Tranny Cooler Upgrade Or Just A Temp Sensor For It

xtrempickup · March 18, 2008

I bought a low mile 1995 K1500 Z71 offroad pickup reg cab stepside truck 350 automatic trans that came with the factory towing equipment package. i plan to tow a car dolly with my 3200lb race car on ocassion. would i be fine with the factory tranny cooler, i'm taking that it should have one, all i have read all the autos normally came with them factory equipment and i'm figuring it has factory towing options it should have all the upgraded stuff over a base model truck. should i think about installing a temp sensor or probe so i can monitor the temps when im towing? if so how do i go about installing something or what not

mikiehews · March 18, 2008

does your truck have an external cooler? Most have a trans cooler that runs through the radiator. If it has external cooler its a true trailor towing package. FYI, if you shhot me the VIN I can tell you what options the truck came with.

Mikeee · March 18, 2008

The absolute best is and external trans cooler of the plate type with fan and with temp valve. It can be mounted ANYWHERE since it is fully self contained. It also removes the thermal load from the rad.

As for temp sensor, place it in the out line at the trans.

Do NOT use the test port.

My 2¢

xtrempickup · March 19, 2008

The absolute best is and external trans cooler of the plate type with fan and with temp valve. It can be mounted ANYWHERE since it is fully self contained. It also removes the thermal load from the rad.

As for temp sensor, place it in the out line at the trans.

Do NOT use the test port.

My 2¢

Ive run all my RPO codes and it all comes back factory towing package, weight distributing hitch option, etc etc, z71 offroad truck, just havent searched to see if i have an external cooler anywheres yet, not sure what it would look like either unless it looksl ike the ones on the 2500 GMC 6.5L turbodiesels then i could identify otherwise i dont know what GM uses. i towed with my 88 K1500 auto with a 4.3L TBI about 5 cars home without any issue and i doubt that truck had anything other than it was a silverado package. just looking to see what i can use as its a 71K mile truck and id like to preserve it and save from killing it anytime soon as i doubt its gonna tow more than 3-4 times a year nothing more than 3500lbs

Mikeee · March 19, 2008

The absolute best is and external trans cooler of the plate type with fan and with temp valve. It can be mounted ANYWHERE since it is fully self contained. It also removes the thermal load from the rad.

As for temp sensor, place it in the out line at the trans.

Do NOT use the test port.

My 2¢

Ive run all my RPO codes and it all comes back factory towing package, weight distributing hitch option, etc etc, z71 offroad truck, just havent searched to see if i have an external cooler anywheres yet, not sure what it would look like either unless it looksl ike the ones on the 2500 GMC 6.5L turbodiesels then i could identify otherwise i dont know what GM uses. i towed with my 88 K1500 auto with a 4.3L TBI about 5 cars home without any issue and i doubt that truck had anything other than it was a silverado package. just looking to see what i can use as its a 71K mile truck and id like to preserve it and save from killing it anytime soon as i doubt its gonna tow more than 3-4 times a year nothing more than 3500lbs

Sometimes, an "external cooler" is just some of the tubing lines in a zig-zag pattern in some obscure place.

Ok then, short trips at 3-4 times.

Then just get a good temp gauge and keep an eye on it.

But.....

As when the Government says that so-n-so program is only gonna cost 2 million, which it ALWAYS costs more, same as your truck.

Better to plan for more than you thought.

Even if you don't go for the max, only get a plate style cooler.

More of my 2¢

xtrempickup · March 19, 2008

The absolute best is and external trans cooler of the plate type with fan and with temp valve. It can be mounted ANYWHERE since it is fully self contained. It also removes the thermal load from the rad.

As for temp sensor, place it in the out line at the trans.

Do NOT use the test port.

My 2¢

Ive run all my RPO codes and it all comes back factory towing package, weight distributing hitch option, etc etc, z71 offroad truck, just havent searched to see if i have an external cooler anywheres yet, not sure what it would look like either unless it looksl ike the ones on the 2500 GMC 6.5L turbodiesels then i could identify otherwise i dont know what GM uses. i towed with my 88 K1500 auto with a 4.3L TBI about 5 cars home without any issue and i doubt that truck had anything other than it was a silverado package. just looking to see what i can use as its a 71K mile truck and id like to preserve it and save from killing it anytime soon as i doubt its gonna tow more than 3-4 times a year nothing more than 3500lbs

Sometimes, an "external cooler" is just some of the tubing lines in a zig-zag pattern in some obscure place.

Ok then, short trips at 3-4 times.

Then just get a good temp gauge and keep an eye on it.

But.....

As when the Government says that so-n-so program is only gonna cost 2 million, which it ALWAYS costs more, same as your truck.

Better to plan for more than you thought.

Even if you don't go for the max, only get a plate style cooler.

More of my 2¢

i guess i will look into things

C & A s Dad · March 19, 2008

Tom, Mikee has give you some good advise.

If you have an factory external cooler on a 95 model, it will be located in the lower pass side grill area and is visible from standing in front of the truck looking into the grill. GM used a 1 1/2" thick stacked plate cooler up until the GMT 800 series trucks were introduced in 99. They then continued to use a stacked plate designed cooler but changed it to be a .75" thick model. They learned that the thinner stacked plate cooler was more efficient at removing heat thant he thicker model.

Considering the climate of where you live (NJ), if you have a factory cooler, I would not suggest increasing the size. In severe winter climates, it is possible to over cool the fluid. Where I live in MS, we do no have that concern.

I use an Intereptor Scan Gauge by Aeroforce to monitor my trans temps. It reads from the OBDII port. I am not sure this is avail for 95 model but if so, it is much easier to install than a manual gauge. As Mike has already said, do not use the test port in trans, it is a dead port meaning the fluid is not moving in there and your readings will not be accurate. If you do mount the sensor in line coming out of the trans and you use any rubber tubing to do so, you will need to ground the sensor to a good ground. I have heard of guys pulling their hair out to get a sensor to work only to discover it was not grounded. Also consider using a good syn fluid such as Amsoil or the new Dex VI.

Let us know what you do and if we can help.

xtrempickup · March 19, 2008

Tom, Mikee has give you some good advise.

If you have an factory external cooler on a 95 model, it will be located in the lower pass side grill area and is visible from standing in front of the truck looking into the grill. GM used a 1 1/2" thick stacked plate cooler up until the GMT 800 series trucks were introduced in 99. They then continued to use a stacked plate designed cooler but changed it to be a .75" thick model. They learned that the thinner stacked plate cooler was more efficient at removing heat thant he thicker model.

Considering the climate of where you live (NJ), if you have a factory cooler, I would not suggest increasing the size. In severe winter climates, it is possible to over cool the fluid. Where I live in MS, we do no have that concern.

I use an Intereptor Scan Gauge by Aeroforce to monitor my trans temps. It reads from the OBDII port. I am not sure this is avail for 95 model but if so, it is much easier to install than a manual gauge. As Mike has already said, do not use the test port in trans, it is a dead port meaning the fluid is not moving in there and your readings will not be accurate. If you do mount the sensor in line coming out of the trans and you use any rubber tubing to do so, you will need to ground the sensor to a good ground. I have heard of guys pulling their hair out to get a sensor to work only to discover it was not grounded. Also consider using a good syn fluid such as Amsoil or the new Dex VI.

Let us know what you do and if we can help.

il look at the truck today see what i can locate if its there. my truck isnt ODB2, still ODB1 which i actually like. i dont now about changing to a synthetic fluid or not, il have to consult the one good trans shop that i know that has always been honest with me, regardless of whether that ment he didnt have to do my trans and send me to a engine repair place instead.