Auto Transmission oil cooler

[john Stuchbery Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close john Stuchbery]

I am towing a caravan of 2.4 T (fully loaded) with diesel 150 series.

Would it be wise to install an oil cooler.

Would I be best to operate in auto mode or manual?

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

you'd be best to do a search

welcome to pradopoint.

by the way. yes to all your questions.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I definately would be. You are running it at just about its tow limit unless you have a short wheel base which is 3t. Not sure in regards to box but Im sure people on here are using the sport mode in 4th ?? I'm sure some one will correct me on this. Have you actually had it weighed ?? If not id be taking it to a weigh bridge and getting it done, they reckon there weights are never correct on what the dealers tell the true weight of the van is, if you have then your sweet, dont want any insurance issues if some thing goes wrong (hope you never need to) and they find it over the weight let alone the legal side of it if some one gets hurt..........Cheers Steve

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

sooner than later , would be my advice

Sean

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello John,

Read the manual, it will answer your gear selection questions and may even save you serious trouble with the gearbox. Fit an extra cooler also asap.

regards

Ross

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

I am towing a caravan of 2.4 T (fully loaded) with diesel 150 series.

Would it be wise to install an oil cooler.

Would I be best to operate in auto mode or manual?

Run it in manual 4 (S4).

5 is an overdrive ratio, which will give you engine revs below 2,000, and will cause overheating of the auto fluid.

Try to run with the revs above 2,000. If travelling up a steep hill, you can lock it in 3rd if necessary until you reach the top. If you leave the selector in auto 'D' the gearbox will hunt between gears.

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

I believe if you fit a transmition cooler this will remove this issue, therefore you can leave it in auto.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I believe if you fit a transmition cooler this will remove this issue, therefore you can leave it in auto.

Still a good idea to go across to S4 though otherwise you have a huge amount of slip in the torque converter.

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

A bit OT but vaguely related, what would be the maximum weight one could safely tow in auto? Would a 1t camper be pushing the limits?

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

A bit OT but vaguely related, what would be the maximum weight one could safely tow in auto? Would a 1t camper be pushing the limits?

a 2.5t camper would be fine... 3t would be starting to push the limits.. maybe. 3.5t would probably be fine too.

[barajak Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barajak]

Always tow your van in 'S' mode. I use S4 and sit on or around 90kmh at 2250 rpm (2100kg van) you can go to S5 on a downhill run or if you are game, on the flat. I am averaging around 13.5 lph so it can't be hurting the fuel economy by much. I have heard of two Prados operating on rough tracks that have had auto failures due to aftermarked intercooler hoses coming off. I would not go that way. I purchased the Scangauge to obtain a digital readout of the coolant temp and so far it have never exceeded 90° on a good climb in warm weather and it sits on 85°/86° on the flat in hot weather.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Always tow your van in 'S' mode. I use S4 and sit on or around 90kmh at 2250 rpm (2100kg van) you can go to S5 on a downhill run or if you are game, on the flat. I am averaging around 13.5 lph so it can't be hurting the fuel economy by much. I have heard of two Prados operating on rough tracks that have had auto failures due to aftermarked intercooler hoses coming off. I would not go that way. I purchased the Scangauge to obtain a digital readout of the coolant temp and so far it have never exceeded 90° on a good climb in warm weather and it sits on 85°/86° on the flat in hot weather.

Bara.. what scangauge codes are you using to get trans temp?

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Im very suprised they dont have one standard anyway. My 05 GXL has one, my mates 120 VX has one standard from the factory on the left hand side (passengers side) all mounted up etc from the factory. Wonder why they never put one on the 150 ?? cheers Steve

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Im very suprised they dont have one standard anyway. My 05 GXL has one, my mates 120 VX has one standard from the factory on the left hand side (passengers side) all mounted up etc from the factory. Wonder why they never put one on the 150 ?? cheers Steve

They do, It's just not that large, it's part of the radiator as far as I know.

[A10 Member Find all posts View Profile Close A10]

Always tow your van in 'S' mode. I use S4 and sit on or around 90kmh at 2250 rpm (2100kg van) you can go to S5 on a downhill run or if you are game, on the flat. I am averaging around 13.5 lph so it can't be hurting the fuel economy by much. I have heard of two Prados operating on rough tracks that have had auto failures due to aftermarked intercooler hoses coming off. I would not go that way. I purchased the Scangauge to obtain a digital readout of the coolant temp and so far it have never exceeded 90° on a good climb in warm weather and it sits on 85°/86° on the flat in hot weather.

When you say the coolant temperature, do you mean the auto transmission fluid temp?

Mine was showing over 90° not towing anything and would easily reach 130° when towing. The water coolant temperature was always around the 85-90° hence it didn't help to cool the transmission fluid much. With the extra transmission cooler, mine now shows around 20-30° less than it used to.