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Add on tansmission oil cooler

Ziggie

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Ziggie Enthusiast

Ziggie

Posted
Posted

I would like to get some advize on adding transmission oil cooler to my 2000 GMC Sierra 4x4. Truck has 4.8 liter engine and 3.73 gear ratio.

I am going to sometimes pull a small 5th wheel, 5000 lbs.

What type of tranny oil cooler I should look for?

Is a good idea to also add a transmission oil temperature gauge?

 

Ziggie

99Silver6.0 Senior Enthusiast

99Silver6.0

Posted
Posted
I would like to get some advize on adding transmission oil cooler to my 2000 GMC Sierra 4x4.  Truck has 4.8 liter engine and 3.73 gear ratio.

I am going to sometimes pull a small 5th wheel, 5000 lbs.

What type of tranny oil cooler I should look for?

Is a good idea to also add a transmission oil temperature gauge?

 

Ziggie

 

 

 

 

B&M Supercooler Part #70264, 24000GVW. Has all the hardware you need to install. If you want to add a tranny temp gauge you can look into getting a Denali or Escalade instument cluster. They have the gauge already there and its a plug and play deal. No modifications necessary to get the gauge to work. Only thing really necessary is the mileage transfer.

  • 2 weeks later...
polarisboy Enthusiast

polarisboy

Posted
Posted
I would like to get some advize on adding transmission oil cooler to my 2000 GMC Sierra 4x4.  Truck has 4.8 liter engine and 3.73 gear ratio.

I am going to sometimes pull a small 5th wheel, 5000 lbs.

What type of tranny oil cooler I should look for?

Is a good idea to also add a transmission oil temperature gauge?

 

Ziggie

 

 

 

 

I have a factory GM cooler and the lines if you are interested. It was a kit from GM that they sent when some of the trucks got out of the plant without the cooler for the trailer pack. All new, never installed. email me if you want.

desrtrat Senior Enthusiast

desrtrat

Posted
Posted
I would like to get some advize on adding transmission oil cooler to my 2000 GMC Sierra 4x4.  Truck has 4.8 liter engine and 3.73 gear ratio.

I am going to sometimes pull a small 5th wheel, 5000 lbs.

What type of tranny oil cooler I should look for?

Is a good idea to also add a transmission oil temperature gauge?

 

Ziggie

 

 

 

 

I have a factory GM cooler and the lines if you are interested. It was a kit from GM that they sent when some of the trucks got out of the plant without the cooler for the trailer pack. All new, never installed. email me if you want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

you would be better off with the b&m cooler. stock cooler suck, b&m coolers are about $60 and well worth it

 

:(

  • 2 weeks later...
Ziggie Enthusiast

Ziggie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

]

 

 

you would be better off with the b&m cooler. stock cooler suck, b&m coolers are about $60 and well worth it

 

 

 

Does the kit from B&M has all I need to have proper installation?

Is the kit one fits all?

Would you have a picture of the install on GMC truck?

 

Ziggie

99Silver6.0 Senior Enthusiast

99Silver6.0

Posted
Posted
]

 

 

you would be better off with the b&m cooler. stock cooler suck, b&m coolers are about $60  and well worth it

 

 

 

Does the kit from B&M has all I need to have proper installation?

Is the kit one fits all?

Would you have a picture of the install on GMC truck?

 

Ziggie

 

 

 

 

Yes. It will have all you need.

  • 2 weeks later...
Ziggie Enthusiast

Ziggie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes. It will have all you need.

 

 

 

 

 

So, I've got B&M cooler, not sure if I have all I need as I have a quick connect type connections at the radiator. I will have to remove one quick connector from the rad and put on hose adapter, then put another hose adapter on the radiator.

I think 2 of the 4 hose adapters are the right size. The supercoller will fit nicely in front of all the rads, have to drill couple of holes in the brackets after removing the grile.

Looked at it today, consulted Haines manual, should be no problem mounting it.

 

But here is another important question, which is oil return line from rad to transmission, upper or lower.

The manual says two things:

"On most General Motors rear wheel drive trunsmissions the oil line running to the upper fitting is the oil return line",

but on the Chart 1

General Motors

4L80E cooler line location

oil out of transmission: Upper

Oil return to transmission: Lower

 

So, which is the Oil to transmission return line, one going to the upper or lower connection at the radiator.

 

I know I can do the oil flow test, do not want to make mess though, I also have a friend with 2003 Chevy Z71 and tells me he has factory cooler, so I will go look at his.

At work I also drive the 2003 Chevy 3/4 HD with 6 liter, not sure if that one has axiliary cooler, will have to check on Monday.

 

I think the lower rad connection should be tranny oil return line, but not sure, for sure I will make it right, if I have to, I will do the oil flow test.

 

Again, this is on 2000 GMC Sierra, 4.8 liter and 4 speed automatic, I think the trany is 4L60E, tried to crawl under today to see for sure the type of the transmission, but I am too fat to fit there :D

 

Thanks,

 

Ziggie

snoman Senior Enthusiast

snoman

Posted
Posted

Every late model GM truck I have owned the one on the top is the return line to transmission. The reason for this is the water flows through to tank and then down to outlet over tank tranny cooler. You want the hottest oil at the bottom where the water has already been heated some from above so there is the greastest possible tempature differentail for this water that has already been heated some from above. As the oil flows up tank cooler it is cooled more by water fresh from core cooling moving down over it. So you want to take outlet from tank cooler (top outlet) and hook it to aux cooler and then cooler aux output to tranny return line.

 

:D

Ziggie Enthusiast

Ziggie

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Every late model GM truck I have owned the one on the top is the return line to transmission. The reason for this is the water flows through to tank and then down to outlet over tank tranny cooler. You want the hottest oil at the bottom where the water has already been heated some from above so there is the greastest possible tempature differentail for this water that has already been heated some from above. As the oil flows up tank cooler it is cooled more by water fresh from core cooling moving down over it. So you want to take outlet from tank cooler (top outlet) and hook it to aux cooler and then cooler aux output to tranny return line.

 

:D

 

 

 

 

Maybe that is why I have piece of flexible rubber hose (8 inches or so) on the line connected to the top of the rad, this makes it easier for installation of Aux cooler.

The other line, connected to the bottom of the rad, is all rigid.

 

Ziggie

  • 1 year later...
CapitalTruck Senior Enthusiast

CapitalTruck

Posted
Posted

I can confirm (added tranny cooler) that the top connection is the return (to the transmission) line.

 

 

Every late model GM truck I have owned the one on the top is the return line to transmission. The reason for this is the water flows through to tank and then down to outlet over tank tranny cooler. You want the hottest oil at the bottom where the water has already been heated some from above so there is the greastest possible tempature differentail for this water that has already been heated some from above. As the oil flows up tank cooler it is cooled more by water fresh from core cooling moving down over it. So you want to take outlet from tank cooler (top outlet) and hook it to aux cooler and then cooler aux output to tranny return line.

 

:shakehead:

 

 

 

 

Maybe that is why I have piece of flexible rubber hose (8 inches or so) on the line connected to the top of the rad, this makes it easier for installation of Aux cooler.

The other line, connected to the bottom of the rad, is all rigid.

 

Ziggie

 

 

 

 

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

You made the right move by adding the cooler. I am not familiar with the B & M cooler but hope it is a stacked plate style cooler and not the tube and fin style. The Tube and fin styles are ok but you must use a much larger cooler to get the same cooling as a much smaller stacked plate design.

 

One thing I would consider is a fluid exchange to a premium syn such as Amsoil, especially if you will be towing any at all. Their website is great and will provide great instructions on flushing out your old fluid and replacing it with all syn.

 

I did it at home in less than 1 hour, you just have to have an extra person for part ot the procedure.

 

Again, you have taken a huge step in extending the life of your trans with the cooler.

harescrambler Enthusiast

harescrambler

Posted
Posted

I have a question for you guys. I have a '99 Z17 with the towing package which includes the factory tranny cooler. Can I add the B&M tranny cooler in while still using the factory one or do I have to replace it with the B&M unit?

 

Thanks guys.

legionwagon Enthusiast

legionwagon

Posted
Posted
I have a question for you guys. I have a '99 Z17 with the towing package which includes the factory tranny cooler. Can I add the B&M tranny cooler in while still using the factory one or do I have to replace it with the B&M unit?

 

Thanks guys.

 

 

 

 

Unless you do some wild towing, I would leave what you have. Aftermarket hoses and stuff never seem to be as well done as the factory (unless you do something special on your own), and every hose and connection is a potential leak, with ensuing failure. If you do put one in, I do like the stacked plate ones better, they seem a lot sturdier, and have real flanges to mount. Take your time and do it well if you do add one. Just my 2cents...

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