TORQUE CONVERTOR LOCKUP KIT | HUGE difference! | How does it work and why? LC200 Stocklock Extreme

Today I discuss all things automatic transmission lockup kits. I have recently fitted a Stockwell Extreme transmission lock up kit to my 2013 Toyota Landcruiser 200 series Sahara and it has made a massive difference!

If you have or are planning on modifying your auto 4WD, load your vehicle up to GVM, tow heavy loads or do all these things like me, than some sort of lockup kit has to be on your list of vehicle additions.

In this video I talk about what a lock up is and how it works, briefly explain the role of a torque convertor in an automatic transmission and finally dive into some statistics obtained from a side by side comparison.

Further, I specifically discuss the reasons that Toyota don’t fit these units to their vehicles from factory and why it’s important for 4WD’ers and heavy towers to seriously consider fitting one to their vehicle.

Stocklock extreme:
The EXTREME 3 Speed Stocklock is a new addition to the Stocklock family.
The new Stocklock “Extreme” transmission lock-up kit is a 3 Speed lock-up, and is much easier to operate as it is wired directly to the Sports shifter.
It has one button to turn the Stocklock on and off, and works the same way as the Dual Speed.

My in depth review of the OBDII Ultragauge MX1.4 for the Toyota Landcruiser:

Interested in getting an Ultragauge like the one in this video, check out the link below for a Pre-2016 LC200 Ultragauge that con monitor your engine and clear fault codes:

00:00 - Introduction
00:50 - What is a lockup kit and how does it work?
01:14 - How does an auto transmission and torque convertor work?
03:10 - Why don’t Toyota fit this from factory?
06:57 - Stocklock Extreme
08:04 - Problems and things to consider
09:17 - How and when to use a lockup kit
13:53 - Testing and detailed results
19:29 - Conclusion

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[felixthecat]

Mate. What a channel you have created. No BS, stats to back everything you test, no opinionated BS.... new subscriber here. You will be huge if you keep this effort up. Cheers from W.A 🍺👍

[timcarr]

We have just purchased a Pajero 4wd with a torque converter lock up kit and knew nothing of its purpose. After watching your video, I now know when to activate it and when to just let it be. Thank you for your easy-to-understand video explanations.

[mobe]

You did a brilliant job explaining this. Thanks for posting!

[mrdoodle]

Love your videos mate, especially the technical aspects of the 200 series. I haven't come across a better site on the net yet.

[steveallen]

Great video. Plenty of useful detail, no fluff or spin, well presented, an enjoyable watch.

[TheTripleDubya]

Having a serious look at a Sahara at the moment, all of your info is helping me appreciate the vehicle even more but also gulp at the many things to do and the dollars involved for an even better experience. I think I’d stick with high speed mode only, what a great idea.

[glenod]

I had AMV Automotive in Perth do a Richards LUK ( 3 settings auto, off, manual ) Trans remap and engine remap, in my 200 series when i was on my first aus trip. Towing a 2.5 ton van and the Kelpie in the back, fuel consumption dropped by 8 litres per 100 at least. Let alone trans temps ( as read through an ultraguage ) dropped 40 C on average. By the time i had gotten over to Katherine, it had almost paid for it self in fuel savings. I cant stress to any one with an auto 4x4 the benefits of having one. Gleno, Bendigo Vic. Ps, It was 2017 when done, well and truely paid for now.

[neilkendall]

Excellent video, your explanation regarding automatic transmissions and lockup principles is commendable. I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation.

[gregtoth]

Hey Nath, another awesome clip mate! Looking at installing one too. This is solid proof a lockup kit is vital for gearbox preservation. Can't thank you enough for the data you provide in your videos mate. You are a Legend!!!

[tnexm]

Great Vid. I have had the Richards Electrical lockup kit for about five years on my cruiser and it has been excellent. Toyota should have made them this way. With the vehicle empty and not towing, we averaged 12.6 l/100 driving Collie to Manjimup.

[gregupton]

Really enjoyed this video. Best explanation and demo of a lockup kit I have been able to find. Well done, thanks.

[rogerwaight]

excellent explanation regarding auto trans lock up kits. very impressed. Thankyou.

[mhmarch]

Super informative and well presented. Well done!

[kennygovender]

Great video. Awesome explanation of how the system works. Keep the vids coming because we enjoy understanding the thought process of everything you do.

[warrenvanzetti]

Another excellent explanation of how you mods work

[r]

Only just found this video, really good Thanks heaps!!

[ryanjstokes]

Really good video with appropriate tech info without going over the top. I’m about to fit a dual speed unit to a Prado - hopefully it will help out towing as much as it does in the 200. The Prado torque converter temps and pan temps seem closer than those in your video, I’ve seen 130 in the converter and 125 in the gearbox on a 40 deg day towing until I gave up again and drove in S4 at 2500RPM! Won’t be doing that again!

[ryanmcmillan]

What a awesome video. Do you find it makes much of a different for engine/coolant temps?

[holgermuller]

G’day Nathan, brilliant explanation and video! I didn’t came across this kit when I installed my one..doesn’t matter since I am extremely happy with my one too. Your tech explanation was top notch, cant be any better. Please do a review after 10, 000 km when you got more experience with it and play around time. Would like to see your experience in comparison to engine load, rpm, selected gear, travel speed and engine torque sweet spot. Whereby the travel speed is variable . Your test was set to 100km/h what gear most of the time? 6 th.? On which rpm?. I am happy with my auto CU remap bringing the shifting point for 6 th. Gear into the range below 100km speed. Watching the engine load and rpm to have the engine in the torq sweet spot on low rpm in 6th. Gear compared to previous factory setting open system where the box never shifted into 6 th. Gear below 110km/h. So for long distance traveling on road towing a van it makes a significant difference in fuel consumption and converter and oil temp.. But as said previously, every car and van are different and must be experience by the owner himself. Lockup kits pays for himself over the time and is also much enjoyable to see what it does on the ultra gauge. Cheers

[Stephen]

Nathan, may I throw in an alternative opinion, please.

I'm assuming that you were towing in D or S6 since you mentioned seeing the transmission in 5th at one time.
I tow a 3500kg van with exactly the same vehicle as yours. I had an aftermarket exhaust fitted and that came with the ability to fit an Exhaust Gas Temp gauge.
EGTs are the missing factor in most of these tests, including yours (with respect).
I do not have any sort of lock-up device fitted.

I tow in S4. Never S5 and S6 and D are not even a consideration.

I've towed in S4 from Perth to QLD each year for the past several years. Since having my EGT gauge fitted I've come to some very interesting conclusions:
1. Towing in S4 will lock the transmission at about 90kph.
2. The transmission will drop down when it wants to, hills etc, and this will see the higher revs reducing the EGTs.
3. S4 will see low TFTs, higher revs will see lower EGTs.
4. It's a balance between managing TFTs and EGTs, but you won't see this until you are able to display EGTs.

I think lockup devices encourage drivers to tow in high gear/low rev situations where the EGTs will be high, but not visible without the means to display them. Once an EGT gauge is fitted it becomes very obvious that higher revs are, on a lot of occasions, a good thing. I've seen EGTs of over 600C going up the Coalfields Highway into Collie. Once the transmission drops done to 3rd those EGTs drop. Yes, TFTs will rise but in those circumstances it's more important to get those hot gases out of the combustion chambers.

On some occasions going up steep roads in S4, I've seen high EGTs, TC still locked and sat their willing the transmission to drop down to reduce those figures. Eventually it did drop to S3 but it was a demonstration of how well the TC stays locked in S4 without any additional devices. As soon as it dropped into 3rd the EGTs plummeted.

I would encourage LC200 owners to fit an EGT gauge before a lock-up device. See how things go for a few months and then make a decision. I'm betting that a lock-up device will fall off their wish list.