Nagging thought

az'03Silverado · October 12, 2004

Just wanted to see if anyone who knows for sure can answer me this question. When I installed my B&M Super cooler I hooked it up to the hole at the TOP of the radiator. Is this the right one? If it's not, have I been damaging my trans? BTW, I have an '03 Silverado 1500 4x2 with the 4.8L. Anyone know for sure?

fastdrvr23 · October 12, 2004

I installed an OEM cooler on mine, but they should still install the same way I would guess...

Mine was like this:

Transmission----------->Line to top of radiator, removed, added new line that is now the INLET of cooler--------> Cooler---------> Outlet Line of Cooler ---------> Top of Radiator.

No need to mess with the bottom line that's connected to the radiator, as that is the return line to the tranny, it shouldn't change.

I hope that helps, if I could post pics from here at work I would draw one.

Sounds like your right on track... I should have done the B&M cooler so I wouldn't have had to run that new OEM style cooler inlet line from the tranny itself, it was freakin' awful.

Anyways, good luck man!

Just wanted to see if anyone who knows for sure can answer me this question. When I installed my B&M Super cooler I hooked it up to the hole at the TOP of the radiator. Is this the right one? If it's not, have I been damaging my trans? BTW, I have an '03 Silverado 1500 4x2 with the 4.8L. Anyone know for sure?

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millerwd · October 12, 2004

I doubt if it has damged your transmission. You might want to call the local tranny shop. I'd mount the cooler input to the output of the raditor cooler . then mount the output of the cooler to the return line on the tran. That way you get some cooling from the radiator.

Just my WAG.

BillM

az'03Silverado · October 13, 2004

Thanks man, that's just how I did mine. No leaks or problems so far. I just wanted to double check. With the B&M kit the factory line is disconnected from the top of the radiator and a hose fitting is threaded on. Then a rubber hose goes from there to the cooler. Then from the cooler outlet back to the top of the radiator. I trust that the cooler is doing it's job. I don't have a trans temp guage to tell for sure.

I installed an OEM cooler on mine, but they should still install the same way I would guess...

Mine was like this:

Transmission----------->Line to top of radiator, removed, added new line that is now the INLET of cooler--------> Cooler---------> Outlet Line of Cooler ---------> Top of Radiator.

No need to mess with the bottom line that's connected to the radiator, as that is the return line to the tranny, it shouldn't change.

I hope that helps, if I could post pics from here at work I would draw one.

Sounds like your right on track... I should have done the B&M cooler so I wouldn't have had to run that new OEM style cooler inlet line from the tranny itself, it was freakin' awful.

Anyways, good luck man!

Just wanted to see if anyone who knows for sure can answer me this question. When I installed my B&M Super cooler I hooked it up to the hole at the TOP of the radiator. Is this the right one? If it's not, have I been damaging my trans? BTW, I have an '03 Silverado 1500 4x2 with the 4.8L. Anyone know for sure?

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99-2door · October 14, 2004

The fluid needs to go through the external cooler first, then the cooler in the radiator.

The "cooler" in the radiator is actually designed to keep the tranny fluid at a constant temp, which doesn't always mean cooling it. That is the reason all automatics have the radiator "cooler".

As long as you have it that way, (and it looks like you do) it should be fine.

DO NOT install the aftermarket cooler between the radiator and return line as millerwd suggests.

budhayes3 · October 14, 2004

I thought that you wanted to mount an auxilary cooler in series with the radiator return line, which is the top on our trucks...that's what the instructions said to do with my PermaCool, and that's what I did on mine, and on all of my other vehicles that I installed trans coolers on.

I installed a fitting into the radiator (upper), ran a line from that to the cooler, then back from the cooler to the hard line going to the trans, been doin it that way for about 18 years with no problems so far.

99Silver6.0 · October 15, 2004

Run them in a series!!! Do not eliminate the stock cooler!!!!! Flow: From the tranny, to the rad, to the new cooler and back to the tranny.

citydriver · October 15, 2004

I thought that you wanted to mount an auxilary cooler in series with the radiator return line, which is the top on our trucks...that's what the instructions said to do with my PermaCool, and that's what I did on mine, and on all of my other vehicles that I installed trans coolers on.
I installed a fitting into the radiator (upper), ran a line from that to the cooler, then back from the cooler to the hard line going to the trans, been doin it that way for about 18 years with no problems so far.

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Actually, that is the correct way to hook it up....tranny>radiator cooler>aux. cooler> back to the tranny....that is also the way my factory cooler is hooked up

99-2door · October 15, 2004

I thought that you wanted to mount an auxilary cooler in series with the radiator return line, which is the top on our trucks...that's what the instructions said to do with my PermaCool, and that's what I did on mine, and on all of my other vehicles that I installed trans coolers on.
I installed a fitting into the radiator (upper), ran a line from that to the cooler, then back from the cooler to the hard line going to the trans, been doin it that way for about 18 years with no problems so far.

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Actually, that is the correct way to hook it up....tranny>radiator cooler>aux. cooler> back to the tranny....that is also the way my factory cooler is hooked up

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You guys are absolutely right. I checked out the factory cooler on my Tahoe

trans->rad->aux cooler->trans.

Top fitting on a 4L60e/700r4 is the return line.

I have always been told the rad was to keep temp constant. That's what happens when I don't check stuff out for myself

Delray · October 15, 2004

Radiator kooler helps to put heat into the trany in cooler climates.It helps when you warm up the motor you shift to neutral to warm up the trany.

Steve

az'03Silverado · October 17, 2004

Thanks for the input everybody! The general concensus is that I did it right. Woohoo! I really like the peace of mind of having an auxilliary cooler. And now that I know I installed it correctly, it's even better. Thanks again.