Need your advice

ciscokid · July 16, 2001

We recently had a new baby and got rid of the 99 sierra SLT ext. cab pick-up AWESOME

TRUCK!! to make room for the new addition felt the

baby would be safer in a van so we got an Astro Van (with tow package) much

more Family room. Anyhow I tow a 26' Travel trailer @ 4900 lbs and after an

hour or so the temp goes up to 3/4 of the way (uncomfortably near hot) i would

dread to drive farther than a couple of hours and get stranded with my family ( 3

little girls....)

I have added air suspension and 14" auxillary fan with same end result. I called Chevy customer support prior to purchasing and they said i should have no problem at all with this tow vehicle.

I am going to install an auxillary tranny cooler and engine oil cooler

(should i install the tranny cooler between the tranny and radiator to cool the fluid before it reaches the radiator?

would this help kkep the radiator fluid cooler?)

feel i will probably have similar results I'd greatfully appreciate any

advice.........

LT · July 16, 2001

First of all, welcome to this forum. I hope you like it. I think you will.

A couple of questions. How hot is it actually getting? 225-235 degrees? Whee does it normally run? What thermostat to you have in? 195 degree? Is there a tow gear on the Astro Van?

Sorry for all of the questions but if you change to a earlier opening thermostat, You'll need to make other changes as well. I'll watch for your answer. Others on the forum may have better ideas.

ciscokid · July 20, 2001

Thanks for the advice I appreciate it....

---The outside temp is about 95* F

--- It supposedly is equipped to tow up to 5500lbs- when I called chevy they said 4900 lbs should be no problem

---I do not tow in overdrive unless i am on a flat road and the van does not drop in speed. When the speed starts to slip i put it in 3rd

-----It normally runs about 190 when not towing

-----after tranny cooler about 175,

------before tranny cooler and towing ABOUT 235-250

------I installed the tranny cooler and auxillary 10" fan on tranny cooler on top of the cross-memeber under the chassis and boy what a change it didn't ever go past half on our one hour voyage over hills What a great van Love Chevy products any how i am still considering adding an auxillary oil cooler with anauxillary fan and think that would be beneficial for extended trips, I am concerned though that that would drop the oil, tranny, and radiatotr temp below operating temperature. Would that affect the service life of the tranny, or engine if operating too cool? the fans are set to the thermostat but air still goes into the tranny cooler when vehicle is driven due to oem fan on radiator and placement right uner it?

Frank S · July 20, 2001

Somehow I totally missed this topic until now.

The new operating temperature shouldn't hurt you because although it looks like a major change,it isn't too drastic.

The thermostat wouldn't have helped either because it just opens to allow the water to recirculate when it reaches it's calibrated temperature.Although it keeps the water in the engine cooler it also doesn't allow it as much time to cool in the radiator before being recirculated.I know it sounds strange but trust me.I live in simialr heat and I have a 160 degree thermostat to go along with my Hypertech PP3 and in the heat of the day with the A/C going,it will still get up to around 190-200degrees.

I also have an external Drawtite tranny cooler but I don't have an auxiliary fan on it like you.Still,you should be ok with your transmission.

Sorry about the late response but you should be ok with the set up that you have.

Welcome aboard!

Stepside Z · July 20, 2001

First Welcome to the Forum. I think you are doing the right thing by adding the coolers. Also the outside temp combined with the load, tailer, family, and stuff will cause the temp on any engine to rise. I don't really think you have a problem.