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dznf0g · 02-21-2016, 04:07 PM

And Joel's guy is exactly right. Andy's statement above is only correct for vehicles which are hauling more than the factory recommended gcwr.

cwf · 02-21-2016, 05:18 PM

We use these on Airboats!

http://www.oilcoolers.com/aeroclassics-lyco.asp

CBWELL · 02-21-2016, 05:29 PM

If you don't have synthetic fluids in trans,diffs, and transfer case as well as engine change to it. Take the truck to a good trans shop and get the filters changed and fluids changed before your trip. Make sure the trans cooler is not plugged with debris on the outside. Had mine covered in mud once, and did not cool well. The Duramax will pull your rig with no problem. Use the Tow/Haul mode to help on hills, and you will not even know the trailer is there. Chris

**jcanavera** · 02-23-2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by field & stream

A transmission cooler is needed, but the factory cooler should get the job done. The other very important factor is whether or not your transmission fluid needs changing at this time.

It really depends on the type and location of the factory cooler. Transmission coolers that are technically a tank emmersed within the radiator can never cool the fluid below the temerature of the water. Coolers that are external of the radiator will do a better job of keeping temperatures lower.

The towing package option that came with my GMC van has an external cooler that is mounted in front of the radiator. All my tow vehicles I have ever used have had external coolers. If they had a tank cooler inside the radiator, I added an external. I never had an external cooler or its connecting hoses fail In all my years of towing. I've also never had a transmission failure in any tow vehicle. As noted regular fluid changes are important in keeping your transmission trouble free.

Jack

switz · 02-23-2016, 04:54 PM

The 2012 Ram 2500HD Cummins came with all the towing options.

We added temperature sensors to the transmission and both differential covers. Both differential covers were replaced with larger capacity covers with cooling fins. We installed a temperature probe for the EGT in the exhaust manifold. The Edge Insight digital gage displays EGT, inches of boost, fuel rail pressure, transmission oil temperature and rear differential oil temperature. Engine water temperature, rate of battery charge and oil pressure are displayed by the stock analog displays.

tjdonahoe · 02-24-2016, 06:16 AM

The factory has installed all the coolers you need, you could spend thousands to make it better,but you end up at square one, I have been towing travel trailers since 1967 and have never ruined a transmission or rear end, my last big truck had 1.4 million miles and never had the head off ,still has the original turbo, and it stayed the way it came from the factory, good driving habits and good maintence will go a long way....

waninae39 · 03-30-2017, 03:55 PM

here is my transmission cooler from ECS parts for my 2016 Q5 3L s-series TV

Chamboro · 06-16-2017, 03:27 PM

The second most expensive part of your tow vehicle is the transmission. That being said, most transmission damage does not occur from pulling at speed to include hills. Most of the heat is created by the torque converter from a slow speed acceleration or from stop and go traffic. Most transmissions have a line going through the radiator using engine coolant to cool the transmission fluid. On trucks they go through the radiator then into a separate transmission cooler which in most cases is sufficient. The problem is with stop and go traffic there is little to no air passing through your cooler and the radiator cooling is not sufficient under those conditions. In most cases all that is needed is a fan to move air over the OEM cooler in stop/go and extremely hot towing conditions.

Al and Missy · 06-16-2017, 03:51 PM

My F-150 had a transmission cooler in front of the radiator. At highway speeds it was fine. Climbing a 8% grade at 30-35 mph in 2nd gear, with bicycles on a front hitch rack disrupting the air flow, not so much. A lot depends on your transmission (mine was 4 speed) and whether or not you have tow/haul (I didn't) but there is no substitute for air flow over the cooler and radiator. I was going to fit an active (thermostatically-controlled fan) cooler to the truck but traded it before I got around to it.

I would think that as long as you are below GCVWR, and can climb the hills at a reasonable speed, there is no need for another cooler.

Al

Wingeezer · 06-16-2017, 05:14 PM

Agree with what other owners have said - our stock 2008 2500HD has been many times from our home near Toronto to Arizona, California, Florida, with no issues.

I think you'll be fine!

Oh - I tell a lie - we did have a problem with a bad load of fuel once - heed the advice to only buy your diesel fuel from large stations with lots of turnover so that the fuel is fresh - Flying J etc.

I knew that, and we normally did, but one time got caught short in the hills of Pennsylvania and filled up at a seedy little gas station in the middle of nowhere.

About two hours later we had problems - truck could not exceed 20mph, all kinds of dash warning messages to service the fuel filter.

Luckily we limped in to a GM dealer five mies down the road and all was resolved!