Keeping coolant and transmission temps under control when towing in the summer heat

[alpha_omega]

Yes those are my trans temps.

Holy smokes! Literally…holy smoking trans fluid. I sure hope you changed your fluid after that trip or have recently budgeted for a new trans. It doesn’t take many of those kinda trips before things go south real quick and in a bad way.

 

[alpha_omega]

With your TruCool mounted in front of the Rad, have things still been good regarding coolant and Trans temps?

I got these pictures in stop and go traffic. I will go up the mountain tomorrow. Highest my trans got was 145 today and it was 97 degrees out. My fans did kick on to HI 2 or 3 times though. I also had the A/C blasting.
I didn't hook up my tech2 to check engine temp, but the dummy gauge stayed at the normal center spot it always is at

View attachment 281059

 

[mikeyss]

With your TruCool mounted in front of the Rad, have things still been good regarding coolant and Trans temps?

So far the highest trans temp I saw was 180 driving aggressively in 100 degree heat, and I mean full throttle at times going up to around 11k feet in the mountains. Engine temp was 203 if I remember correctly. I'm not having any issues at all with the trucool mounted in front of the radiator. Maybe it's my mish radiator, my 6.2 is aluminum, I have the factory oil cooler, and dual 700w fans that helps things a bit. Even when I don't have my tech2, the gauge has never gone above that normal half spot. Honestly guys, I'm TRYING to make mine get hot and see if I can duplicate what you guys are experiencing.

 

[Geotrash]

So far the highest trans temp I saw was 180 driving aggressively in 100 degree heat, and I mean full throttle at times going up to around 11k feet in the mountains. Engine temp was 203 if I remember correctly. I'm not having any issues at all with the trucool mounted in front of the radiator. Maybe it's my mish radiator, my 6.2 is aluminum, I have the factory oil cooler, and dual 700w fans that helps things a bit. Even when I don't have my tech2, the gauge has never gone above that normal half spot. Honestly guys, I'm TRYING to make mine get hot and see if I can duplicate what you guys are experiencing.

I still have a Tru-cool in front of the radiator on my '07 XL Denali (aluminum 6.2 also) and the coolant temp never budges, except when I'm towing our 6500 lb camper. THEN it starts running hot. Not towing, no problems, no matter what I do. Based on my learning so far, if I had to point to anything in your setup that might be making the key difference, it's those 700w fan motors.

 

[mikeyss]

I still have a Tru-cool in front of the radiator on my '07 XL Denali (aluminum 6.2 also) and the coolant temp never budges, except when I'm towing our 6500 lb camper. THEN it starts running hot. Not towing, no problems, no matter what I do. Based on my learning so far, if I had to point to anything in your setup that might be making the key difference, it's those 700w fan motors.

I have not towed with mine yet, maybe that is the missing link. I don't really have anything too heavy to tow, except for a motorcycle carrier, but that with the bike only adds under 600lbs

 

[Doubeleive]

I was trying to find out which fan design moves more air, all I could find is that 3 blade house fans move more air than 5 blade house fans. I found a used oem dual 5 blade 700w fan for $89 and ordered it, I am going to put it on and compare the cfm to the 7/9 rimmed 700w I have now. I am also wondering at what point the fans cut-off due to speed/movement and if they are even commanded on if your temp goes above a certain deg while driving saying 90mph or if it would even help move more air? and if so if the fans could be commanded on in the tune. Might go with the mishimoto also I really don't like the idea of having the tru cool down below just putting around town it seems to be running about 20 degree's warmer than it was up above which is not a problem but I don't know what it's going to do when I really work it up a big hill.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Don't forget that if the supply side of the fan is blocked it won't blow as much air out the other side.

Probably best to test each fan in free air, before being installed behind a radiator, etc. This way, any restricted flow from blocked, clogged, or bent/mushed fins is taken out of the equation.

 

[gooffeyguy]

What's the diameter of the cooling fan blades, 19"?

 

[Doubeleive]

What's the diameter of the cooling fan blades, 19"?

Depends on which one you are asking about, on the 7/9 blade each one is a different diameter, I can't measure it right now installed.

 

[Geotrash]

I was trying to find out which fan design moves more air, all I could find is that 3 blade house fans move more air than 5 blade house fans. I found a used oem dual 5 blade 700w fan for $89 and ordered it, I am going to put it on and compare the cfm to the 7/9 rimmed 700w I have now. I am also wondering at what point the fans cut-off due to speed/movement and if they are even commanded on if your temp goes above a certain deg while driving saying 90mph or if it would even help move more air? and if so if the fans could be commanded on in the tune. Might go with the mishimoto also I really don't like the idea of having the tru cool down below just putting around town it seems to be running about 20 degree's warmer than it was up above which is not a problem but I don't know what it's going to do when I really work it up a big hill.

I think 20° warmer is about perfect. In front of the radiator, that cooler overcools the transmission fluid, in my opinion. I would bet that you will still never see anything close to 230 even pulling a camper up a big ol’ hill.