Towing with Auto Transmission

[9W6VX]

NMK,

I would recommend getting a ATF oil cooler if you tow long distance or have a lot of steep hills in humid conditions.

I fall into the second category and before the ATF oil cooler, the ATF indicator on the dashboard lit up when I was climbing up some steep hills. After I installed the cooler, the problem disappeared.

So, I would reckon it's safe insurance.

Cheers

[Rich]

I got a cheaper quote than $350 from Toyota mate, check them out.
Rich.

[NMK]

Rich, I just called my local Toyota dealer. Toyota told me they don't do them and there is no genuine part.

Cheers Nathan

[Rich]

Yeah, I seem to recall the service manager saying they get them in from somewhere and just fit them...Maybe your local toyota does not do that (or provide that service).
My Local toyota here in Townsville is pretty good, probably only because the service manager is quite competent - whenever he is not there it's like pulling teeth trying to get any sense out of the other geese!
Rich.

[traveller]

Toyota should fit T/M coolers at no cost so that they meet the stated tow capacity of 2250 kg or lower it to 1500 kg ?
My light has come on towing a 1100 kg caravan.

[garth]

With our cool room trailer which is not very aerodynamic the AT light would come on after about 100 ks if if the trailer was full of cherries or empty if the selector was in "D". The AT light would never come on if driven in "3".
Got a service done a couple of weeks ago at our local TOYOTA joint and they fitted a cooler and have since towed 2000 ks in "D" without a problem.
They should be standed.
Will never never ever own another non auto 4x4.

[Triggy03]

My boss was towing ( with 06' 3.0 D4D) an enclosed motorbike trailer similar to kazdan69's kart trailer I 'spose, and he had the light come on reguarly and oily spots at the rear of the car ( probably from the breather )on a country race meet. Went back to the dealer and complained that the tranny wasn't doing it's job, and he was towing within the weights mentioned in the book. They finally fitted a trans cooler; aftermarket as tojo don't make a cooler for the 'Lux's ( do for the landcruisers though! ) When the dealer went to claim the cooler as warranty rectification form Toyota, Toyota wouldn't reimburse the dealer unless my boss signed some paperwork to waive any warranty claims on the tranny, as the cooler wasn't a genuine item! No pen went to paper..not sure how the dealer went with reimbursement...

[garry]

if you are towing put one (the biggest bugger you can get )on mine has over heater twice since xmas with cooler They are no good for towing over 100 ks a hour

[Quinny34]

I think some auto's must be better than others as many of us dont have anywhere near these amount of issues... They should come with a cooler standard...

Do any of the members who have fitted one got the dimensions etc of what they fitted...

When I do mine I might put a tech article together with some pics for others to follow and not make the mistakes Im sure to do...

[Hilux Max]

quinny, the hilux autos do have a cooler, it runs at the bottom of the radiator, just when towing big loads and maybe with big tyres, you need that little bit extra

[Quinny34]

I honestly reckon that setup heats it up more than cools it.... It should have a proper cooler like the LC and Prado...

[Brookster]

Let's face it, the Hilux should have a few more things like the Prado/Landcruiser (Brakes, clutch, cruise, climate control, soundproofing etc.).

[garry]

Mine has overheaded twice .First time got a cooler fittered , still did it and with out light coming on.I think they mite have to much oil in them from factory,dip stick raeding may be wrong???

[lowlux]

just did a trip to morton island and a/t oil temp light came on twice on two diffrent days was a real pain in the ass takes ages to cool

[9W6VX]

My Hilux uses the Permacool cooler where the idiot light has not come on ever since I installed it more than 2 years ago.

Without the cooler, there was one long and steep hill which would invariably light up the warning light 100% if I stepped the go pedal to the floor.

I used the #1014. Here's the link.

http://perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page04.html

Initially it seemed overkill as it was quite large but there was plenty of space in front of the radiator and it was cheap too. Paid about AUD$140 at that time.

[garry]

Towing a 1.250 kls van fittered a cooler still over heated they have got a over heating problem but Toyota said they havent Has any body used Hi temp synthetic oil .( they dont all over heat )

[9W6VX]

I've been made to understand that Toyota auto transmissions are very sensitive to the ATF oil used.

Stick to the Toyota original ATF oil.

[Drew]

A mate works for subaru and any auto vehicle that had a square hitch towbar (not a goose neck) fitted had to have a trans cooler fitted otherwise it would void your warranty. If mine was auto and was towing anything over 500kgs for any sort of decent distance i would be outing one in, it could save your butt. I have had experience with hot oil in manual boxes and what it does to bearings i ended up with only 4th gear...

[lowlux]

ok i got a tran cooler this weekend and have a trip to moreton planed on the 16 july so well see how it is this time. i went to opposite lock and the fella had one there but said just to go to repco for 1/3rd the price better fitting one for only $120

[rosco01]

Hi,
new here and this one has hit my "sweet spot"...
Bought truck in April - wanted a cooler fitted and was told by dealer and service (separately) "no cooler listed for fitting"...
Also told that if I go "outside" - may impact on warranty - bun fight from whoever supplies/fits unit if trans fails....
Told to "just drive it - in the extremely "rare" event that it comes on - let it cool out and proceed as normal"

Told by ARB "no cooler fitted - tested vehicle with tandem trailer and one tonne water tank all over mountains during 38c days last summer - no issue".....

Will be coupling up to 2 tonne "tow" shortly - will advice on any ATF issues....

Also told that the ATF is "non serviceable".... look in your service book..... there is no mention of changing the fluid...... only if ingress of water etc.....

frats,
Rosco