Overheating towing with Denali 6.2L - Losing my F'n mind!!

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97audia4

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Thank you! Third girl! We have our hands full! Wife is doing good, sore though. Ended up being a last minute c-section.

As for the truck, just ordered a new radiator, should be here soon!

did your order the mishimoto rad? Mine should here next week, im hoping it lowers the temp while towing
 

puckhead

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did your order the mishimoto rad? Mine should here next week, im hoping it lowers the temp while towing

No, couldn't afford it. I went with another all aluminum one I found on Amazon. Hope its decent but I'm going to be the guinea pig on it!
 

kbuskill

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puckhead

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Alright! Starting on the radiator today. There must have been a clog somewhere because there was still red coolant in the transmission cooler lines and auxiliary trany cooler and some of it was thicker almost like warm jello. Going to try and flush the stock transmission cooler next, maybe see how much they are and just get a new one.

There is also some type of radiator between the main radiator and the stock transmission cooler. What is it and does it need to be flushed also?

IMG-2539.JPG
 

swathdiver

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Alright! Starting on the radiator today. There must have been a clog somewhere because there was still red coolant in the transmission cooler lines and auxiliary trany cooler and some of it was thicker almost like warm jello. Going to try and flush the stock transmission cooler next, maybe see how much they are and just get a new one.

Coolant in the transmission cooler? The TransFlow machine tests the flow rate of the cooler and if below spec the cooler and lines need to be replaced as reduced flow can be a culprit to transmission failure. It also forwards and backwards flushes it out in an attempt to restore the flow rate.

A lot of debris has flown into those cooling fins.
 

puckhead

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I might be confused. Is there no coolant in the transmission cooler? Just transmission fluid? Or something different?

Just did some quick research. Just so I have this correct, there are separate chambers in the radiator that cool different fluids?

I guess I just flushed transmission oil? out of the the transmission cooler. Do I need to add some back in when I put it together? What do I use? Regular transmission fluid? Really deal like a newb right now!


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swathdiver

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I might be confused. Is there no coolant in the transmission cooler? Just transmission fluid? Or something different?

Just did some quick research. Just so I have this correct, there are separate chambers in the radiator that cool different fluids?

I guess I just flushed transmission oil? out of the the transmission cooler. Do I need to add some back in when I put it together? What do I use? Regular transmission fluid? Really deal like a newb right now!


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Yes, the radiator will have an internal transmission oil cooler and possibly an internal engine oil cooler. In the old days those coolers were in the tanks on either side of the radiator.

Did you every sign up for AllDataDIY? They show you how to do it with the machine and with water.

Yes, if you disconnected the lines and drained the fluid, you will want to add clean fluid back in and top it off at operating temperature.
 

puckhead

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Okay, I will pick some of that up. Thanks a bunch, I could have had a mess on my hands. I will sign up for that all data diy asap.


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kbuskill

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Okay, I will pick some of that up. Thanks a bunch, I could have had a mess on my hands. I will sign up for that all data diy asap.


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For the record the "radiator" between the main radiator and the transmission cooler is the condenser for your A/C and NO you don't want to flush that... lol

Also make sure you buy Dexron VI to top off the transmission fluid and make sure the transmission is up to operating temperature when you check the fluid level and that you are on level ground. It needs to be at the HOT mark on the stick.

It is hard to tell from your photo but it looks like you may have an additional aux transmission cooler over on the drivers side or it could be an oil cooler but I can't tell where the rubber hoses connect.
 

puckhead

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For the record the "radiator" between the main radiator and the transmission cooler is the condenser for your A/C and NO you don't want to flush that... lol

Also make sure you buy Dexron VI to top off the transmission fluid and make sure the transmission is up to operating temperature when you check the fluid level and that you are on level ground. It needs to be at the HOT mark on the stick.

It is hard to tell from your photo but it looks like you may have an additional aux transmission cooler over on the drivers side or it could be an oil cooler but I can't tell where the rubber hoses connect.

Thank you for the info! I appreciate it, this site is amazing, no clue how much this would have cost at the shop.

Good thing I didn't drain the ac lololol.

And yes, it is an aux transmission cooler. Had it installed a few years back.


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kbuskill

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So you have three transmission coolers? One in the radiator, the KNP, and that aftermarket one too? You hauling park trailers across Death Valley?

I had the same thing before adding my aftermarket oil cooler...

I needed room for the oil cooler and the 42" light bar behind the grille so I removed the factory aux trans cooler and kept my bigger aftermarket trans cooler.
 

97audia4

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is the stock cooler even hooked up yet? Id like to see what lines they have routed into the cooler on the on the radiator.
 

puckhead

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So you have three transmission coolers? One in the radiator, the KNP, and that aftermarket one too? You hauling park trailers across Death Valley?

I guess so! I would have never known. I took it to a shop a few years back because the truck was going into limp mode, usually after towing. They suggested an auxiliary tranny cooler. It either fixed it or it has been a band-aid now for 3 years I think.
 

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