Ready to pull trigger on Derale trans cooler - need advice

DaveO9 · Apr 20, 2024

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the different Derale options. And their website is not super helpful to gain understanding of nuances between model numbers.

I've seen many instances of users here, including @Geotrash, using the 13960 kit. Amazon gives me a Does Not Fit warning with that one, but it gives me the green light for the 13950 kit instead. Does anyone know the difference? the 950 kit is a little cheaper too.

I've also considered the Electra-Cool instead of the Atomic-Cool - the description for that one says medium - heavy towing which should be more than enough for me. But it does have a bit higher amperage draw than the Atomic, so that's a consideration. And I'm also having similar exact model number confusion for the electra, and distrust in Amazon's fitment guide.

Basic question: we have 6-an fittings on our coolers, not 8-an, correct? That would help me narrow things down a bit.

Geotrash · Apr 20, 2024

The 13960 is 46,000 BTU versus 22,000 BTU for the 13950, so it has a little more than double the cooling capacity. Amazon’s configurator has no idea because none of them are direct fits for our vehicles and require some plumbing and mounting work.

You can use 6AN fittings if you want to, but our trucks don’t have those fittings from the factory. So it takes some adapting.

DaveO9 · Apr 21, 2024

Geotrash said:
The 13960 is 46,000 BTU versus 22,000 BTU for the 13950, so it has a little more than double the cooling capacity. Amazon’s configurator has no idea because none of them are direct fits for our vehicles in require some plumbing and mounting work.

You can use 6AN fittings if you want to, but our trucks don’t have those fittings from the factory. So it takes some adapting.

Perfect, thanks. I was pretty sure the Amazon configurator was bogus, it was just weird that some said they fit, others didn't. I downloaded the Derale .pdf full catalog, that helps too. I also found a configurator on their website, which actually recommended the 13950 for my '13 5.3 Tahoe, so I'm probably going to go with that. I don't plan to ever tow much more than 3-4k.

Now, my next question. Where to install this thing in a Tahoe without the lower grill/open area that the GMC guys have. WA state requires a front license plate, so not an option to create a new opening there. There are openings in the fascia for the tow hooks, maybe those would be good enough.

I found another thread that opened with the exact question I have, but there was no follow up regarding the final solution: https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/transmission-cooler-mount-options-in-a-tahoe.135592/

gooffeyguy · Apr 21, 2024

Do you have an external OE trans cooler in front of the radiator already or just the one in the side of the radiator?

Geotrash · Apr 21, 2024

gooffeyguy said:
Do you have an external OE trans cooler in front of the radiator already or just the one in the side of the radiator?

This is a good point. In my opinion and after much experimentation, the factory external cooler setup is truly optimal for these trucks.

Trey Hardy · Apr 21, 2024

DaveO9 said:
I'm a little overwhelmed with all the different Derale options. And their website is not super helpful to gain understanding of nuances between model numbers.

I've seen many instances of users here, including @Geotrash, using the 13960 kit. Amazon gives me a Does Not Fit warning with that one, but it gives me the green light for the 13950 kit instead. Does anyone know the difference? the 950 kit is a little cheaper too.

I've also considered the Electra-Cool instead of the Atomic-Cool - the description for that one says medium - heavy towing which should be more than enough for me. But it does have a bit higher amperage draw than the Atomic, so that's a consideration. And I'm also having similar exact model number confusion for the electra, and distrust in Amazon's fitment guide.

Basic question: we have 6-an fittings on our coolers, not 8-an, correct? That would help me narrow things down a bit.

I’ve had good luck running tru cool 40k trans coolers their cheap make a considerable difference in temperature over a stock one
And mounts in the stock coolers location behind the grill

I couldn’t find the pic of the one I put on the Tahoe but here’s a pic of the one in my old Silverado
In that truck it took my temps from 210 give or take all the way down to 165-175 and that’s without a fan on it I’m sure if you put a cooling fan on there it would be even lower

DaveO9 · Apr 21, 2024

gooffeyguy said:
Do you have an external OE trans cooler in front of the radiator already or just the one in the side of the radiator?

No. I just have the radiator cooling.

Geotrash said:
This is a good point. In my opinion and after much experimentation, the factory external cooler setup is truly optimal for these trucks.

Do you recommend doing the retrofit of an OEM cooler over a Derale? My '09 Tahoe had the factory cooler, and although I didn't tow much, it didn't seem to do a stellar job of keeping the trans cool. It would go over 200 on mountain passes w/o towing and I remember the few times I did tow it got up to 230. Nevertheless, you've obviously done a lot of research and experimentation, so I'd welcome and strongly consider your advice. Thanks.

DaveO9 · Apr 21, 2024

Trey Hardy said:
I’ve had good luck running tru cool 40k trans coolers their cheap make a considerable difference in temperature over a stock one
And mounts in the stock coolers location behind the grill
View attachment 426729I couldn’t find the pic of the one I put on the Tahoe but here’s a pic of the one in my old Silverado
In that truck it took my temps from 210 give or take all the way down to 165-175 and that’s without a fan on it I’m sure if you put a cooling fan on there it would be even lower

I purchased a tru-cool a while back but then returned it. I had the same concern others on here have had regarding how much of the radiator it covers up and possible degradation of engine cooling. Have you noticed any issues with that with your installs?

Geotrash · Apr 21, 2024

DaveO9 said:
No. I just have the radiator cooling.

Do you recommend doing the retrofit of an OEM cooler over a Derale? My '09 Tahoe had the factory cooler, and although I didn't tow much, it didn't seem to do a stellar job of keeping the trans cool. It would go over 200 on mountain passes w/o towing and I remember the few times I did tow it got up to 230. Nevertheless, you've obviously done a lot of research and experimentation, so I'd welcome and strongly consider your advice. Thanks.

Thanks for that. It’s worth noting that my experiments have been to handle towing at the limits in hot weather in the mountains, which probably 95% of owners of these trucks will never do. Even at that, I would have no qualms about keeping the factory external transmission cooler, in hindsight.

The main misconception I see from folks is to worry about transmission temperatures that are well within the normal range, per GM powertrain engineers. 200-235 driving up a mountain pass is normal and easily within the limits of Dexron VI fluid. Most of the time your fluid will be below 200 anyway for daily driving. Some folks offset this with more frequent fluid changes. I personally use 25K miles as my change interval on my towing rig.

Foggy · Apr 21, 2024

Just for more info.. I did not open up my lower bumper/grill for my derale
with the fan. I figured I would IF Needed.. but haven't needed it.
It's at an angle anyway pointing down a bit. I didn't want to blow hot
air UP into the engine compartment. There's a decent amount of dead
air space in front of it.. When I turn on the fan it pulls nicely and cools
the trans 10-15* within a couple miles/minutes

Ready to pull trigger on Derale trans cooler - need advice

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