2024 Tacoma Transmission Overheating on Long Climbs Off-Road

[izzy]

Yea, I'm nowhere near redline (6Kish) I'm normally puttering along between 1800 and 2300, which seems to be the smooth mostly quiet range. If left in D, it would drop down to 1300-1500, and I think that's where we are seeing the heat issues. Remember the engine isn't overheating, the transmission is. And those lower RPMS and high torque load really heat up the transmission.

I think the issue is a combination of that ^

and this:

A lot of torque + not locking the torque converter up to protect the drivetrain and for economy = making a fking ton of heat.

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[hadelson]

The cause of the issue is a Toyota engineer failure to design a cooling system with the ability to keep the transmission from overheating under normal offroad use. It's really that simple and the root cause. My old 17 4Runner TRD Pro no matter how hard driven or run off the road had these issues.

 

[izzy]

The cause of the issue is Toyota engineer failure to design a cooling system with the ability to keep the transmission from overheating under normal offroad use. It's really that simple and the root cause. My old 17 4Runner TRD Pro no matter how hard driven or run off the road had these issues.

There's gotta be more to it, the AL80F runs hot even on the street (compared to other ATs). Unless Toyota releases a TSB or other information on the safe operating temp of the AL80F, with fluid change intervals, it's all speculation.

 

[TacoFreak]

I agree that this seems really odd. My Tundra transmission fluid never climbed like that no matter how hard the truck was working. I will add it to my list of stuff we don't understand about our 4th gens and that Toyota has not bothered to explain.

 

[hadelson]

Owned two Tundra's. 22 Limited Non-Hybrid and 23 TRD Pro. Both had similar issues with Transmission Temp Creep running in 4WD.

Extensive discussions on Tundra Forum. Toyota lack of acknowledging the issue the same.

Here is one thread link for those interested: 2024 Transmission getting HOT in 4x4 climbing hills, skidplates? | Toyota Tundra Forum

 

[TacoFreak]

Thanks for that link @hadelson. My Tundra was older, with the 5.7L V8 and once the transmission fluid reached normal temp it never moved. It sounds like the problem started with the V6 engines in the newer Tundras.

That is what frustrates me. Things like this come up and either the dealers just flat out lie or Toyota never says a word about what is going on. That leaves us with trucks that we don't know if we can trust and we have no idea if Toyota knows what is going on or even cares.

 

[TacoFreak]

Interesting thread @hadelson. I think the problem is having a heat exchanger instead of an actual transmission oil cooler. Both my 2nd gen Tacoma and my 2nd gen Tundra had real transmission oil coolers and they were fine. I think Toyota cheaped out with this setup and it is another thing we have to fix on our own. Kind of like Off Roads that can't be driven off road withough breaking through their top hats. Or my Pro that can't keep its 12V battery fully charged. Or my friend's SR5 that shifts like a drunk teenager making their first try at driving a stick.

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