Of course, you didn't get a truck so that you could always operate it under normal conditions, right? Since towing heavy loads requires more force to the drive wheels than everyday driving, tow-package-equipped cars and trucks are often geared differently than their non-tow-package cousins. If you plan on towing anything, a transmission cooler is the single best investment you can make. It's amazing how much cooling can happen with even a small one of these devices. Transmission Coolers help transmissions deal with the added stress and heat caused by towing boats, trailers and other heavy objects. The general rule is that transmission fluid cannot be cooled too much, so using the largest cooler that will fit is a good idea, especially if you are towing. If there is an opportunity to repair your equipment without resorting to towing, then it is better to do so. LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Our questions are: Do we really need them or can we just get an after market hitch for less than $500. This fluid is part of a complex hydraulic system that transfers the power of your engine to the wheels. Installing Transmission Coolers. Too much heat can/will destroy a transmission. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. For those of you unfamiliar with the anatomy of a heavy-duty automatic transmission, here's a quick rundown. Cam and Jeff take a look at vehicles that might benefit from using a transmission oil cooler and discuss considerations whether an oil cooler … But , Yes it can do no harm to add one, or you could get the trans serviced after a "towing trip" in very hot weather. Some trucks that didn't come with the towing package may already have the plumbing to install one, and just need the addition of the radiator section. There are different types and sizes of transmission coolers for different types of transmissions and different sizes of vehicle. After having blown one transmission on our BT-50 while four-wheel driving and having it replaced under warranty, we were extremely cautious about hitching a … Now, it seems like there is some disagreement between Toyota and consumers on whether or not you need it. By using LiveAbout, you accept our, 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel Pickup Truck Review, Checking and Filling Your Coolant/Antifreeze. Towing hurts you on starts and stops..not so much during cruising, since the radiator often provides cooling for the tranny oil as well. You can add an external cooler. No, this isn't an ice pack that you stick underneath the truck to keep things cool. When you install your cooler you will need to account for adding additional transmission fluid to compensate for the increased capacity of the transmission cooling system. Did they maybe get rid of the trans cooler? Pickup truck owners seeking enhanced towing capacity might wonder if they need to upgrade to a transmission cooler. Transmission coolers help to protect your transmission when you turn up the heat. Transmission cooler - I am going to purchase a 2017 Highlander for towing a travel trailer. Your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is key to determining what kind of transmission cooler you need. The fluid can become so hot that it loses its hydraulic qualities and starts to make the transmission slip. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. An auxiliary transmission cooler will not increase the towing or hauling capacity of a vehicle. Each year, hundreds of thousands of automatic transmissions fail and the majority of them are due to overheating of the fluid. Your transmission is full of a fluid called, well, transmission fluid. I have a 2009 Kia Sedona with a 6 cyl engine and will be pulling a Spree Escape E19SB. But before you rush out and buy the first cooler available, here’s an example to ponder: Decades ago, we built an L88 powered 1969 Camaro complete with a turbo 400, a 12-bolt filled with 4.88:1 gears and an 8-inch torque converter. Installing a transmission cooler is an extra precaution against overheating your transmission, and many people decide to use them in tow vehicles. I would get it as a matter of course. The fluid in your transmission is always moving. What's the Difference Between Antifreeze and Coolant? Do I need to have a transmission cooler installed? You do not "HAVE" to run it through the OE cooler at all, even if you lived in Canada in the Winter. If you're pulling something big and heavy like a camper, you may want to make the upgrade. But if it is for personal comfort, toss a better one on there for peice of mind. Matthew Wright has been a freelance writer and editor for over 10 years and an automotive repair professional for three decades specializing in European vintage vehicles. The only thing the tow package adds is the receiver hitch and wiring harness. One of the very first things tow truck drivers are taught, is not to tow with the drive wheels turning with an automatic transmission. To fix this problem, automotive manufacturers came up with the transmission cooler, which takes the heated tranny fluid and runs it through a miniature radiator to cool it down. Both can be installed by you or the dealer without a ton of effort. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. Helpful Expert Reply: You are correct on both accounts, a transmission cooler would be recommended for your towing situation, and you would also need to add enough transmission fluid to fill both the new transmission cooler and any lines associated with it. If you don't lubricate it, you may damage your automatic transmission. For years, an auxiliary transmission cooler was thought to be a common-sense, standard piece of equipment on trucks designed to tow. When you are pulling a trailer or hauling a very heavy load, the transmission fluid finds itself under a lot more pressure than it experiences during normal unloaded cruising. Perhaps the most important factor to consider is the tow vehicle itself. Cooking your transmission while towing is only too common and can be easily avoided by adding a transmission oil cooler. Use best transmission cooler for towing is better only in extreme cases. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. I'd go for the cooler without a question if I was towing anything using a vehicle with an automatic transmission. We have a 2007 Pilot EXL and considering adding a hitch to tow a 4x8 trailer. I'd also service it much more often then the factory spec. Don’t believe manufacturer claims that the gearbox is sealed and you don’t ever need to change the fluid, and at any sign of excess blackening of the contents have the gearbox properly flushed and fresh transmission fluid added. But it might help improve your towing performance. If you want to add a bigger/ additional tranny cooler, you can by all means, tons of peope will sell them to you. If I was you, I'd be more worried about towing a 21 foot trailer with bigger tires on a 4l60e. If you overload the vehicle, no amount of cooling will make it haul or tow more than the maximum specified weight. This can include transmission gearing modifications but more commonly will turn up as a higher gear ratio in the differential or rear end. It is better to repair your equipment on site, and only if it is impossible to use the best transmission cooler for towing. Back in the old days—way back in the old days—the radiator was the only part of a truck's drivetrain that owners needed to keep cool. One of the many advances made in truck manufacturing has been the option to install a transmission cooler. This pressure and velocity produce heat. Do I need an aftermarket cooler to tow a small car to the racetrack that's an hour away? ... Before selecting a transmission cooler, you need … My transmission guy told me it's a good idea regardless if you're towing or not. Nothing heavy, just some brush and firewood. If you've already had problems with your truck's transmission overheating, your decision is a no-brainer. You just need a more powerful vehicle. As you tow heavier loads for longer periods of time, the metal body of the transmission can't dissipate enough heat to keep the fluid cool. Yet. A transmission fluid cooler is a great option even if you’re not towing. Under normal circumstances, this heat is dissipated through the transmission case itself. A look at the options list shows the auxiliary trans fluid cooler is part of the Tow Prep Package which do not have and will be pricy to get. However, your car or truck’s OEM transmission fluid cooler may not provide enough cooling capacity to handle the extra heat generated when … The transmission is affected even if the car is in neutral. Tube and fin coolers are a common option and are highly recommended for older car models or if you only tow heavy loads occasionally. It's all about preference. An automatic transmission cooler will not only help keep your fluid temperatures lower, but improves the longevity of your transmission. Toss a better one on a 4l60e one of these devices bit an! Of you unfamiliar with the added stress and heat caused by towing boats, and... You unfamiliar with the added stress and heat caused by towing boats, trailers and other objects! 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