Transmission cooler inside radiator

[Trailblazzin]

Just in case anyone was curious what the built in transmission cooler looks like, i tore the end off my old radiator and this is it. After seeing this I’m fairly sure I’ll have an auxiliary cooler ordered by the end of the day.

Now to take the test to the scrap yard



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[Matthew Jeschke]

Just in case anyone was curious what the built in transmission cooler looks like, i tore the end off my old radiator and this is it. After seeing this I’m fairly sure I’ll have an auxiliary cooler ordered by the end of the day.

Now to take the test to the scrap yard



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Yeah was pretty sure there wasnt much to them. I just dont like the plastic housing. It breaks.

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[kbuskill]

Just in case anyone was curious what the built in transmission cooler looks like, i tore the end off my old radiator and this is it. After seeing this I’m fairly sure I’ll have an auxiliary cooler ordered by the end of the day.

Now to take the test to the scrap yard



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Yeah was pretty sure there wasnt much to them. I just dont like the plastic housing. It breaks.

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Not trying to be rude or pick a fight... but what were you expecting?

The transmission "cooler" inside the radiator acts more like a temperature regulator.

It helps the transmission fluid warm up in the mornings by transferring heat into the fluid from the engine coolant so it reaches operating temperature sooner. After it's up to temperature then it helps to maintain the fluid temperature by transferring heat from the fluid into the coolant.

If you need/want actual cooling then you need an external cooler.

Depending on where you live it may be wise to invest in a cooler with a thermostat built into the kit. I live in Florida so the temps never get super cold for very long. If I lived up north I would have opted to add a thermostatically controlled bypass.

 

[gpracer1]

Actually the water to oil coolers work well, much more efficient than air to oil for the same size.

Your coolant is about 195 coming out of the engine and cools across the radiator THEN hits the trans cooler heat exchanger. What that temp drop is I don’t know, but it does work for normal driving, not towing a 9000 lb trailer.

 

[kbuskill]

Actually the water to oil coolers work well, much more efficient than air to oil for the same size.

Your coolant is about 195 coming out of the engine and cools across the radiator THEN hits the trans cooler heat exchanger. What that temp drop is I don’t know, but it does work for normal driving, not towing a 9000 lb trailer.

Perhaps my post came across wrong.

I wasn't trying to say that the built in trans cooler was ineffective or not as efficient as air to oil but rather that it has limitations due to it being submerged in the engine coolant where as an air to oil cooler is limited by the outside air temperature.

In other words the engine is constantly "preheating" the coolant before the coolant has the opportunity to cool the transmission fluid.

 

[swathdiver]

Depending on where you live it may be wise to invest in a cooler with a thermostat built into the kit. I live in Florida so the temps never get super cold for very long. If I lived up north I would have opted to add a thermostatically controlled bypass.

GM did this with the K2s.

 

[Trailblazzin]

Not trying to be rude or pick a fight... but what were you expecting?

The transmission "cooler" inside the radiator acts more like a temperature regulator.

It helps the transmission fluid warm up in the mornings by transferring heat into the fluid from the engine coolant so it reaches operating temperature sooner. After it's up to temperature then it helps to maintain the fluid temperature by transferring heat from the fluid into the coolant.

If you need/want actual cooling then you need an external cooler.

Depending on where you live it may be wise to invest in a cooler with a thermostat built into the kit. I live in Florida so the temps never get super cold for very long. If I lived up north I would have opted to add a thermostatically controlled bypass.

I didn’t know it was just housed in the side of the one tank, I guess i presumed that it used a passage or two across the front of the entire radiator, but now I know.

I’ll look into the cooler with a bypass because I occasionally have mornings in the teens. I’ll see what a search pulls up.






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[gpracer1]

Perhaps my post came across wrong.

I wasn't trying to say that the built in trans cooler was ineffective or not as efficient as air to oil but rather that it has limitations due to it being submerged in the engine coolant where as an air to oil cooler is limited by the outside air temperature.

In other words the engine is constantly "preheating" the coolant before the coolant has the opportunity to cool the transmission fluid.

Yeah, that’s why the “towing package” usually includes the air to oil in series to further cool the trans fluid. It’s more about keeping the temp in the optimal window.

 

[GranPrix]

So for us that have PPV's with the cooler in the radiator pictured above, if we want to add an external cooler to further drop the temps how would one add the external?

I take it something like this?: (as you can see I have too much time on my hands at work..)

 

[kbuskill]

Pretty much nailed it.

 

[Doubeleive]

yep, just be sure to move the ambient temp sensor so it's not behind the trans cooler otherwise the temp will be way off in the DIC or mirrorView media item 27546View media item 27547

 

[97audia4]

How I mounted my cooler

 

[thompsoj22]

08 yukon denali xl1500 6.2, on a recent trip at freeway speeds with an outside temp of 43f the trans temp never went above 78f. on a trip while towing our 4,500lb travel trailer up a steep grade with an outside temp of 85f the trans hit 210f. i do have the factory trans cooler but can see it is not thermostatically controlled. i will add the aftermarket cooler but i think ill go with a thermostat. Anyone know if it is detrimental to run a automatic trans with cold fluid temps for an extended period of time?

 

[Doubeleive]

08 yukon denali xl1500 6.2, on a recent trip at freeway speeds with an outside temp of 43f the trans temp never went above 78f. on a trip while towing our 4,500lb travel trailer up a steep grade with an outside temp of 85f the trans hit 210f. i do have the factory trans cooler but can see it is not thermostatically controlled. i will add the aftermarket cooler but i think ill go with a thermostat. Anyone know if it is detrimental to run a automatic trans with cold fluid temps for an extended period of time?

that doesn't sound right mine will hit 76 just idling in the driveway and I have the deep pan and truecool, it may take a few minutes to warm up on the freeway but definitely does not stay that low

 

[Doubeleive]

This is after about 1/2 mile at 25-30mph, 50deg outside

 

[Doubeleive]

Then after about a 3 Mile trip at speeds up to 70

 

[BG1988]

that doesn't sound right mine will hit 76 just idling in the driveway and I have the deep pan and truecool, it may take a few minutes to warm up on the freeway but definitely does not stay that low

Honestly with dexron 6 there is very low minimum temp

viscosity of Dexron VI transmission fluid is thin even at 72F

it's the same viscosity as warmed up Dexron III

seems the actual minimum temperature is 72F recommend temp
but it does not really matter much
lower temp = longer life




MAX continuous operating temp is 212/100C but the transmission will not last very long at that temp

minimum operation temperature is Negative -45C after that it becomes too thick to use/a solid

 

[BamaDawg]

Then after about a 3 Mile trip at speeds up to 70

View attachment 213813

what is the temp yours runs at on the highway not towing with your cooler? Just driving 70 mph or so. Mine seems to stay in the 165-175 range 60-75 degrees outside temp fairly flat terrain Fort Worth to Austin, TX.

 

[Doubeleive]

what is the temp yours runs at on the highway not towing with your cooler? Just driving 70 mph or so. Mine seems to stay in the 165-175 range 60-75 degrees outside temp fairly flat terrain Fort Worth to Austin, TX.

about 126-134 I watch it all the time, I also have the B&M deep trans pan on there.

 

[massivespl]

I watch my temp all the time too because I’m weirdo. It runs about 120-130’
2011 ppv Tahoe