Two weeks from now, I will be moving from Boston, MA to Portland, OR. I'll be towing the largest possible U-Haul trailer, which I'm sure will be stuffed to the brim. Numerous 4runner owners have advised me to look into getting a transmission cooler. I do not have the time or the know-how (or audacity), to try and install one myself. My question is what should I look for in a transmission cooler? When I visit the Performance Products website, I see they have a TRD cooler for $220 and a Perma-Cool Automatic Transmission Cooler for $55. Which do I need? I've called numerous Toyota dealerships in the Boston area and none of their mechanics have done tranny cooler installs. Where can I get a cooler installed, and how much should I expect to pay? Will they install a cooler that I have already purchased?

 

It is pretty straight forward. The cooler just plumbs in line with the radiator. Should not be much more than an hour if that.

There is a write up on ODW that puts one on a 3rd gen and pretty much covers it all.

As for size, you want the largest one that will fit your truck.

I got mine for 50 bucks at Pep Boys.

 

I've got the TRD cooler on my rig. I did the install myself, and put a writeup on my website. If you want, give it a look over to get an idea what would be involved. It's pretty easy - a toyota dealership should be able to install it for you. I wouldn't worry if they've never done one before; it's easy. I can't imagine it takign more than 2 hours to install, even by dealer standards. So depending on what your dealer charges per hour for labor, I'd think it should be less than $100 for the install ($50/hr for 2 hours).

 

Here is another thread that helped me alot.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...threadid=14832

 

Get a Hayden or B&M Plate cooler. Much more efficient than a fin and tube set up, but either will help. Like this:

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...ooler&x=21&y=9

Try to find an independant repair shop to install it. Ask around or look for the shop with Toy trucks out front.
Good Luck

 

I got mine from Advanced Auto Parts for $57.74 + tax. Its a Imperial 243012 Transmission Oil Cooler: Maxi-Cool® XL Plate; 3/4" x 12" x 11"; Extra Heavy Duty "made by Hayden" (stamped on the box). Its a bit of a squeeze, but it fits nicely on the passenger side in front of the A/C condensor (radiator).

Go to http://www.advanceautoparts.com/, select "Shop Onliine" (upper right - takes you to PartsAmerica.com). Enter your zip, then your rig info, and it should pull up several different type. For best cooling performance, be sure to select the 'stack plate' models.

Take whatever cooler type/model info you've chosen to your favorite mechanic/shop and tell them what you'd like installed. They should be able to hook you up in about an hour...

 

Mine is a TRD unit. It only took me about an hour to install it. I think that U-Haul installs tranny coolers.... I don't know if I would trust them though.

 

Jeff,

I got my cooler from this place and did the install myself. I also vote for the stacked plate cooler over the tube and fin.

 

I can't believe how quickly you guys respond! Thanks for all of the helpful links and tips. I think I'll go for the Hayden extra heavy duty cooler. $51 is not bad at all. So do you think that someone who barely knows how to check their oil should be able to follow the instructions and install this sucker? I don't have much in the way of tools either.

 

The instructions that come with the Hayden cooler don't offer all that much, but those combined with write-ups from the boards and pointers from those that have done it should get you through.

But when in doubt, take it somewhere to make sure its done right.

 

Maybe there is someone in Boston that could help him out...

 

All you have to do is unscrew some bolts, undo some hoses, screw in some bolts, and connect some hoses. If you're comfortable doing basic things like this but just not very good at it (as opposed to being afraid to even pop the hood), then you should be fine. Do you know anyone (family, friends, etc.) that knows a little more about cars that might be able to help? Just having someone there might give you a bit more confidence.

 

I'll go pick up the cooler tommorow and take a look at the instructions in the tech section. If I start my work and it seems like too formidable of a task, I'll call some of the local shops and see if anyone has any experienced. I'm all for spending less $$$, but not with the risk of ruining my favorite toy. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

 

I'll throw in my two cents here, as I'm VERY mechanically DEclined and installed my own tranny cooler without any problems.

Like has been offered, look at the writeups, print out the pics and look it over. If you can crawl under the front end and identify all the hoses and can make sense of which hose hooks where on the cooler, then YOU CAN DO IT! Really.

I know that so many of the great posters here on this forum are so mechanically oriented that swapping engines is mere child's play, but for those with less training and intuition of things mechanical, even simple tasks like this can be daunting.

Go buy the cooler (30,000#), read through the instructions and writeups, grab a beer and go to work. And let us know how easy it really was!

Good luck and safe travels.

 

How did it go?

 

One of the first mods I did solo.

www.drawhorn.org and go to the write-ups page for my installation w/ pics.