Transmission Cooler in Hilux.

[Swogjb]

I'm not sure how many people here have automatic transmissions in Hilux, Tritons, DMax's etc etc.
I have the auto in my Hilux and although I have had no major issues with it when towing I have read about others that have. I have had the trans light come on a couple of times and have just backed off and slowed down a bit and the light goes out.
It has been pi$$ing me off that one day the trans  may let me down if pushing into a head wind or on a hot day.
I have just had a  transmission oil cooler fitted and I am extremely happy with it.
We went to Mildura on the weekend towing the Jayco Hawk, and gave the trans a good workout to see if the cooler did it's job.
No worries... I punted it real hard up some hills and overtaking a few times. The light never even looked like coming on.
The cooler was not cheap, $450 fitted, but it gives piece of mind that my trans is not going to overheat.
 

[Bird]

Why not fit a gearbox temp gauge

http://www.automatictransmission.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=12031

I had one in the GQ and was fitting one to the GU too, you'd be shocked how much your temps vary when towing.

[WilSurf]

I have fitted a transcooler in my Surf and haven't had any issues so far.

[gibbo301]

For the price you pay you,d  think they would come standard 

[Swogjb]

Why not fit a gearbox temp gauge

http://www.automatictransmission.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=12031

I had one in the GQ and was fitting one to the GU too, you'd be shocked how much your temps vary when towing.

Yeah I have been thinking a temp gauge might be handy.
I have scan gauge fitted and I think I can spec it up so it will give me trans temps.
 

[Kit_e_kat9]

Ours gets hot towing up very steep grades that are rather long.  We just stop somewhere and enjoy the view if there is one for about 10 minutes.  Maybe he'll do something about it ... maybe he won't ... not my call.  He does love to put his foot down though.  Not sure if that has something to do with it.

Kit_e

[RebsWA]

Yeah I have been thinking a temp gauge might be handy.
I have scan gauge fitted and I think I can spec it up so it will give me trans temps.
 

I looked at the scan gauge for that reason but found you could not get the trans temp.

[griz066]

For the price you pay you,d  think they would come standard 

Standard kit on the Triton

[Bird]

For the price you pay you,d  think they would come standard 

most do. but the factory coolers on many is small.

remember they are selling cars to take kids to shops.. when you throw a ton in them and then tow another, it isnt exactly the factory plan...

[Heiny]

most do. but the factory coolers on many is small.

remember they are selling cars to take kids to shops.. when you throw a ton in them and then tow another, it isnt exactly the factory plan...

But a factory trans cooler is still far better than nothing

[oldblade]

I put on in my hilux on the weekend but it only cost me $135.00 for the big heavy duty one plus 1 1/2 of my time to fit it

Hopefully it will stop my light from coming on everytime I tow the camper up a hill

[Swogjb]

I put on in my hilux on the weekend but it only cost me $135.00 for the big heavy duty one plus 1 1/2 of my time to fit it

Hopefully it will stop my light from coming on everytime I tow the camper up a hill

Hi oldblade,
What brand of cooler is the one you have?
Did you bypass the excisting cooler in to the radiator or hook into it?
I thought the TRD already had a bigger cooler on them.
 

[Stone Stomper]

Same here, had two Hilux's and fitted the second one with a cooler after having the light come on towing. Not too hard to fit and the cooler was $120.

The brand on mine is PWR and I still ran the fluid through the main radiator first then through the new cooler.

[Bird]

Hi oldblade,
What brand of cooler is the one you have?
Did you bypass the excisting cooler in to the radiator or hook into it?

This is a top idea.. Awill4x4 did it on his and the difference in engine and gearbox temps on the gauges was really impressive.
but you would want to ensure you had the right sized coolers. I had 2x largest PWR coolers on the GU

[WilSurf]

I have the Craig Davis cooler for the V8 installed.
Big enough.

[oldblade]

I put the pwr bigboy on
And i ran it inline to the radiator so that it goes into the radiator then through the cooler and back to the gearbox
The TuRD has an intercooler for the supercharger not the gearbox from what I can see
The front of my car has a cooler for everything lol a/t cooler intercooler condesor and then radiator the thing should run ice cold in darwin

[oldblade]

$135 included more piping which you will need from repco

[Swogjb]

The one I had installed was a Hayden Rapid Cool. Just found the receipt, $170 for the cooler + $225 for labour and new oil = $395. The other $55 was for a wheel alignment.
 

[RebsWA]

I put the large (V8) Davis Craig cooler (which is a PWR) on my current hilux and it is in series with the OEM cooler with an oil thermostat inbetween them. Idea being to allow the trans to get to normal operating temperature during the cold weather and bring the extra cooler into play when the ATF exceeds 76 degrees C.
After 8,000kms I have yet to feel the new cooler lines get any hotter than luke warm.

[Munners]

Why not fit a gearbox temp gauge

http://www.automatictransmission.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=12031

I had one in the GQ and was fitting one to the GU too, you'd be shocked how much your temps vary when towing.

At $495 just for the temp gauge....then another $500 for the cooler???  Aren't there some cheaper (in price but not so much in quality) gauges and coolers?

[chester ver2.0]

I put the pwr bigboy on
And i ran it inline to the radiator so that it goes into the radiator then through the cooler and back to the gearbox
The TuRD has an intercooler for the supercharger not the gearbox from what I can see
The front of my car has a cooler for everything lol a/t cooler intercooler condesor and then radiator the thing should run ice cold in darwin

Gear box cooler is the bottom section of the radiator in the toyotas