Installed a 4454 this am. 177k miles on the truck. Just changed the trans oil with Toyota WS fluid, for only the second time (first was roughly 88k). Took about 15 quarts to get to a clean color. I decided to install the cooler because I recently purchased a wireless OBDII plug and having been using the Torque app on the Iphone. I have read here on the forum (mostly post from Jimmlee) that the trans oil should run in the 70*C to about 83*c range. With the old Fluid, my oil would heat up very quickly, and would rise in temp very quickly when the TC unlocked. I would easily see TC temps of 105*c+ and pan temps near 100*c. The fluid had a very difficult time cooling. It seems that once the pan temp hit a certain level, it had a very difficult time coming down.
After the fresh oil change, the temp was slower to rise, slower rise when unlocked, and actually cooled when on flat road and a locked TC. Still the temps were too high. ***As a note, I do run two led light bars in the grill, one in the lower and one on top of the bumper... My radiator temps are higher that standard as well, 190-194... But have Never come close to overheating*** Running down the interstate at 70mph It would hold around 88*c at 30*c outside temp.
Today, after the install I went for an interstate drive. The temp drop is ridiculous. I made sure to accelerate hard, and drive for 20+min into both traffic and hills where the TC had to lock and unlock repeatedly. At 75mph the temp settled to about 73*c. Perhaps if I could find a longer stretch without hills, perhaps it would have dropped further, but Here in central VA, we don't have many flat roads. While coming into town, the speed limit drops to 60mph, at that speed the temp drops to 70* and probably would have dropped further.
Overall, I believe that the FJ should be fitted with a trans-cooler if you run larger tires and/or anything in the grill(s). Being that Toyota claims this oil will last forever, the temps seen with no cooler and 90K mile oil, is worrisome. Let alone if you were to tow. Anything. ever. The trans cooler will run you ~60 bucks and could easily save you thousands when a tired transmission/TC needs to be changed out.
casey
After the fresh oil change, the temp was slower to rise, slower rise when unlocked, and actually cooled when on flat road and a locked TC. Still the temps were too high. ***As a note, I do run two led light bars in the grill, one in the lower and one on top of the bumper... My radiator temps are higher that standard as well, 190-194... But have Never come close to overheating*** Running down the interstate at 70mph It would hold around 88*c at 30*c outside temp.
Today, after the install I went for an interstate drive. The temp drop is ridiculous. I made sure to accelerate hard, and drive for 20+min into both traffic and hills where the TC had to lock and unlock repeatedly. At 75mph the temp settled to about 73*c. Perhaps if I could find a longer stretch without hills, perhaps it would have dropped further, but Here in central VA, we don't have many flat roads. While coming into town, the speed limit drops to 60mph, at that speed the temp drops to 70* and probably would have dropped further.
Overall, I believe that the FJ should be fitted with a trans-cooler if you run larger tires and/or anything in the grill(s). Being that Toyota claims this oil will last forever, the temps seen with no cooler and 90K mile oil, is worrisome. Let alone if you were to tow. Anything. ever. The trans cooler will run you ~60 bucks and could easily save you thousands when a tired transmission/TC needs to be changed out.
casey