Do ALL Aftermarket Radiators SUCK?!?!?!?!

[2007YukonXL]

Hi All!!!

New to the forum...hi!!!

My 2007 Yukon 5.3 4WD got transmission oil in the cooling system (strawberry milk shake) and...FORTUNATELY...it did not get coolant in the transmission (no strawberry milkshake...just lower transmission fluid).

So...no big deal...bought a Spectra Premium CU2423 radiator from Amazon for only 135.00 bucks and installed it. They advertise a "OEM replacement" and "OEM performance" and "direct fit". Well, the direct fit was indeed accurate. I installed it super easy and ran some purple cleaner and tap water throught the system a couple of times to clean out the oil goo and then poured in 15 liters of a 50/50 distilled water and orange mix.

I thought it was all good and I was happy until I towed my trailer the first time. The OAT was 78 degrees F and I pulled my 5K trailer over the Sierra mountains on I-80 and the engine and transmission temp climbed from 210 to 247.

i KNOW in the past I pulled the same trailer over the same hill at 90F and the engine and transmission temp was a rock solid 210F.

When I installed the radiator I noticed that the core was only 1 inch thick however the OEM GM radiator was 1.25 inches thick.

I called ALL of the usual suspects auto parts store and they all have the same replacement radiator (even for the 6.2 liter) and they are all 1 inch thick.

Has anyone else had this issue???

THANKS in advance!!!

Bill

 

[ezdaar]

Then get a pen radiator or add a external trans cooler.
If your towing a lot, you need a upgraded trans cooler anyways.

With out thermal bypass,
Tru-Cool Max LPD47391 47391 Low Pressure Drop Transmission Oil Cooler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0060NKA1U/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_8TVWvbRZ4WK81


With thermal bypass,
Tru-Cool Max LPD4739 4739 40,000 GVW Low Pressure Drop Transmission Oil Cooler with Thermal Bypass https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00803CTDA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_-UVWvbCDFA66V

 

[2007YukonXL]

Thanks, What is a pen radiator?

I will look into the external transmission cooler

 

[ezdaar]

That was silly auto correct. Meant OEM.

Btw if your trans hit 247, you smoked the fluid. Time to change it all.
There are links here how to do the "at radiator fluid change" to do it properly.

 

[2007YukonXL]

THANKS ezdaar!!!