2020 needing a trans cooler...

Preparing to head from Idaho to Ontario, Canada with truck camper and boat later this month and have a '20; as such it is missing the prior-equipped 2nd gen trans cooler.
I don't want to spend a $1000+ for a dang cooler. I've installed many of them, the last in my 2007 4.6 for the truck/camper boat burden. It was a 45 minute job and $175.

Curious what options exist for a $300-$400 setup if any. It seems that this all comes down to an (unavailable) access line for an added cooler. Thoughts?

Thank you in advance!

 

Search function is your friend


https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-trans-cooler-for-300.146998/#post-3685018

 

T/Y!

Looks like these parts....and a cooler.
32970-34030 Thermostat Unit $163.26
32907-0C020Cooler Pipe $80.34. (Unless I go 'all rubber' lines)

 

many you tube posts on towing w the 2.5 gen without the cooler and there were no issues w it.
funny how Toyotas are a sealed transmissions that require no maintenance, but
Toyota recommends changing the transmission fluid every 30k if towing frequently. Most call it a drain and fill not a flush.
I tow a camper all summer so I did a drain and fill on mine and it’s pretty easy.
There are deep transmission pans that have vent holes that allow air to help cool the fluid without using a cooler, but you end up adding a bit of fluid.
Your unit hold about 12 quarts of fluid, a drain and fill will drain off about 3.5 quarts of that but if you drop the pan you drain about 4.5 quarts.
So I added a deep pan to mine and it’s been great.
I do frequent drain and fills ( every 2 years) and sent the fluid in for testing after installing the deep pan and the results were very good.

 

I get it, but if you are going to go through all of that, just add the cooler and not worry about it any more.

My pan temps have hit a high of 199F since i've added the cooler, and that was only on a few mile climb up a steep grade, 3rd gear (TC unlocked) towing a trailer. Remainder of the time, im hitting highs of 194ish. No concerns of temps any more.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/parts-list-for-adding-oem-trans-cooler-to-5-7l.125248/

 

Need two rubber lines between t-stat and steel pipes, too.

This is a good deal: https://www.ebay.com/itm/286138420790 I paid $520 for the same set of parts back in 2023. Shipping was fast, too (it comes from Japan).

 

The least expensive would be the LC Saraha setup - its 2 OEM fittings for trans and then your lines (I like braided) and your awesome cooler + a fan (for stop/go towing).

 

The Genuine Cooler Trans cooler is 1388.00 shipped, my lack of patience and anxiety taught me a lesson my bank account felt firsthand.
if I were to do it again, I’d piece a kit together, use braided lines or even purchase the hard lines (80.00 +/-) and do it in a couple hours.
I have the MillerCat Shields on my 2020 and spent a week waiting on the security screw bits I had to order because I misplaced mine.
Some of these guys are getting kits together under 500.00, I should’ve been patient.

 

For under $400, I pieced together thermostat, cooler, AN fittings, clamps, hoses with temp braiding, trans pan gasket and 4 gallons of Triax global ATF. Flushed the trans after installing the cooler. Let's see if I destroy the truck by not using OEM parts and WS...

So far, pan temp has been no higher than 201, and post- converter temps have spiked to 221, but come down pretty quick. I have cat shields, which i believe make the temps a bit higher.

 

That's the way I like it - uha uha!

 

This was after I test drove it, taking the back roads home

 

Why in the phuk are these cooler kits so expensive, after market ones?

 

I’m guessing it’s because they do all the leg work, the kits complete and if you have a lift and don’t have CatShields it can be done in 2 1/2 or 3 hours. It took me about 4 1/2 hours… no lift and CatShields, shimmying on my back all over my hangar bay, I’m glad nobody was around, I was cussing like a fool.
This was AFTER I contacted MillerCat Shields to order two new security screw bits… took about a week to get here, showed up late Saturday and I knew I’d get it done today.

 

Best part of that pic is the shepard with the look like "yeah, you're not gonna tether me."