How Much Does The Stock Trans Cooler Help?

jro909 · June 25, 2011

To make a long drug out story short, i noticed that alot of trucks that are worked hard day in and day out with high miles don't have a trans cooler, and when i asked if the trans has been rebuilt almost always its no...now my question is how much does the factory trans cooler help preserve the trans? just trying to weigh in trans cooler vs no trans cooler, daily driver vs useing the truck as a work horse

4wd · June 25, 2011

08 model 4l60e with factory trans cooler, I tell you it's helpless if temp outside is around 100+F because it' too small for hot climate...it can't catch up with the engine coolant temp...if you decide for one ask about tru-cool 40k,, haven't done it but that's one option..however I may go for the Ford's 6.0 OEM trans cooler.

grayghost7 · June 25, 2011

I've had mine for two years and summers here are brutal...100 degrees and over for more than 30 days each summer. I tow 3-4 days a week 3500-5500 pounds average. My trans is a factory 4l60E and I have over 165k on it without an issue. Stock cooler is fine for most apps and will help your trans last longer.

L76PWRD · June 25, 2011

Its okay for daily driving, I'm going to upgrade mine with Tru-Cool transmission cooler soon.

quetranpa · June 26, 2011

yes it helps only if you are towing, if not then you are better off with out it

Hieneken49 · June 26, 2011

yes it helps only if you are towing, if not then you are better off with out it

? why would u be better off without it ?

jerksville · June 26, 2011

Im running the stock tranny cooler on my truck just turned 308k on original driveline today. I tow cars on my 18' car trailer several times a month along with a welder/generator for work 3-5 days a week since I bought the truck in 2000. Never had a overheating issue. Keep in mind ive been running a 160* t-stat and electric fans since the warranty was up and change driveline fluids every 15k-20k no matter what.

Stock cooler is good enough if you ask me. Its all about maintenance. I also drive in 3 when in cities and only run D when I know I'll be driving above 55mph for periods of time. Always done that and never had tranny issues with any vehicle.

SpeedyV · June 26, 2011

Im running the stock tranny cooler on my truck just turned 308k on original driveline today. I tow cars on my 18' car trailer several times a month along with a welder/generator for work 3-5 days a week since I bought the truck in 2000. Never had a overheating issue. Keep in mind ive been running a 160* t-stat and electric fans since the warranty was up and change driveline fluids every 15k-20k no matter what.

Stock cooler is good enough if you ask me. Its all about maintenance. I also drive in 3 when in cities and only run D when I know I'll be driving above 55mph for periods of time. Always done that and never had tranny issues with any vehicle.

Truck's looking great at nearly 310K, man!

My dad has always followed that "keep it in D" rule (avoiding overdrive); he doesn't like lugging his gas trucks around town. It sounds like this rule has served you well too.

jerksville · June 26, 2011

Im running the stock tranny cooler on my truck just turned 308k on original driveline today. I tow cars on my 18' car trailer several times a month along with a welder/generator for work 3-5 days a week since I bought the truck in 2000. Never had a overheating issue. Keep in mind ive been running a 160* t-stat and electric fans since the warranty was up and change driveline fluids every 15k-20k no matter what.

Stock cooler is good enough if you ask me. Its all about maintenance. I also drive in 3 when in cities and only run D when I know I'll be driving above 55mph for periods of time. Always done that and never had tranny issues with any vehicle.

Truck's looking great at nearly 310K, man!

My dad has always followed that "keep it in D" rule (avoiding overdrive); he doesn't like lugging his gas trucks around town. It sounds like this rule has served you well too.

Thank you for the compliment. Its a constant work in progress and a crap load of car washes during the winter LOL

4wd · June 26, 2011

GMT-800 seems to be ok with stock cooler...I have read many posts by people who own 07+ raising concern about trans temp? Why?

I have seen my trans temp climb very quickly to the high end with the stock cooler...Trans temp will stay close to engine temp in 07+ models in hot climate and under load...I believe the gmt900 stock cooler is useless in hot climate..it is designed to fit all, and if it was bigger it may cause problems in cold areas....That's why GM designed it that way (I think), also, may be gmt900 engines are designed to run hotter?!

4wd · June 26, 2011

GMT-800 seems to be ok with stock cooler...I have read many posts by people who own 07+ raising concern about trans temp? Why?

I have seen my trans temp climb very quickly to the high end with the stock cooler...Trans temp will stay close to engine temp in 07+ models in hot climate and under load, that's normal according to GM because it is within the range, but running at the high end is not good!...I believe the gmt900 stock cooler is useless in hot climate..it is designed to fit all, and if it was bigger it may cause problems in cold areas....That's why GM designed it that way (I think), also, gmt900 engines may be designed to run hotter?!

grayghost7 · June 26, 2011

Im running the stock tranny cooler on my truck just turned 308k on original driveline today. I tow cars on my 18' car trailer several times a month along with a welder/generator for work 3-5 days a week since I bought the truck in 2000. Never had a overheating issue. Keep in mind ive been running a 160* t-stat and electric fans since the warranty was up and change driveline fluids every 15k-20k no matter what.

Stock cooler is good enough if you ask me. Its all about maintenance. I also drive in 3 when in cities and only run D when I know I'll be driving above 55mph for periods of time. Always done that and never had tranny issues with any vehicle.

Wow...incredible mileage! Hope mine goes that far without issue. I change all my fluids out at about the same interval and oil every 3k.

And you truck still looks great too.

jro909 · June 27, 2011

yes it helps only if you are towing, if not then you are better off with out it

i'm not expert but what you said makes no sense, does the trans cooler like transport to a different dimension if theres no trailer hooked on?

AirForceAngler · June 27, 2011

yes it helps only if you are towing, if not then you are better off with out it

i'm not expert but what you said makes no sense, does the trans cooler like transport to a different dimension if theres no trailer hooked on?

I'm pretty sure all automatics have some sort of cooling feature on them. Most have it built into the radiator and you'll see where the trans lines run into the back side of the radiator. The cooler you see on the front of our trucks is an auxilliary cooler that is inline with the built in cooler.

Without any cooling, an automatic would eat itself up in a very short time!