Notices
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Do I need a Transmission cooler?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-25-2002, 08:02 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
CBDenver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do I need a Transmission cooler?

All,

I've seen the transmission cooler kits you can install easily and for cheap it seems.

I don't tow (hardly ever), and am wondering if I should put one of these on my 97 4Runner?

Anyone have any thoughts on this and suggestions?

Thanks,
Chris
Old 11-25-2002, 08:07 AM
  #2  
CTB
Registered User
 
CTB's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SC
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are you supercharged? If so, then I would say go for it. Either way, it is only going to be good for your tranny. However, if you aren't supercharged and don't ever tow, it probably isn't a big deal.
Old 11-25-2002, 08:11 AM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
CBDenver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the reply. I'm not supercharged, but drive hard in the mountains. Just wondering if it would be good preventative measure to do for the price?

Thanks again.
CB
Old 11-25-2002, 08:14 AM
  #4  
CTB
Registered User
 
CTB's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SC
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, I'm sure it couldn't hurt. Preventative maintenance is always a good thing...especially since the coolers aren't too expensive.
Old 11-25-2002, 08:54 AM
  #5  
Contributing Member
 
loosehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey Chris-

I am thinking about adding one as well. I'm like you, I don't tow, but drive in the mountains. I think it would be a good preventative measure...
Old 11-25-2002, 09:01 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
jacksonpt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't drive in the mountains, but I do tow . I put a TRD cooler on my rig last summer. If you're not sure if you need one, but think it might be a good idea, pick up a Hayden cooler. They are good coolers (rumored to be the same ones as the TRD coolers) and very inexpensive. I don't think $50 and a couple hours of your time to install it is a big deal for a preventative like this.

Bottom line, you probably don't NEED one, but adding one can only help. They are cheap and easy to install, so why WOULDN'T you add one?
Old 11-25-2002, 09:09 AM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
CBDenver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Loosehead,

Yeah, I'm prob. going to go ahead and get one and do it. Anything to help extend the life of an auto trans. would be good. Jacksonpt mentions Hayden. Does anyone have any advice on which one to buy? Easiest to install and fit?

Thanks,
Chris
Old 11-25-2002, 09:12 AM
  #8  
Registered User
 
Bob_98SR5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
(Idiot suit on)

Hope this question is not too stupid, but can manual transmissions benefit from the tranny cooler as well?

Bob
Old 11-25-2002, 09:14 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CBDenver,
You can buy a Hayden Transaver Plus . I got the one rated for 30K lbs. (FYI, I am supercharged). There is a write-up on the tech section on the install.
Old 11-25-2002, 09:18 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
HBoss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CBDenver & CTB,

For the time being I don't tow but I take a lot of trips in the mountains too. I did it just for the "preventative maintenance" reason. I'm still glad I did and I would recommend it for you guys too.
Old 11-25-2002, 09:45 AM
  #11  
Contributing Member
 
loosehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by Bob_98SR5
(Idiot suit on)

Hope this question is not too stupid, but can manual transmissions benefit from the tranny cooler as well?

Bob
Bob,

Manual trannys don't "pump" fluid like an auto, so there would be no way to make one work by gravity flow. As long as you check and change the fluid according to the recommended intervals, much like the axles, you should be fine.
Old 11-25-2002, 01:34 PM
  #12  
CTB
Registered User
 
CTB's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SC
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To add to loosehead's post,

The gear oil in a manual tranny is a lot thicker than ATF fluid and would be a lot harder to pump. Additionally, a manual tranny doesn't get as hot as an auto does.
Old 02-06-2015, 03:27 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
Pajero2593's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Abaco Bahamas
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi i am new here I have a 98 taco an can I put a in a external trans cooler an by pass the one in the radiator.
Old 02-06-2015, 03:31 PM
  #14  
Contributing Member
 
rworegon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon...east side
Posts: 5,125
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Pajero2593
Hi i am new here I have a 98 taco an can I put a in a external trans cooler an by pass the one in the radiator.
Yes you can.
Old 02-12-2015, 02:34 AM
  #15  
Registered User
 
ARB1977's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North Texas
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I don't tow nor drive in the mountains. I still use a external ATF cooler.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
irv
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
8
10-01-2015 09:49 PM
ToyotaMD
Engines - Transmissions
0
09-22-2015 06:28 AM
briholt
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
1
09-20-2015 10:26 PM
TransAmBandit
Engines - Transmissions
0
09-20-2015 06:08 PM
kelly1450
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners
1
09-02-2015 12:29 PM



Quick Reply: Do I need a Transmission cooler?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:13 AM.