I've got a '91 4-Runner, 3.0 Auto trans SR5. For the first time I
had the A/T Temp light come on running down the Big Road at around 65,
and I was climbing a hill. Just Had the Trans serviced. Told them I wanted it serviced and new filter. I don't believe it was flushed after I looked at the fluid color.Decided to go to the Toyota dealer to get a flush.
After reading most of the Trans threads, I still have some questions.
Firstly, I have what I believe is a Trans Cooler mounted on the frame under the vehicle across from the trans. Is this a stock cooler for towing?
Secondly, I have a cooling fan mounted behind the grill in front of the a/c condensor. Would there still be enough room to mount a cooler for the trans?
The trans does not seem to be cooled by the radiator. I don' see any lines going to it.

 

1. No, the little cooler on the passenger side near the tranny is the transfer case cooler.

2. Not sure if there's room there or not. I didn't want to deal with all that so I mounted mine above the skid plate. I think I heard of people mounting theirs in front of the radiator though.

3. You have to remove the skidplate to see the tranny lines going into the radiator at the bottom.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Is it possible to mount the Hayden Behind the skid plate and still cool well enough?

 

I don't know, but I figure it's better than nothing. I've got a writeup on my website.

 

Thanks Robinhood. Greatly appreciate your quick answer.This site is the best I've encontered for Info. I hope to some day be able to contribute some info my-self.
Time to run to the parts store and pick one up!!!

 

Yeah, I'm not sure that the placement really matters as long as the fluid runs through it...or atleast I think thats how it works...correct me if I'm wrong though cause I'm about to get one too.

Fink

 

revive! on this note ^, does it matter if the transcooler is mounted sideways or upside down? i had one installed a long time ago while my 4runner was towing alot. i went to bolt on my budbuilt skid and they put it right in front of the skid plate, i could move it up by rotating it but i dont want to mess with the flow. i cant see it mattering but i figure its worth asking before i try to move it. thanks guys.

 

I like to mount them with the inlet at the top and the outlet at the bottom, that way the flow of ATF through the small channels is aided by gravity. Also trapped air can easily escape the cooler.

 

The cooler lines are pressurized; gravity wouldn't have any real effect. Also, if the inlet line on the cooler is higher than where it connects to the transmission, air wouldn't be able to escape when the engine was turned off. The good news is, because its pressurized, air bubbles work their way out through the outlet line pretty quickly when the engine is running.

-Dan

 

Maybe, but I'd rather use gravity than fight it. The less pressure drop through the cooler the better.

 

Those 3.0 transmissions will overheat if overfilled,they are really senitive about that, 1 quart over,good chance of whipping air and overheating....

On the cooler question any cooler is better than none,I have my cooler mounted sideways..pressure hose on bottom,exiting cooler on top.This is the way the landcuriser external cooler is fitted,and who am I to doubt Toyota's engineering...I would guess it does fight gravity,to promote cooling(keeping fluid in cooler longer than rushing through it)..But honestly,upside down,right side up,I dont think it matters.....

 

The biggest concern is to be able to get good airflow through the fins. That is what takes most of the heat away...

Also, I'd be surprised if your truck's transmission isn't cooled by the integrated cooler in the radiator... unless the radiator has been replaced with one that doesn't have an integrated cooler. Check to see if there are a couple of lines that go from the passenger side of the transmission to near the bottom of the radiator (starts as hard lines at the transmission, then switches to hoses as the lines go past the engine towards the radiator). If the radiator was replaced with one that doesn't have an integrated cooler, then it's possible that the previous owner just connected the supply and return hoses together and decided to go with no tranny cooler at all (which isn't a good idea, by the way).

 

Very true, nothing wrong with adding a fan to it too if it doesn't have good air flow.

 

I tow with my runner and wanted the biggest cooler I could find. Ford had a TSB on there diesel trucks that recomended fitting a larger cooler. It is a perfect fit and dirt cheap (if still available) it fits in front of the factory skid plat nicely, has preformed lines that run over to the rt side of the truck and then can be connected to the factory trans cooler lines. The bracket fit the contour of the skid plate well. I added a protective alum. guard to protect it. I don't think it would be a good aplication unless your runner is lifted though. Dug through reciepts but couldn't find the one for the cooler but if memory serves it was around 45.00 plus installation hardware and it took about a twelve pack to install.