Upgrade OEM Transmission Cooler

[Big Buttons]

2600 area for bolt on stuff. If you have a cam 3000-3200

 

[Smokymance]

Buttons, do you have any temp readings with urs w the texas heat and the 40k cooler?

 

[Big Buttons]

Cruising around it is around the 150 range on a hot 100* day. Hot roding around goes to 180. I towed a 6x12 trailer 2 summers ago and it never got above 170 for the 600 miles.

So around a 30-40* drop in this hot place.

 

[14SWTahoe]

Cruising around it is around the 150 range on a hot 100* day. Hot roding around goes to 180. I towed a 6x12 trailer 2 summers ago and it never got above 170 for the 600 miles.

So around a 30-40* drop in this hot place.

Whats the average humidity out there in summer time?

Yesterday, traffic sucked, so I did quite a bit of "city" driving on the highway and I hit 180 for a short period of time.

I stayed around 165-170 while at cruising speed. I was a little surprised at this, I think my memory is not serving me well and that my temps with the OEM cooler were much higher than I remember them being.

Its not even jul/aug yet....

 

[Big Buttons]

Summer is around 15-20% humidity.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

This is TruKool 40k money isn't it? Wouldn't that be better for the money?

I am probably looking @ something like the Derale 13503 Series 8000 Plate and Fin Transmission Oil Cooler for my 'Nali. Seems like a decent bang for the buck upgrade. Unless I can find a junkyard cooler upgrade or something.

 

[Big Buttons]

I paid around 130 for mine. But when heat is the biggest killer of these transmissions I didn't want to skimp out on the cooler. Especially how I drive.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I paid around 130 for mine. But when heat is the biggest killer of these transmissions I didn't want to skimp out on the cooler. Especially how I drive.

Well yeah you run yours a lot harder than I do!

This rig is mostly for moving kids around on the weekends. I figure the lesser cooler would be enough to make a positive impact.

 

[ezdaar]

Dont skimp on the cooler. you never know when you will need the extra cooling.

http://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...nstall-kit-brackets-fittings-hardware-508374/

 

[08grey]

That kit is only for the nbs right?

 

[14SWTahoe]

That kit is only for the nbs right?

NBS and NNBS.

 

[14SWTahoe]

The OEM gauge seems to be very inaccurate. It was reading 170 to 180 on my drive home so when i got home i used my laser thermometer all around the transmission housing and didnt get a reading over 165. The readings on the transmission cooler were 20 degrees cooler than the tranny.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

The OEM gauge seems to be very inaccurate. It was reading 170 to 180 on my drive home so when i got home i used my laser thermometer all around the transmission housing and didnt get a reading over 165. The readings on the transmission cooler were 20 degrees cooler than the tranny.

The sensor is likely in the pan? Heat will radiate off of the external portion of the transmission. The temperature that we are interested in is the temp of the fluid itself. Of course the cooler will read as a cooler temp.

 

[14SWTahoe]

The sensor is likely in the pan? Heat will radiate off of the external portion of the transmission. The temperature that we are interested in is the temp of the fluid itself. Of course the cooler will read as a cooler temp.

Pan temp read about 40 degrees cooler than housing, so im not sure where the temp sending unit is. But def not in the pan.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Pan temp read about 40 degrees cooler than housing, so im not sure where the temp sending unit is. But def not in the pan.

Interesting.

 

[14SWTahoe]

A bit more detail since I have more time to type it all out.

Transmission pan temp~105
Transmission housing @transfer case~145
Transmission housing @middle~145
Transmission housing @bell housing~165
Bell housing~205
Transmission cooler~145

I am wondering if the OEM gauge is measuring when the fluid comes out of the torque converter?

At that point I dont really care that the fluid gets 180 for a short period of time, it isnt enough to damage the fluid. The fluid running through the transmission is much cooler and the tranny itself isnt peaking at the gauge temp.

My last step will be to install one of these:

http://www.yourcovers.com/transpan_11025.php

One test listed on the website shows a temp drop of ~20F. Between that and the upgraded tranny cooler, if it isnt enough, nothing will be.

Anyone know where the temp sending unit for the transmission temp is?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

A bit more detail since I have more time to type it all out.

Transmission pan temp~105
Transmission housing @drive shaft~145
Transmission housing @middle~145
Transmission housing @bell housing~165
Bell housing~205
Transmission cooler~145

I am wondering if the OEM gauge is measuring when the fluid comes out of the torque converter?

At that point I dont really care that the fluid gets 180 for a short period of time, it isnt enough to damage the fluid. The fluid running through the transmission is much cooler and the tranny itself isnt peaking at the gauge temp.

My last step will be to install one of these:

http://www.yourcovers.com/transpan_11025.php

One test listed on the website shows a temp drop of ~20F. Between that and the upgraded tranny cooler, if it isnt enough, nothing will be.

Anyone know where the temp sending unit for the transmission temp is?

I wonder if there is more than one and it is giving you an average number?

 

[14SWTahoe]

I wonder if there is more than one and it is giving you an average number?

I dont know, but I did some more digging and found this thread...

http://www.silveradosierra.com/transmission/2014-6l80e-temperature-control-unit-t319770.html

If my Tahoe has one, this would explain a lot. Seems in 2014 they started installing a thermal bypass for at least the GMC yukon and some silverado's for the transmission fluid.

I checked the parts break down for my vehicle and year and it says I do not have one.

It would be bypassing the HD cooler until the temp gets above 180F. Going to check tonight when I get home as I didnt drive my truck today.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I dont know, but I did some more digging and found this thread...

http://www.silveradosierra.com/transmission/2014-6l80e-temperature-control-unit-t319770.html

If my Tahoe has one, this would explain a lot. Seems in 2014 they started installing a thermal bypass for at least the GMC yukon and some silverado's for the transmission fluid.

I checked the parts break down for my vehicle and year and it says I do not have one.

It would be bypassing the HD cooler until the temp gets above 180F. Going to check tonight when I get home as I didnt drive my truck today.

Seems odd that it would bypass the cooler until 180*. I could see 125* or something.

 

[14SWTahoe]

No bypass in mine...

I will install upgraded trans pan and see how much that helps. I trust the measurements I took with my laser thermometer, the trans is staying cool but the fluid is spiking somewhere (TC most likely).

Between upgraded pan and aux cooler, its going to be what its going to be, not going to throw more money at it.

There is no signs of an external temp sending unit on the trans case, so it must be internal to the trans where it measures the fluid temp. Maybe there is an internal bypass in the trans as well?? Who knows.

Just gonna start towing and see what the temp is.