98 Camry, trailer towing, 5sfe, oil cooler - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

fejetmech · 07-05-2009, 02:07 PM

I've got a 98 Camry, 5sfe with auto trans that my son wants to have a trailer hitch installed on so he can pull a small trailer back and forth to college with. Owners manual suggests an engine oil cooler be installed for towing. I've looked online at engine oil coolers. Anyone have any input here as to brand of oil cooler, comments about doing this, past experiences towing with this setup? All comments would be welcomed. Thanks

flyeri · 07-05-2009, 02:19 PM

This question was posted about a month ago. Seems some have towed many miles with the stock setup. Personally I like having the cooler, maybe an additional trans cooler. I guess you need to look at weight, aerodynamic drag, distance, and terrain he will pulling over.

carsrus · 07-05-2009, 07:20 PM

If your gonna be towing ANYTHING with the 2.2 get a big oil and trans cooler or your gonna murder the car. With the v6 it might not be that bad, but these cars just weren't designed to tow anything.

But yeah, big oil and trans cooler are a must, trans being the greater of the two.

Hajoca · 07-06-2009, 09:15 AM

Here are some things to consider.

Look into the trans cooler first. Bigger is not always better for the trans, make sure it fits well and does not require sharp bends in the extra cooling hose. On the rad support just under headlamp on drivers side is a plastic shroud that you can route the ATF lines through. Just make sure it is connected through the rad tank cooler that is part of the ATF cooling system. The rad also warms up fluid so that it approaches operating temperature quicker, thus flows more effectively.

The oil cooler will require an adapter plate to take oil from engine then through cooler then back to filter then to engine. It would be advised to look for an adapter plate with a thermostatic valve (Small bimetallic flap that will bypass cooler when oil id cold).

Here you should be using larger oil lines.

Both coolers will need enough extra hose to allow for engine movement, but not touch exhaust or objects that can cut into the hose.

I have bought parts as described above, but just not yet installed them.

fejetmech · 07-12-2009, 01:09 PM

Hey Hajoca,
What brand adapter plate did you buy with the thermostatic valve inside it?

Stillrunning · 07-12-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fejetmech

I've got a 98 Camry, 5sfe with auto trans that my son wants to have a trailer hitch installed on so he can pull a small trailer back and forth to college with.

What weight will he be towing? If you consider the Camry will haul three passengers with no extra engine/trans cooling that would mean he could probably haul 500-600lbs (150-200 per person) and not worry about extra cooling. Just something to think about. If all he wants to pull is his dorm room furniture twice per year then not much reason to add cooling, unless it's very hilly terrain.

Hajoca · 07-13-2009, 10:59 AM

Similar to EARL's 502. instead of AN fittings mine uses 1/2 NPT. I but bought off Ebay for $25 or so.

fejetmech · 07-13-2009, 11:48 AM

He'll be towing a dresser, bed frame and mattress, clothes, books, tv, stereo, musical instruments, small refrig and a myriad amount of smaller items that he will need to spend the year at school. Probably not more than 700 lbs. plus the trailer.
I purchased a Flex a Lite engine oil cooler because of the distance, the hot climate and some hills he'll run into but mostly it's a pretty flat run and its all highway travel. I have a 92 Camry 5sfe that I towed with and it worked out pretty well but that car had the Toyota installed engine oil cooler that worked with the cooling system. This 98 does not have that and the owners manual suggested the oil cooler (and not the trans cooler) for light towing keeping in mind the weight limitations on the door sticker.
I think it will work out ok. I've changed the trans fluid and will change it again before he leaves on his trip and when I finally visit him up there shortly after school starts I'll change it again just to see how the fluid looks.
I had u-haul install a trailer hitch and I've just installed a connection for trailer wiring. I've changed the engine oil, spark plugs (it was due) and ignition wires (found #4 wire burned). The timing belt is not due to be changed yet and it's tension is good. New tires all around 2 months ago and a wheel alignment were just done.
I think he's ready.
Thanks to all of you for your information and imput you provided me.