Tranny Cooler

[nut2424]

Hey i need to buy a tranny cooler immiediately so before i go buy one which ones should i consider? i tow a 3900lb trailer

[Outbacker]

I have always been a fan of Tru Cool coolers, or Hayden. Both are excellent coolers. Ensure that you get a cooler that is rated for your trucks Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR).

[CapitalTruck]

GM Accessories sells a good one that includes new lines and everything, I put one in myself (took an afternoon). Here's the part number for the 2004 (should work for o5).

 

12497071

 

This includes cooler, radiator-cooler lines, cooler-transmission lines. It's not too bad, plus its factory.

[Mikeee]

I have always been a fan of Tru Cool coolers, or Hayden. Both are excellent coolers. Ensure that you get a cooler that is rated for your trucks Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR).

And then get one size bigger.

 

Also try Derale

 

Get a stacked plate style.

Stay away from tube and fin style.

[PasoRoblesJimmy]

There is no such thing as too much cooling. Get the largest size that will fit in front of your radiator. Avoid the obsolete, poor efficiency fin and tube designs of yesteryear. Get a stacked-plate, self-regulating (SR) cooler. SR coolers are more efficient, pack larger cooling capacities in a more compact size, and automatically limit the flow during cold weather.

[nut2424]

Alright so I am looking at two different tru cool coolers and one is for 18000 gvwr and on eis for 20000 gvwr. The 18000 one says it is for full size trucks and medium duty towing. should i go for that one or go for the 20000 lb as they are the same size just less fins wider apart?

[Mikeee]

Forget GVWR.

(There is probably some thermal design engineer rolling his eyes right now.)

Get the biggest SR stacked that will fit.

[C & A s Dad]

Sean,

 

Where do you live? Although it is very difficult to overcool trans fluid, it can be done if you have a very large stacked plate cooler with no thermostat and your winter temps commonly dip into the 20s, teens or lower.

 

As already mentioned, Tru Cool offers a self regulating stacked plate cooler that will not allow the fluid to enter the cooling channels until it has warmed up. Hayden's stacked plate coolers are great and what I have but they do not offer the Self Regulating feature. If you live in a warmer climate, do not worry about this, just get a 11 x 11 x 3/4 model and you are good to go.

 

I will suggest one other thing. I would stay away from the 1.5" thick models. They are not as efficient as the 3/4" models. GM used the thicker models until 99 with the 800 series trucks and then they began using the 3/4" thick coolers.

[Mikeee]

...

I will suggest one other thing. I would stay away from the 1.5" thick models. They are not as efficient as the 3/4" models. GM used the thicker models until 99 with the 800 series trucks and then they began using the 3/4" thick coolers.

Or was this a bean counter issue ???

[C & A s Dad]

Acording to an engineer I spoke with with Hayden, the thicker 1.5" models are not as efficient as the same size 3/4" thick model. He said it is all about surface to air contact and with the thicker models, they surface area does not get enough air contact.

 

He said they once offered the thicker models but their testing indicated they were not as good as the thinner models.