Extending Automatic Transmission Life

[Transdude]

I'm kind of new here, and have seen a few topics related to this already. I've posted this elsewhere, but I figured it was relevant here as well.

Here are some suggestions that will help to extend the life and increase the durability of your automatic transmission.

These things are especially important for severe duty applications, but are also applicable to almost all vehicles.

1) Check your fluid level regularly- although fairly obvious, many people neglect to do this- or do this wrong.

Consult the vehicle's owner's manual if you are unsure as to how to do this correctly, as it can vary between different vehicles.

If you need to add fluid, it is always indicative of a leak. Unlike motor oil, your transmission fluid level can only go down if you are losing it somehow.

2) Service your transmission regularly- transmission fluid breaks down in the same way that motor oil does, but this is a step in preventive maintenance that is often ignored.

I've rebuilt countless transmissions over the years that clearly were never properly maintained- many of them had never had a single fluid and filter change.

Many manufacturers have different recommendations on the service intervals, but I recommend that this be done once a year or every 15- 20,000 miles.

3) Install an external transmission cooler- you've all heard the cliché that heat is the number one cause of transmission failure, well it's true.

A reduction of 40 degrees in your transmission fluid temperature can double the life of the unit.

When shopping for a cooler, a stacked plate design is far superior to a "tube and fin" type. If you're going to go through the trouble of installing one, you may as well put on the best kind.

On this same subject, it is also always a good idea to insure that your vehicle's cooling system is in optimum condition- most automatics utilize a fluid to antifreeze heat exchanger that is built into the radiator.

4) Install a transmission temperature gauge- with a gauge you will be able to tell when your trans is getting hot before it's too late.

5) Add a friction modifier- there are a few excellent products that can be added to your automatic trans that will significantly increase the life of the transmission. I recommend the products that are made by LubeGard.

On the same subject, avoid at all costs the auto parts store "mechanic in a can" and "stop leak" type products- they are mostly seal swelling agents and will usually harm the trans rather than help it.

6) Install an in line cooler filter- most automatics have some type of filter, however, there is always room for improvement.

Factory filters vary in effectiveness; many transmissions use something that isn't much better than pouring the fluid through a screen door.

The idea is to eliminate contaminants such as small metal particles and loose debris as effectively as possible.

In line filters are inexpensive, easy to install, and are highly effective in removing damaging contaminants from the transmission fluid.

I recommend the ones made by Magnafine and Filtran- in addition to their filter element, both of these products have a bypass valve in case they become clogged and also an internal magnet to further aid in trapping ferrous debris.

7) Use a synthetic based fluid- automatic transmission fluid serves many functions. It provides cooling and lubrication, it is the hydraulic fluid that applies the clutches and bands, and it even "drives" the car through the fluidic coupling that occurs in the torque converter.

It stands to reason that a synthetic fluid is much less susceptible to breakdown, a better lubricant, reduces friction and also has the capability of reducing operating temperatures.

More importantly, in cases of extreme cold and extreme heat, fluid made with a synthetic base stock is much more stable from a viscosity standpoint. If you don't believe me, try to pour "dinosaur" oil out of a container at -10 Fahrenheit- it's not exactly going to serve very well as a lubricant when it's the consistency of Jell-O.

8) Check transmission problems promptly- most transmission problems start out small and will get worse over time. Often times, major repairs can be avoided by taking care of a problem early on.

If you see a warning light on the dash, see a few drops of fluid in the driveway or even just have a feeling that something isn't quite right, there is no better time than the present to get it checked out.

9) Install a shift kit or modified valve body- while normally thought of as a "high performance" modification, almost any vehicle will benefit from shortening the shift time, reducing overlap and "cleaning up" the shift quality. This in turn reduces heat and also reduces wear on the clutches and bands.

Many of these modifications also address certain factory design shortcomings and eliminate common drivability complaints.

Most of the better engineered products have shift quality settings that are adjustable to achieve a result that is appropriate for the intended usage. The person with an 11 second rocket will have different needs than the person who occasionally tows a trailer with his SUV.

I hope that I didn't bore anyone with this long post.

-John

[DevinSixtySeven]

that wasnt either long or boring! great info!

question--where would a guy find the type of transmission cooler you mentioned?

-sean

[partikraft]

Look at a summit catalog, or go to your local speedshop. I have a B&M supercooler (stacked plate type) rated from 11,000-16,000lbs, cost about $75 self install is easy. Transdude what do you suggest for the 03 trans which requires Toyota type IV fluid?

[dsconstructs]

Transdude, good to see you hanging out on here, I know you are highly regarded elsewhere and will be well known here, already getting good exposure through another member on here.

Devin, I got my transcooler right out of Kragen's, up to 16,000 lbs. for $50 called Permacool , made by Hayden.

[BlueRanger]

Where do you mount the sucker?

[KLS]

I mounted my B&M stacked plate cooler in front of the radiator (actually in front of the a/c condenser) on the left of centerline.

I'm using a Racor LFS22825 spin-on transmission filter. I'll change that, cut it open, and post photos later this year when I change the ATF to the new Dexron-III(H) spec fluid that will be on the shelves soon. I'll be using synthetic, but the new (H) blend will be an improvement over the present (G). I previously used a Magnefine filter, and after about 10k it had some steel bits on the magnet and some crud in the pleated element.

For transmission requiring Toyota's Type T-IV ATF, I'd contact Red Line and ask if their D4 ATF is suitable.


Ken

[03TRD]

Thanks transdude! Great info!! My only question is about the synthetic tranny fluid ? As a long time VW guy, ( also Toyota ) I know that synthetic oil is not recommended for the air cooled motor because it does not dissipate heat as well as regular petroleum oil. Any thoughts on this? Thanks again for the informative post!!

[DevinSixtySeven]

the cooler that comes stock with the tow package...how does it compare to the style you guys are referring to? this is the one that sits in front of the radiator on the passenger side, it's painted or anodized flat black.

-sean

[dsconstructs]

Originally Posted by DevinSixtySeven

the cooler that comes stock with the tow package...how does it compare to the style you guys are referring to? this is the one that sits in front of the radiator on the passenger side, it's painted or anodized flat black.

-sean

I believe the stock one is smaller. The one I have on mine is approx. 12" x 12".
If I remember the stock ones are about 2/3 the size approx. 8" x 12" aren't they.

[Pickhead]

excellent info. I think this should be added to the garage.

[so40]

Very informative post. Glad to see you back in here. Keep it up.

Mike

[rtn]

I bought a 2004 V8 4wd 4Runner last week.

Will adding a cooler and in-line filter void any warranty to your knowledge?

[RockyMtnRay]

Originally Posted by rtn

I bought a 2004 V8 4wd 4Runner last week.

Will adding a cooler and in-line filter void any warranty to your knowledge?

No, not in and and of themselves....only if the cooler, filter, and/or hose connections were the primary cause of a transmission failure. For example, if the cooler/filter/hoses/connections failed and caused a leak that ran the tranny too low on fluid or the filter became plugged and caused an overheat, Toyota could claim the leak/plug was the cause of the transmission damage and not an intrinsic problem in the transmission...and therefore deny warranty coverage for the repair or replacement.

I just put a filter on mine yesterday...you can bet I paid very close attention to making sure the filter was oriented properly so that its flow arrows matched the direction of flow in the line I inserted it into and that I fully tightened the new hose connections. To prevent it from bouncing around and from rubbing on nearby frame components, I also put some foam tape in a few strategic locations around the filter and wire-tied it to the cross frame.

Then after I installed it, I started the engine and made sure nothing leaked and that I could detect warm fluid flowing through the filter. I'm also going to closely monitor my tranny temp gauge for the next few days to verify that the filter is not reducing the transmission cooler's effectiveness. And I'll probably also pop the hood a few times to make sure that no leaks have developed.

My precautions are probably mostly overkill but I wanted to take zero chances of my actions contributing to a transmission failure that might not be covered by the warranty.

[KLS]

I heard from Red Line...they don't have an ATF that substitutes for Toyota's T-IV.

The coolers sold under the B&M brand name are made by Long Mfg., and are also sold under the Long Tru-Cool, Tekonsha, and other brand names. The giveaway is the "Made in Canada" on the cooler. I like these because of the high cooling capacity in a small area and the cold oil internal bypass.


Ken

[Agent WD-40]

Do some Tundra's come with trans coolers from the factory? I thought this was part of the tow package.