Jump to content

2018 Silverado 1500 External Transmission Cooler?

BillNC

By BillNC
in Engines & Drivetrain

 Share

Recommended Posts

Jon A Senior Enthusiast

Jon A

Posted
Posted

You can tune the fans with HP Tuners,  https://www.hptuners.com/product/mpvi2/  .  However, it really shouldn't be needed in your case (with that sized trailer, highway towing with no mountains) and probably not worth the possible warranty issues of a tune just for that, unless of course you just want to.  Your truck really should be fine as is, I'd expect max temps around 200 degrees, maybe a bit more.  I do believe such temps with modern fluids are nothing to worry about--but don't like it getting much hotter than that.

 

However, there's nothing wrong with lower temps and it can give you a lot of peace of mind to stay way, way out of the danger zone.  If you want to do that, all you need to do is bypass the stock thermostat which can basically be done for free.  Your stock cooler is big enough it's capable of keeping the temps much cooler, especially on the highway.  I usually do recommend adding an aftermarket thermostat as well, but in the south as you are it's not a real high priority and is a lot more work, you could just run with the stock bypassed for a while and see if you feel it's needed.

 

I'm currently running an aftermarket 140 degree thermostat using the air/oil condenser cooler only, and that setup has dropped my average temps 30-40 degrees from stock in light to moderate use on the highway.  I haven't done any heavy towing torture tests yet, just some light towing, I expect during heavy towing the advantage to be greatly reduced but still beneficial most of the time.  I'll be hauling a pretty heavy load over some big mountain passes in a couple of weeks so I'll have more insight on how the setup does in those conditions soon.

  • 2 months later...
  • 1 year later...
WilliamBos Senior Enthusiast

WilliamBos

Posted
Posted
On 8/13/2018 at 4:35 PM, Jon A said:

Yup, that IS your auxiliary cooler.  It's actually quite big for a 1500.  You have the best transmission cooling available on these trucks.  You'll be fine.  If you find you want even cooler temps, bypassing/replacing the thermostat with an aftermarket unit makes a big difference and tuning the fans to come on earlier helps as well, especially at low speeds but I doubt you'll find any of that necessary with a trailer that size.  Is most of your towing on the highway or is a lot of it on slow gravel roads, etc?

 

Thanks for posting that parts diagram.  I did not know they did that.  It's likely the main reason some users of newer trucks have reported better performance (cooler transmission temps) than the older ones.  If I had posted my rants on how dumb it was for GM to put an in-tank heat exchanger in the hot side of the radiator a couple of years ago, I might accuse GM of listening to me.    :lol:    Again, so there's no confusion, it's no loss.  I have mine bypassed and the trans runs cooler for it.  In all but very rare conditions, that radiator tank exchanger acts as a heater, not a cooler.  And since we have a thermostat, the heating function is worthless at warmup anyway making it pretty much worthless all the time.

Did these changes happen for MY14?  Interesting and great ideas.  Is the in tank exchanged on the drivers side of the rad?  Need to go have a look at my truck once it stops raining.

  • 1 year later...
CWBB New Member

CWBB

Posted
Posted
On 8/14/2018 at 2:38 PM, Jon A said:

You can tune the fans with HP Tuners,  https://www.hptuners.com/product/mpvi2/  .  However, it really shouldn't be needed in your case (with that sized trailer, highway towing with no mountains) and probably not worth the possible warranty issues of a tune just for that, unless of course you just want to.  Your truck really should be fine as is, I'd expect max temps around 200 degrees, maybe a bit more.  I do believe such temps with modern fluids are nothing to worry about--but don't like it getting much hotter than that.

 

However, there's nothing wrong with lower temps and it can give you a lot of peace of mind to stay way, way out of the danger zone.  If you want to do that, all you need to do is bypass the stock thermostat which can basically be done for free.  Your stock cooler is big enough it's capable of keeping the temps much cooler, especially on the highway.  I usually do recommend adding an aftermarket thermostat as well, but in the south as you are it's not a real high priority and is a lot more work, you could just run with the stock bypassed for a while and see if you feel it's needed.

 

I'm currently running an aftermarket 140 degree thermostat using the air/oil condenser cooler only, and that setup has dropped my average temps 30-40 degrees from stock in light to moderate use on the highway.  I haven't done any heavy towing torture tests yet, just some light towing, I expect during heavy towing the advantage to be greatly reduced but still beneficial most of the time.  I'll be hauling a pretty heavy load over some big mountain passes in a couple of weeks so I'll have more insight on how the setup does in those conditions soon.

  Hi there,  I was planning on putting a plate/fin after market cooler inline to add some additional cooling.   Can you give me some more information (link if possible) on how you bypass the stock thermostat?  Or adding and aftermarket?   I have a 2018 sierra 1500 5.3 L.  thanks for any help.  

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Randy Ginoza
      Turning radius

      By Randy Ginoza · Posted

      I would like to know if I can increase my 2025 Silverado 2500 HD
    • asilverblazer
      Intermittent no-code issues on 2022.5+ V8 trucks — what did the shop fail to capture?

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      Length/amount of data capture will be important to consider, sifting through 5 minutes of a data log can be enormous when it is stored in milliseconds. Being able to find the 'event' let alone decipher it.   Presumably the driver would notice something and hit a button to capture the 'window' of data. That window has to be large enough for the operator to recognize the event and react accordingly.    The data has to be able to be retrieved easily.   The data has to be able to be understood. Which is the biggest challenge, dealer techs won't even know what most of it is and would likely not even look at it if an owner brought it to them. Meaning the owner, the least educated/qualified, trying to understand it.    How will the data be presented? Could specific PIDs be selected and a timelapse graph be watched? How will a specific value be noted as abnormal? Additionally, a good data logger would be able to 'learn' normal values for a specific vehicle and flag abnormalities automatically. It could in theory watch parameters degrade over time and suggest maintenance as needed. (If the MAF reading begins tapering off for a given set of other readings - MAP, throttle position, Ambient, etc.. a flag to check air filter.) With the amount of data available, a device (really the vehicle rather than an additional accessory) should be able to do more than issue a DTC. It should be able to run the full diagnostic suite automatically and present a solution rather than a code. (It's not the 90's anymore). The technology is available for the vehicle to not just say "P0087", it should know low fuel pressure, check other PIDs to narrow down the problem itself, and determine if it is a lift pump, high pressure pump, regulator, leak in the fuel line, clogged filter, etc. Even if it can't narrow it down, it should be able to guide the user to the likely problems.   This would be a major problem for dealer service departments, which are the manufacturers customers it is in their collective best interest to NOT have this available to the consumer.   Further, if the owner is going to be the primary consumer of the data, it's got to be at a consumer price point vs. dealer only specialty tool price.   This group is more 'involved' in their vehicle than general public/consumer and will have knowledge, experience, needs and desires that are quite different from the market at large.   
    • KARNUT
      OCI, not when but why?

      By KARNUT · Posted

      I put the prof up. If you read what I posted. You can see that housing, cars and income are in line with the era we were talking about. It’s harder in some places easier in others. Let’s agree to disagree and put this back on track, OK? We both are pretty stubborn and hard headed. But I bring receipts. If you wish I will not respond to you in the future. 
    • Grumpy Bear
      OCI, not when but why?

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      Lets see if I can sum up two pages of nothing useful.    You want to refute your own governments data of the "Purchasing Power" Index FOR THE ENTIRE USA and its territories replacing it with the experience of a single family and its business and label that reality?  Then pound on that for a week hoping it will find traction?    Stan, I've told you several times. I don't do irrational. There are more people in the USA than your family.    I'm pretty sure this tread is so blown up. I'll give you a few days or months if need be to post yourself silent then I'll see if I can find enough parts of the train to reassemble it. 
    • asilverblazer
      VSE CCV Bypass - Anyone have this installed in their L5P?

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      Facebook groups hate VSE, poor customer service; their responses to criticisms are pretty poor for a reputable company. I'm not a customer, haven't bought anything from them, but how they handle themselves on social media is a definite "No" for me. 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...