External Transmission Cooler for those without...

[Britain Smith]

I went by the GM Part department yesterday for some unrelated parts and took the chance to look up the parts diagrams for the external transmission cooler. My Yukon has the tow package, but does not have an external transmission cooler at all. I wanted to see what it took to install one. Turns out there is a kit for ~$140 that includes the factory transmission cooler, a pair of the hard lines from the transmission, and other misc stuff.

My question is, has anyone installed an external transmission cooler to a truck that does not have one already. Did you use the existing lines, just cut the lines and use Automatic Transmission hose to route to an aftermarket cooler? Or has anyone actually changed out the hard lines?

I just got a transmission gauge installed and will be hauling my race trailer (~5000lbs) this weekend and we shall see what kind of temps I am reaching before I take this plunge into an external cooler.

-Britain

 

[Rivieraracing]

I've done it to a few vehicles that didn't have a cooler before, just bypassed where it went into the side of the radiator and ran hoses from those fittings to my new tranny cooler!! Easy as pie!!
Don't go for the stock tranny cooler, it's tiny and you can get a bigger tranny cooler, hoses and fittings for cheaper than that!! Heck, head out to Gresham to the tranny place I was talking about, alot cheaper than the stock setup and you don't have to worry about putting it in!!

 

[Britain Smith]

Yea, I will most likely go that path...I was just inquiring at the dealership.

Just a question, on your set-up is the system still going thru the radiator or is it completely bypassed. Did you plug the radiator holes?

-Britain

 

[Rivieraracing]

Good question, not sure since I didn't install this one, can't believe I haven't looked for myself either!! I'll take a look today and get back to you!!

 

[Britain Smith]

Well, if we see each other next weekend at the meet I would love to check it out.

-Britain

 

[Britain Smith]

So I took the car hauler to a race this weekend and although the total weight is around 5000lbs, I never saw the transmission gauge go above about 200degs. It typically sat between 180-200degs.

The question now is what is the optimal transmission temperature? I regularly see 160-180degs running around in town. Do I really need to add an external transmission cooler?

-Britain

 

[blueflamed03]

while that is a good temp, any cooler is a plus when it comes to tranny temps, you cant get it 'too' cool

 

[Britain Smith]

Yea, good point. I am just not in as much of a hurry to put one in.

-Britain