AT cooler and winter?

[mtnbike28]

OK, I should have researched harder before but.... I have an 02 DC Taco and put in a AT cooler (Hayden) before a trip this summer hauling a U-Haul trailer. Seemed like a smart idea, but now I am reading about cold by-passes and the like. Mine is set-up going through the stock (radiator) cooler and then to the Hayden in front before returning to the tranny. I am in Rochester, NY so winter gets cold, but not Alaska cold... we can get to minus degrees but only for a few days in a row, and the rest below freezing for weeks. Should I be worried? Thanks... Jay in NY

 

[HenryJ]

You should not shut off the flow. A bypass valve could be used.

My recommendation would be to make a switch. Run from the transmission to the auxiliary cooler, then to the stock in tank cooler and back to the transmission.

This removes some of the heat from the fluid prior to the transfer to the coolant, thereby reducing the heat transferred to the engines cooling system when running it hot weather.
The stock in tank "cooler" is more of a heater. During cold weather it warms the fluid. The fluid goes through the auxiliary cooler first and then is warmed in the in tank "cooler" back to operating temperature prior to returning to the transmission.
Too cold is not good just as too hot. Maintaining normal operating temperature and reaching it quickly is important to the life of the transmission.

All that being said, most of the installation instructions that I have seen recommend installing just as you have. The transmission does warm up pretty easily. It does not cool as easily. If you err to one side I would rather see you opt to go to the cool side.

I have mine enter the stock cooler last. I can not say yours is wrong.

 

[toyrunner95]

dude relax, you will be fine the way you are, i ran a B&M tranny cooler on my 4runner slushbox for 4 years and never had a problem in the winter over passes and it was parked outside 90% of the time. the motor will keep the cooler from freezing and getting all gunked up, in the summer when the ambiant heat is high it works by having more air flow over the fins. if its cold air it will keep it cooler but its moving so fast as it travels that it wont freeze. i have no doubt that you will be fine.

in pullman we have a temp range from 110F in the summer to -16 in the winter.

 

[datrupr]

I worry about it if I were you. Your trans will run a little cooler in the winter, but not enough that it will harm it at all.

 

[kcowyo]

I've got a Hayden on my 3.4 ltr as well.

It never occured to me that it might be a problem in the winter months. But I've been running it for the last several winters without an issue. I generally do all of my towing (2 place snowmobile trailer) in the winter.

It ranges from cold to freakin' ridiculous here.