Broke my trans oil cooler..

kutzenshlagen · February 13, 2012

So... I was following the directions from this post, http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179148, and through reading all the posts I deduced that it would be easier if i removed my front grill and just did the fluid flush from the trans oil cooler. So I take my wrench and attempt to loosen the return line because I had already bought the adapter to go into the hole. It was at this point that I twisted the bracket/outport on the trans oil cooler. Thinking that I hadn't done any real damage I turn the bracket/outport back to where it originally was. I started the truck up and tranny fluid shot across my garage . I then screamed many different curse words and had to roll my truck out of the garage to sit in my driveway because I thought for sure I would have to have it towed tomorrow.

However, I just went back outside and removed the entire trans oil cooler from the truck. I ended up flushing the fluid from the pan using the trans oil cooler supply line and then capped the lines using fingers from a nitrile glove. Looking at this trans oil cooler it is quite obvious where the defect is... I have applied gorilla glue to it at this point as a very temporary (if at all even possible) fix .

My question to you guys is, would it be in my best interest to go to the Chevy dealer tomorrow and just get a new OEM trans oil cooler or should I look at something from like Summit. The stock cooler is 11x5 and has a mounting bracket on it already. I don't know what kind of cooler I'm looking for (size, fittings, etc.)?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Coolmaker · February 13, 2012

go get a new OEM cooler..

music · February 13, 2012

OEM cooler. After market probably won't have the correct fittings. Gorilla glue for what... trying to seal a crack in a radiator? Seriously... if that's the case, don't try it unless you want to see that fluid shoot across your driveway again

txab · February 13, 2012

If you tow very little or fairly light loads, OEM would be the way to go. If you expect to tow heavy loads regularly then aftermarket is the way to go. Easy to hook up. Now you know why quick disconnect fittings are used.

kutzenshlagen · February 13, 2012

OEM cooler it is. Thanks for the replies!

I wasn't going to actually use a cooler sealed with gorilla glue lol

jdelrizzle · February 14, 2012

Oem is the best way to go i was going to get an after market one but, I decided against it I'm about to go in ( this week end) to get my Trans cooler installed

latreille89 · February 14, 2012

I just ordered mine yesterday. Don't have a clue why they are not standard on these trucks!

jdelrizzle · February 15, 2012

^right!!!

kutzenshlagen · February 15, 2012

Just the transcooler was 193... quite the expensive mistake =/

txab · February 15, 2012

That's why aftermarket is a good way to go. Plus much larger cooling capacity

jdelrizzle · February 15, 2012

193 for the oem are you sure, the dealer wants 95, eBay wants 85, gm parts direct wants 76 for it, now the installation, the the dealers charging me 200, I'm buying mine from the dealer by the way.

mdjordan2004 · February 15, 2012

I just did a trans flush on mine. I bought a fitting to put in the rad. or cooler but it was not the right size. So I took the fitting off the end of the rad. to cooler line (removed the wire clip and the fitting come right off) and used some 3/8ID tubing from lowes and a little clamp. It worked grate and saved the $7.00 by returning the fitting to autoparts store. Just some FYI that might help someone. You can even take the fitting off the line without unscrewing it from the cooler.

Bad thing is that when I started working on mine I found the line that runs from the cooler all the way back to the trans was staring to leak. Believe it of not that long 5’ hose was only $35.00 at the dealership. I was shocked I just knew it was going to be at least $100.00. But is was a PITA to fish it in and out and undo and reinstall at the trans, NO ROOM TO WORK!

Good luck on the rest of your repair.