Gotta buy more lights...lights for safety!
Builds R²M 2013 GX 460 Overland Build (10 Viewers)
- Thread starter r2m
- Start date
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Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Yep, if I was heavier, I would but I am lighter than stock, still, and most of my driving is much slower now i shifted my commute route.
I am cool with drain and fills every 4th oil change or so.
Just to share a different point of view on the trans cooler. I trust Toyota/Lexus given their long track record of reliability. They do have an external OEM trans cooler that they've included in other markets, so I assume they thought it would be helpful since they went through the design process to creative it. Because of that, and that amount of towing it do, I went with the OEM option. It is smaller than the after market but I'm trusting the Toyota/Lexus R&D. So far I'm seeing about a 10 degree cooler temp when towing. I've not paid attention to it when just doing normal driving. Just an alt point of view.
External coolers are <$100. OEM Toyota transmission fluid is $10+ a quart, while aftermarket is $7 or so a quart. A cooler will quickly pay for itself 
.
But, IMO the missing part of the equation is the OEM radiator. I just put an all-aluminum CSF radiator in my rig, and have a Hayden 698 (previously I had a 678, but it over-cooled in the winter, hence my change to the 698 with the built-in cooler bypass). Engine temps are about the same, but the trans temps are remaining much more stable. Previously, even with the Hayden 678, trans temps would increase immediately upon torque converter unlock, and shoot all the way up to 200F when towing. With the CSF radiator, the temps are no longer sensitive to TCC unlock, and maybe increase a couple of degrees. This indicates to me that the internal design of the CSF is much better at shedding transmission heat than the OEM Lexus radiator was.
Toyota/Lexus engineers are not infallible (no engineer is - including myself). IMO they missed the mark with transmission cooling on both the GX470 and the GX460, but it's also very easy and relatively inexpensive to correct. FYI, the CSF radiator is around $550 for the GX460 and is a direct bolt-in.
.But, IMO the missing part of the equation is the OEM radiator. I just put an all-aluminum CSF radiator in my rig, and have a Hayden 698 (previously I had a 678, but it over-cooled in the winter, hence my change to the 698 with the built-in cooler bypass). Engine temps are about the same, but the trans temps are remaining much more stable. Previously, even with the Hayden 678, trans temps would increase immediately upon torque converter unlock, and shoot all the way up to 200F when towing. With the CSF radiator, the temps are no longer sensitive to TCC unlock, and maybe increase a couple of degrees. This indicates to me that the internal design of the CSF is much better at shedding transmission heat than the OEM Lexus radiator was.
Toyota/Lexus engineers are not infallible (no engineer is - including myself
). IMO they missed the mark with transmission cooling on both the GX470 and the GX460, but it's also very easy and relatively inexpensive to correct. FYI, the CSF radiator is around $550 for the GX460 and is a direct bolt-in.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #905
I had to replace the radiator a few years ago and wished I had gone with an all aluminum one instead of OEM, just for the sake of it being all metal.External coolers are <$100. OEM Toyota transmission fluid is $10+ a quart, while aftermarket is $7 or so a quart. A cooler will quickly pay for itself
But, IMO the missing part of the equation is the OEM radiator. I just put an all-aluminum CSF radiator in my rig, and have a Hayden 698 (previously I had a 678, but it over-cooled in the winter, hence my change to the 698 with the built-in cooler bypass). Engine temps are about the same, but the trans temps are remaining much more stable. Previously, even with the Hayden 678, trans temps would increase immediately upon torque converter unlock, and shoot all the way up to 200F when towing. With the CSF radiator, the temps are no longer sensitive to TCC unlock, and maybe increase a couple of degrees. This indicates to me that the internal design of the CSF is much better at shedding transmission heat than the OEM Lexus radiator was.
Toyota/Lexus engineers are not infallible (no engineer is - including myself
An honest question: how does engine cooling (with a larger/better radiator) translate to transmission cooling? They are two different "systems", especially noted that one is cooling a petroleum material and the other a water/glycol material.
The radiator has an internal cooler for the transmission on the driver side if I recall. Mounts vertically inside the plastic cap and only has a few fins. I'll grab pics when I have some time to dissect. I would guess the CSF included an improved design of this.
Edited @llm
Please ignore the timestamp. I didn't have time for a proper dissection due to a sick kid.
Image is looking down via the filler neck. Heat exchanger is actually thicker than I expected. The solid section on the left is where it exits the radiator(top of the two on driver side).
Hope this helps. I agree that this is probably sufficient for anyone not doing regular towing or heavy loads. I am not one of those.
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Pics would be awesome. For CSF- they state the following on their website:
- Built in Heavy-Duty High-Performance 5 Plate Transmission Oil Cooler in left side tank.
Since the trans cooler is on the left side, and from the pics there are no plates visible. My guess is that it is inside the tank and is liquid/liquid cooling, which is more effective than liquid/air. Even with a counter current flow, the trans temp will be at lowest coolant temp. Aux cooler or not, the trans fluid heat will go into the radiator.
I'm far from being a good engineer. I used to be an oil & gas chemical engineer working on heat exchangers, but have been out industry for 15 years.
Since the OEM has the 2 ports, I assume that any direct fit OEM style radiator has to have it. Mishimoto, another popular brand also has it. They even state it's a liquid/liquid hx.
Performance Aluminum Radiator, Fits Lexus GX460 4.6L V8 2010-2023
Whether you are out on the trails wheeling or taking down miles along the local interstate, upgrading your radiator to the Mishimoto performance aluminum radiator for the 2010-2023 Lexus GX460 is a smart investment for improving your vehicle’s performance and longevity. For those who use their...
www.mishimoto.com
- Efficient in-tank liquid-to-liquid stacked plate transmission cooler provides optimal control of transmission fluid temperatures
The CSF was a direct bolt-in for my rig. Everything hooked up in the exact right spot, including the OEM trans lines, fan shroud, etc. I honestly think it might be possible to avoid an oversized aux trans cooler with the CSF. IMO it's a worthy and easy enough upgrade that I'd consider doing it next time you need a coolant flush, even if the current radiator was in good shape (I preventatively replaced mine at 190K and 18 years of age, although it was not yet showing signs of distress).
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Yes, I'm reading some radiator failures around the 10-15 year age for the 460. Perhaps the 470 is better quality. Mine is only a 2019 and 73k miles, but I want to proactively replace the radiator when I hit 100k. Richard, apologies this is turning into the transmission cooler thread.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
I run the pink SLL coolant in my GX. It still had a pH of 7 with 40K on it. Regardless, I did a complete flush with new SLL coolant when it got to 50K. I'd never run coolant for 100K in any rig, that's just begging for trouble.
FYI the SLL is one of the few Toyota fluids that is basically the same cost as aftermarket coolant.
Yes, I've done a radiator & expansion tank drain, and a radiator drain, expansion tank drain, passenger block drain. If I recall correctly I got 11 qt out, of the 13.6 capacity. Good enough for me! The SLL is super cheap when on sale. I got 4 gallons for $57 shipped from Treasure Coast Toyota of Stuart during the Labor Day Sale last year.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Mine was 120K and the only thing available was an O'Reilly Radiator that is now giving me headaches.
It was a week before I was supposed to move and I was using the truck to move important things, like my all original 65 y.o. tube amp built in Brooklyn NY. The stuff thats not replaceable.
Looking at an all aluminum option if I can't sort the issue out with a new high pressure radiator cap.
It was a week before I was supposed to move and I was using the truck to move important things, like my all original 65 y.o. tube amp built in Brooklyn NY. The stuff thats not replaceable.
Looking at an all aluminum option if I can't sort the issue out with a new high pressure radiator cap.
Agreed. But their track record is quite good!Toyota/Lexus engineers are not infallible (no engineer is - including myself
They are certainly better than most! My experience is that their shortcomings are (for the most part), are easily rectifiable with aftermarket parts. However I still have PTSD over fixing their 4.7 exhaust manifold debacle through putting long-tube headers on my GX470. 22 hours of wrenching! After fixing those, and a few others, I'm left with a great looking, 18-year old rig that had no problems completing a 5,000 mile road trip vacation earlier this month.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #920
Although, I've heard rumors, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that either Hyundai or Kia has pilfered engineers from Toyota, hence their vehicles are beginning to stand up to Toyota products. With Toyota losing some of it's engineers, that same rumor is inciting that Toyota may be losing some of it's reliability qualities.
Again, I heard this a couple years ago and don't know if this is just Toyota trash talk or not.
I'd like to think that's all it is, trash talk.
