooler except the oil cooler which is the cheapest component.
The Roo.

John,
That seems like a good idea.
PWR (http://www.pwr.com.au/#/view=products/s=os/) make this one (280x200x19mm 6AN fittings SPAL)


Which seems about the same size as your link. I like the fact that this one has and fan an intergrated fan as well, not sure if the cooler and fan would fit behind the grill of the 120 though. I'll have to take some measurements.
Cheers
Robert

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

########## isn`t 90C the normal operating temp of the auto transmission?

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

Hmmm.... Rev. Try this one mate. Here's a link : http://www.daviescraig.com.au/Oil_Co...8-details.aspx
Mount it over the passenger side of the vehicle, in front of the radiator. With the hoses, go to the cooler first and then to the radiator. That way, the oil cooler takes all the heat, not the radiator. It's a no brainer as what is cheaper, the oil cooler or the radiator. Well, the answer is the oil cooler. I buy this one from Super Cheap for about $120.00. I have a trade card though.
It's better for the fluid to cool this way as well as the coolant system and the engine. Everything runs cooler except the oil cooler which is the cheapest component.
The Roo.

Hi John,
Correct me if I'm wrong please but as long as you mount the cooler and the oil passes through it and the radiator in ANY order then you don't void your warranty, or do you need to to pass through in certain order?

Sounds like your quit knowledgable with this and have trade discount available to you - interested in a cashie to supply and fit mine and perhaps another 150 also?

Regards Shane