What Is The Best Radiator Available???

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2007YukonXL

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Today in Arizona the OAT was a cool 95 and I was towing my EMPTY car trailer and the engine was running warm and the transmission temp was 225 F so I am considering replacing the radiator.

The SUV has a new AC Delco radiator and when I installed it I noticed that the side tanks are reasonably wide however the core is only about half as thick as the tanks so there has got to be a radiator that has a full core thickness radiator.

I really want an oil cooler this time so I want a radiator with the oil cooler on the driver side.

Does anyone make a direct fit bolt on radiator like this???

THANKS for your advice
 

Geotrash

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Cold Case Radiators GMT569A. Just installed one this weekend. It’s a 2-row, with oil coolers on both ends. Bought mine from summit racing. Pay attention to the reviews that describe the minor mods needed for a perfect fit because the core is more than twice as thick as the stock radiator. Took me an hour and a half to do the whole job - mods and all, and I wasn’t rushing. I used a Dremel tool to clearance the top radiator supports and the top and bottom of the fan shroud to make it sit flush.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rad-gmt569a/make/gmc/model/yukon-xl-1500/year/2012

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Geotrash

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Happy to help. Feel free to ask if you have any other install or cooling-related questions. We tow a 6500 lb. camper with our 2012, so I've done a bunch of work to make it a towing beast.
 

kbuskill

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Just ordered one. THANKS for the advice!!!

Also don't forget to install a restrictor in the port leading to your suge tank or the radiator will over cool and throw a CEL and "engine hot" message on the DIC.

Ask me how I know.

I used the aluminum valve stem from an old TPMS sensor i had laying around.

There are pics of it in my build thread.

Pics for reference...
Resized_20210109_111104.jpeg

rps20210405_212211_976.jpg

rps20210405_212255_416.jpg
 

Foggy

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Also don't forget to install a restrictor in the port leading to your suge tank or the radiator will over cool and throw a CEL and "engine hot" message on the DIC.

Ask me how I know.

I used the aluminum valve stem from an old TPMS sensor i had laying around.

There are pics of it in my build thread.

Pics for reference...
View attachment 275468

View attachment 275469

View attachment 275470


I have the Mishimoto Radiator.... Do you think this situation exists with it as well???
I have NOT noticed any issues, other than I feel like I'm still running too hot when towing. Maybe this might be a thing on the mishi radiator also ??????
 

kbuskill

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I have the Mishimoto Radiator.... Do you think this situation exists with it as well???
I have NOT noticed any issues, other than I feel like I'm still running too hot when towing. Maybe this might be a thing on the mishi radiator also ??????

Not having a restrictor in that port will cause the truck to run too cool, especially in colder weather. It doesn't actually cause the truck to run hot but when the ECU doesn't see the temperature rise to a certain point within a certain amount of time from a cold start it "thinks" there is a problem, like no coolant getting to the ECT sensor and it shows engine hot on the DIC.

I don't have any experience with the Mishimoto radiator but it would be easy to check by pulling the small hose that goes from the surge tank to the passenger side end tank on the radiator and seeing what size hole is in the port.

I suppose if you think you are still running too hot you could drill out the restrictor in that port, assuming it has one, a little bit but it may cause over cooling when not towing.

The problem is that this port feeds the cooled water/coolant from the cold side of the radiator into the surge tank and back into the engine BEHIND the thermostat.

So at higher rpm it pushes more coolant through the surge tank and into the engine, effectively bypassing the thermostat.
 

HD_LS

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Second what kbuskill said above. Adding that I had both Mishimoto and Cold Case radiators sitting in my garage before I installed the Cold Case. The Mishimoto did have a restriction in the upper hose connection. However, it was obvious that it was not built for max possible cooling. Better than stock, sure, but not maxed out like the Cold Case. So if you need better cooling, get a Cold Case, and do the custom fitting required to get it in there.
 

Sparksalot

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