Trucool 40K installed....review

[Sangster]

So I moved the Trucool down below the bumper and opened up the fake lower Denali grill to allow airflow. Drove around in some rush our stop and go traffic to see how it would do. Ambient temp was 95ish. A/C stayed cold the whole time (when really hot, the A/C would struggle before). Engine coolant temp got up to 217 for a few minutes when sitting still in traffic, but mostly stayed 205-215. Trans temp went up to 181 in stop and go traffic. No fan on the trucool anymore, so I think in 95 degree stop and go traffic, this was acceptable. We'll see how it handles towing the boat soon. Jumped onto the highway and the coolant temp dropped to a steady 200-205. Trans temp dropped to 162-165.

So far so good with moving the trucool away from in front of the radiator. It's really hot here in FL right now, so I'll keep watching the temps and report back.

 

[Geotrash]

So I moved the Trucool down below the bumper and opened up the fake lower Denali grill to allow airflow. Drove around in some rush our stop and go traffic to see how it would do. Ambient temp was 95ish. A/C stayed cold the whole time (when really hot, the A/C would struggle before). Engine coolant temp got up to 217 for a few minutes when sitting still in traffic, but mostly stayed 205-215. Trans temp went up to 181 in stop and go traffic. No fan on the trucool anymore, so I think in 95 degree stop and go traffic, this was acceptable. We'll see how it handles towing the boat soon. Jumped onto the highway and the coolant temp dropped to a steady 200-205. Trans temp dropped to 162-165.

So far so good with moving the trucool away from in front of the radiator. It's really hot here in FL right now, so I'll keep watching the temps and report back.

Nice. I think that was a wise move for trucks with the 6.2. In theory, they generate 17% more heat than the 5.3, yet use the same cooling system. People with the 5.3 seem to be able to get away with the Tru-Cool being in front of the radiator, even when towing, but people with the 6.2 start running into problems with that arrangement.

 

[gooffeyguy]

I originally bought a TruCool 40k to install a couple years ago, but after realizing how large it was I decided on a Derale stacked plate model that is the same width as the OE one but a bit taller and a lot thicker. It was even thicker than the TruCool and also had a btu rating very close to the TruCool.

 

[Geotrash]

I originally bought a TruCool 40k to install a couple years ago, but after realizing how large it was I decided on a Derale stacked plate model that is the same width as the OE one but a bit taller and a lot thicker. It was even thicker than the TruCool and also had a btu rating very close to the TruCool.

That sounds like another reasonable solution that I didn't know about. What model Derale did you use?

As I think about this though, for my purposes which includes a lot of towing a heavy camper (as you know but others may not), I still think there is meaningful benefit to putting the transmission cooler out of the airflow path to the radiator. The disadvantage to mounting it low as many of us have, is that it's possibly more vulnerable to damage from road debris, although mine is fully protected by the steel bumper and the steel frame crossmember tube behind it.

 

[gooffeyguy]

That sounds like another reasonable solution that I didn't know about. What model Derale did you use?

As I think about this though, for my purposes which includes a lot of towing a heavy camper (as you know but others may not), I still think there is meaningful benefit to putting the transmission cooler out of the airflow path to the radiator. The disadvantage to mounting it low as many of us have, is that it's possibly more vulnerable to damage from road debris, although mine is fully protected by the steel bumper and the steel frame crossmember tube behind it.

I believe it is the 10000 series 19 row model 51978 or the 25 row model 52578, can't remember which. They're both 2" thick and instead of the AN fittings I used spring clip fittings that take the OE lines.

I don't do a lot of heavy towing and it works good for me.

Your setup under the bumper has a fan on it, right? I think that's ideal for max towing.

 

[Geotrash]

I believe it is the 10000 series 19 row model 51978 or the 25 row model 52578, can't remember which. They're both 2" thick and instead of the AN fittings I used spring clip fittings that take the OE lines.

I don't do a lot of heavy towing and it works good for me.

Your setup under the bumper has a fan on it, right? I think that's ideal for max towing.

Thank you. I will look into that one to replace the 40K I currently have on our 2007, which I don't use for towing.

Yes, I have the 13960, I believe. It does have a thermostatically-controlled fan, and it works fabulously for heavy towing. Both the engine and transmission run significantly cooler with this setup than with the factory setup when towing in hot weather.