high performance Radiator

[Tozan]

It looks like my radiator is starting to fail..
Slight coolant leak around the tanks...

1. I do a lot of slow running off road at rock crawling speeds sometime.

2. Stock motor for now but, I am considering installing a 7.0 or 7.3

3. I live in Arizona so in the summer I drive in 115 degree weather sometime.

4. I drive at least 60 or 80 miles at high speed off pavement a week. Unmaintained dirt roads at 60+ mph.

5. I would like to keep my electric fans and everything else original.

6. Auto trans with cooler... I would consider a trans cooler outside the radiator.

7. I sometime travel up to 250 to 300 miles off pavement at a time.

8. I have 195,000 miles on it so far and hope it will go to 500,000 miles with proper maint.

I of course prefer not to break the bank but, I also understand the concept of buy once cry once... lol I just don't want to cry to hard... lol I am hoping for something under $300.00

So what do you experts think???

 

[PG01]

Mishimoto

oem delco is 275-300

mishi is about 500

 

[PG01]

https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/aftermarket-performance-radiators.117786/

 

[Seamus]

There are several comapnies that make all aluminum radiators. Thats the way i will be going when the time comes. I have good luck in 2 of my vehicles with ebay aluminum rads. Champion was the brand. Good quality all tig welded. they are in the 2-300 range and come with or without cooler fittings. Found this on a quick look:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Radiator-F...n+1500&hash=item46b76301ee:g:L94AAOSwejpfhUBF

 

[Tozan]

I have to wonder wouldn't a separate trans oil cooler be better too?

 

[kbuskill]

I have to wonder wouldn't a separate trans oil cooler be better too?

Define better.

The advantage of the transmission cooler inside the radiator is that it acts as a transmission fluid warmer to help get your transmission up to operating temperature faster. Once the transmission fluid reaches beyond 192°- 194°, which is normal operating temperature for your engines coolant system, it then starts acting as a cooler.


This is especially helpful in colder climates. But even where I live in FL it actually takes a while to get the transmission up to normal temperature and mine goes through the radiator before going through the external cooler.

Proper fluid temperature is important because it helps boil off condensation that builds up in the fluid from the heating and cooling process, be it transmission fluid or oil. That is why vehicles that only make short trips and people who don't let their vehicles warm up to operating temperature before driving should change their fluids more frequently.

My two bits.

 

[Tozan]

Define better.

The advantage of the transmission cooler inside the radiator is that it acts as a transmission fluid warmer to help get your transmission up to operating temperature faster. Once the transmission fluid reaches beyond 192°- 194°, which is normal operating temperature for your engines coolant system, it then starts acting as a cooler.


This is especially helpful in colder climates. But even where I live in FL it actually takes a while to get the transmission up to normal temperature and mine goes through the radiator before going through the external cooler.

Proper fluid temperature is important because it helps boil off condensation that builds up in the fluid from the heating and cooling process, be it transmission fluid or oil. That is why vehicles that only make short trips and people who don't let their vehicles warm up to operating temperature before driving should change their fluids more frequently.

My two bits.

Thanks, I can see where that would make sense.

Last time I pulled a trailer my trans temps went up to 270 degrees with the motor running at 225 when pulling bigger hills. I was pulling it across the high desert and it was 100+ out...

 

[kbuskill]

Thanks, I can see where that would make sense.

Last time I pulled a trailer my trans temps went up to 270 degrees with the motor running at 225 when pulling bigger hills. I was pulling it across the high desert and it was 100+ out...

The 40k transmission cooler is probably the best, most used cooler on the forum here.

If you are in colder climates it is a good idea to get the thermostatic bypass so your transmission fluid will warm up faster.

If you aren't already monitoring your engine temperature via the OBD2 port you should try it. It is well documented that the factory temperature gauge reads inaccurately by design.

It will show 210° when up to temperature but the OBD2 shows the actual temperature as 192°- 194°.

 

[Mickey_7106]

Personally, i would get an external cooler with a fan and wire it for a manual on/off switch. Crawling in that Arizona heat, im sure it doesn't take much to bring those temps up quick

 

[Monz11]

Mishimoto and externa tranny cooler