live2pull
Full Access Member
Perhaps my statement is only true for the GMT-800 platform. Which happens to be the section of this forum this thread is in.
Oil Cooler Gasket Alternative
- Thread starter Blk00ss
- Start date
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iamdub
Full Access Member
This.
When my radiator cracked, I wanted to replace it with one that was a little thicker and with the engine oil cooler. Rock Auto sent me one that wasn't as advertised. It was OEM, but the same thickness as my stock one. I sent it back and ordered a Denso that was thicker and had the EOC. Denso is OEM on a lot of better import brands, so I'm not concerned. It was much cheaper, too. I got the rad and the GM OE oil cooler line set for right at the same cost as just the [incorrect] radiator.
The ICT Billet block-off went to my buddy and on went the OEM-ish oil cooler. No problems yet and with plenty of 70+ PSI events.
I think the only issue with the internal coolers would be if the truck has something like 300,000 miles or something. I’m sure they’re like everything else- with enough time and heat/cool cycles they will eventually fail. I’m sure it’s rare but the consequences of when they do can be catastrophic. I bought a Level 3 trans from Performabuilt and their instructions state the warranty is voided unless you bypass the internal trans cooler and install the supplied external one. No explanation why. So I called them and their explanation was they do see them fail, and what it does is instantly destroy the frictions in the trans. And it’s extremely easy to spot. They said they’re probably looking at vehicles with extreme high mileage but regardless, it happens. Since they said it’s easy for them to spot if that’s the cause of the failure, I figured I’d just replace my 150k rad and take the extremely small chance that a new OEM rad would fail internally. I wanted to keep the ability for the rad to warm up the trans fluid in cold weather. And there’s no way for them to tell if my rad is bypassed, only if coolant entered the trans. FWIW I have seen members here deal with this failure on more than one occasion, as well as the occasional leaking external PS cooler or leaking radiator. I figure if an external cooler can fail, so can the ones inside the rad. I’d rather not take the chance and run 200-300k on one myself just because of the consequences of a failure. I believe in preventive maintenance.
iamdub
Full Access Member
Maintenance, indeed. The internal coolers are metal and, therefore, subject to corrosion. Those that don't properly maintain their cooling system risk the aged coolant becoming corrosive through chemical and/or electrolytical means.
ivin74
05 NBS Nali
Great point.
Mudsport96
Full Access Member
I dont believe an oil cooler actually adds any longevity to the life of an engine.
My Silverado doesnt have one and at 400+k miles runs great. Pulled a trailer with all sorts of lawn equipment for hundreds of thousands of miles in yhe summer heat. So if someone feels removing the cooler will avoid future leak issues go for it.
My Silverado doesnt have one and at 400+k miles runs great. Pulled a trailer with all sorts of lawn equipment for hundreds of thousands of miles in yhe summer heat. So if someone feels removing the cooler will avoid future leak issues go for it.
There’s also the ones that fail even if the vehicle has been maintained. Here’s one that just happened to a member who bought his truck new and has had the dealer maintain it for its entire life. The internal trans cooler failed and he has radiator fluid and coolant mixed.
Tranny fluid in coolant
Hi guys. I will keep it Short. I confirmed that there is transmission fluid in my coolant of my 2011 Tahoe LTZ. It has heavy duty cooling system for the transmission and oil cooler. What exactly do I need to do to clear the cooling system out of the transmission fluid? I do not see coolant in...
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iamdub
Full Access Member
There’s also the ones that fail even if the vehicle has been maintained. Here’s one that just happened to a member who bought his truck new and has had the dealer maintain it for its entire life. The internal trans cooler failed and he has radiator fluid and coolant mixed.
Tranny fluid in coolant
Hi guys. I will keep it Short. I confirmed that there is transmission fluid in my coolant of my 2011 Tahoe LTZ. It has heavy duty cooling system for the transmission and oil cooler. What exactly do I need to do to clear the cooling system out of the transmission fluid? I do not see coolant in...
No doubt- shit happens. But failure from these, especially from a defect is extremely low, as you pointed out. If you're one to not gamble at all, block it off. As @Mudsport96 mentioned, it doesn't make all that much of a difference in the majority of situations. I'm like you and take the extremely small chance regardless of how little difference it might make. If GM engineers saw enough of a need for it in heavier-duty situations to design one, then I'd rather have it and not need it with how I drive mine.
Just like synthetic oils do a better job in extreme conditions and maintenance schedules allow for extreme conditions, that oil cooler helps when it is needed.
Yep me too. These trucks were extremely well engineered imo otherwise you wouldn’t hear of them regularly racking up 400-500,000 miles easily with just regular maintenance. Thus the reason I replaced my radiator with a new OE one at 150k. There’s no way to inspect the coolers that are inside it and I’d rather not take a chance but in reality I probably didn’t need to; after I opened up my old radiator I could see those coolers looked new. But no sense taking chances. I have done that with a lot of the parts on my truck. When I did the rear wheel bearings at 160k, I opened the old ones up and I swear they still looked brand new. I’m sure they were original too. Every single bearing was still perfect with no wear marks. I’m a firm believer in preventive maintenance like you.
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