Transmission Cooler Consideration

[Hexa Fox]

Hey guys I have read a lot up on the subject and can see that people are definitely back and forth on the matter. This is especially true for different situations unique to each individual. Therefore, I thought that I would come here and explain my case and hope some could give some advice. Firstly, and most importantly I will list my truck specifications.

 

2007 (New Body) Silverado 1500 4.8 V8 4x4 Long Box, Regular Cab

 

Now if I am correct my truck has a maximum limit of right around 10,000 pounds. My story is that I am a Landscaper that deals mostly in Lawn Maintenance and have been blessed by having my business extremely local. However, this year I have been offered a job that is going to require me to travel with a trailer. This is going to be a weekly contract where I have to tow the trailer probably about 15-20 miles each way.

 

Now I also want to use the trailer to get all my equipment to other customers simultaneously now too. Right now what I do is drive my truck to their property, trim, edge, and clean up anything that may be laying around. Then I drive back home and fire my mower up and drive it to their property to finish up. This has been a really great setup for me.

 

However, I cannot tell you guys how many times I have been at a customers property and wish my mower was there with me so I could get the job done. If I am going to have a trailer this year I figure I will have this new opportunity.

 

I guess all this text was not completely necessary, but it shows exactly what I plan to do. For example, if this is going to put a lot of extra work on the truck I will do what I have to do as far as modifying it or leaving the trailer home when I do not absolutely need it. It would be nice to be able to use it as a regular part of my business if I am going to have it though.

 

I went to a trailer dealer that I trust last year. The dealer was nice enough to let me tow around a trailer that I was contemplating buying. After just a short time (probably half an hour or less) of towing the trailer when I pulled back into the dealership I noticed a lot of heat coming from under my truck. I am going to guess that it was the transmission and the amount of heat was very unsettling.

 

Sadly, I did not check the transmission temperature and if I did I do not remember what it said. After me rambling on here I am certain that you guys can probably get a good idea of what I want to do here.

 

I also plan to have a tandem axle trailer, with a module installed in the truck as well. I think they are mostly to help with the braking of the trailer. I think the one I was interested in was 7' wide and 16' long. I think it weighed in at just over a thousand pounds.

 

Now if my transmission was getting hot while towing just the empty trailer around, it is even more troubling now. Because I will probably have an extra 2,000 pounds of weight on the trailer. I will probably end up dragging it around several times a week during the busy mowing season.

 

So finally to my question, should I be worried here? Should I be absolutely fine? Should I consider modifications like an aftermarket transmission cooler?

 

Also worth mentioning, my truck has nearly 90,000 miles on it. I believe that someone told me that this is a good time to have the transmission fluid changed as well. Which would obviously be worth considering if it is getting old. Especially with it getting hotter now that I am planning on towing with it regularly.

 

Hey guys sorry for this huge novel. Just want to be as accurate as possible here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Chris]

I run a massive cooler, but mine would be iverkill for you. Look into a Nice B&M cooler or a Trucool 40k.

[Hexa Fox]

I run a massive cooler, but mine would be iverkill for you. Look into a Nice B&M cooler or a Trucool 40k.

 

Okay so is it definitely something I should install? I know nothing about aftermarket transmission coolers. However, If it is going to help my transmission and make it live longer it is definitely something I will consider adding along with the trailer.

[Hexa Fox]

I run a massive cooler, but mine would be iverkill for you. Look into a Nice B&M cooler or a Trucool 40k.

By the way I have always loved my 4.8 V8 as it definitely asserts dominance over lesser trucks. However, if I ever move up to a 2500, which I am considering I would love to have a 6.0 Vortec or 6.6 Duramax. Nice truck.

[Hexa Fox]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-M-70295-Finned-Cast-Aluminum-GM-4L80E-Deep-Transmission-Pan-3-Quarts-Extra-/381464478227?hash=item58d10e0213:g:8JMAAOSw7hRWQ4EJ&vxp=mtr

 

I was thinking this might be a excellent place to start. I could drain the transmission fluid and add one of these in the process.

[Hexa Fox]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-M-70295-Finned-Cast-Aluminum-GM-4L80E-Deep-Transmission-Pan-3-Quarts-Extra-/381464478227?hash=item58d10e0213:g:8JMAAOSw7hRWQ4EJ&vxp=mtr

 

I was thinking this might be a excellent place to start. I could drain the transmission fluid and add one of these in the process.

So I have been reading and a lot of people are calling these useless, while others applaud them.

 

Also I have read several comments saying "if you are not leaking transmission oil, do not change it", is this serious? I know General Motors recommends that you change the transmission oil and filter about every 100,000 miles.

[txab]

http://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Automotive-679-Rapid-Cool-Transmission/dp/B000C3BBKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456414466&sr=8-1&keywords=hayden+679

 

or

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049EZDZ0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_267&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[diyer2]

I tend to go overboard with maintenance but my truck give me great service and reliability. At the minimum do your services per the owners manual all services. I would add a trans cooler for sure cheap insurance IMO.

[Hexa Fox]

I am almost certain that my truck already has a stock transmission cooler. I know there is another smaller radiator in it, which I think is it? Should I still consider and aftermarket transmission cooler?

[txab]

I would

[royg6677]

Hexa Fox

I had a 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Short Bed 5.3 3.73 rear and it was only rated a 7500lb. I am only telling you this as I would think you would be out of towing spec. at 10000lb. A larger trans cooler is always a good idea.

[Hexa Fox]

Hexa Fox

I had a 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Short Bed 5.3 3.73 rear and it was only rated a 7500lb. I am only telling you this as I would think you would be out of towing spec. at 10000lb. A larger trans cooler is always a good idea.

 

I do not think this is a big deal really. You are free to correct me if you think I am wrong. When I have both of my zero turns and all my other equipment on it I am probably going to be just over 3,000 pounds. So even if this is the case I am not even halfway to the limit of my towing capacity. However, I personally think that is a lot of weight to be towing around on a regular basis and want to do everything I can to prevent anything from failing.

 

I might add the pan no matter what, at the very least it will take a little longer for the oil to heat up. This will help me because a lot of my trips are rather short. There will just be the one that will be a little further that I mentioned earlier. Also I like the idea that having more transmission oil will make it last longer as well.

 

I was thinking of going a little overkill as well and adding this as my transmission cooler.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301236684730?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Hexa Fox]

I was thinking of going a little overkill as well and adding this as my transmission cooler.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301236684730?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Another reason I am a little skeptical about this is that I cannot find an install video for it either. You would figure if a lot of people install them there would be at least a few videos.

[Hexa Fox]

This may be a little off topic, but I just got finished about $200.00 worth of maintenance on my truck. My truck had the check engine light on and it was coming back as oxygen or air sensors upfront near the throttle body. I took everything out replaced my Volant air filter, cleaned the throttle body, mass air flow sensor, and added a throttle body spacer.

 

The throttle body spacer may have been a waste of money, but for $50.00 I decided to go ahead and throw it on while I had the throttle body off. If it saves me even 0.1 mpg it will easily be worth the investment.

 

Anyway just as I was told my truck has been acting very erratic lately mostly just having a high idle. It is just getting the idle back to normal now I believe. So I am happy I will not have to spend another $100.00 to have it reset at a dealer. It also seems to have fixed the check engine light as well.

[txab]

 

I do not think this is a big deal really. You are free to correct me if you think I am wrong. When I have both of my zero turns and all my other equipment on it I am probably going to be just over 3,000 pounds. So even if this is the case I am not even halfway to the limit of my towing capacity. However, I personally think that is a lot of weight to be towing around on a regular basis and want to do everything I can to prevent anything from failing.

 

I might add the pan no matter what, at the very least it will take a little longer for the oil to heat up. This will help me because a lot of my trips are rather short. There will just be the one that will be a little further that I mentioned earlier. Also I like the idea that having more transmission oil will make it last longer as well.

 

I was thinking of going a little overkill as well and adding this as my transmission cooler.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301236684730?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

Overkill and waste of money imho. I have the 689 and never see temps higher than about 50 degrees above ambient. I even added a t'stat for winter to get the temp up higher cause the trans likes it better.

 

TBS does absolutely nothing on your intake. Not even.01