Transmission cooler options
Hi all, this is a good forum been following it for years as anonymous. This is a lil long, but hopefully yall dont mind. Anyway, looking for some thoughts from other RV'ers. I have a 2011 Denali Yukon 6.2, recently purchased a TT with 6400 dry weight and about 7200 loaded(checked weight on a scale) with about 650 tongue weight. When i first bought it, we brought it home which was about a 90 mile ride, some small hills etc. Noticed the engine temp got up to about 230ish and the transmission also got up to 225-230. I decided to update the cooling system and add a larger transmission cooler. Put the 40K cooler in place of the factory one, and replaced the water pump(AC delco), aluminum aftermarket radiator(With internal transmission and oil cooler, as the OE one had), new ac delco radiator hoses and tsat.
Took TT on a 4 hr trip, pretty much flat ground, and ambient about 80F. This time, transmission got up to about 140F, engine though, still was getting up to about 230 at times..then going back down to 215ish. So, I didnt like the trans not getting up to proper operating temp(With no trailer, its barely getting over 110F), so I decided to install a transmission thermostat/bypass. Got the tru-cool one. Heres where i wasnt sure what to do. I decided on installing the tstat before both of the coolers, allowing bypass until up to proper temp. i decided to have the fluid go to the external cooler first, then on to the radiator internal cooler, then back to transmission. Vs going to the radiator first, as the OE had. Ideas? Thanks!
My thinking is, this allows full advantage of the 40K external cooler, and will reduce the amount of heat being given to the radiator coolant...hopefully allowing engine to run a little cooler? So far ive driven vehicle about 45 minutes, with no trailer on it. Tranny fluid gets to 185 and so far stays perfect.
Took TT on a 4 hr trip, pretty much flat ground, and ambient about 80F. This time, transmission got up to about 140F, engine though, still was getting up to about 230 at times..then going back down to 215ish. So, I didnt like the trans not getting up to proper operating temp(With no trailer, its barely getting over 110F), so I decided to install a transmission thermostat/bypass. Got the tru-cool one. Heres where i wasnt sure what to do. I decided on installing the tstat before both of the coolers, allowing bypass until up to proper temp. i decided to have the fluid go to the external cooler first, then on to the radiator internal cooler, then back to transmission. Vs going to the radiator first, as the OE had. Ideas? Thanks!
My thinking is, this allows full advantage of the 40K external cooler, and will reduce the amount of heat being given to the radiator coolant...hopefully allowing engine to run a little cooler? So far ive driven vehicle about 45 minutes, with no trailer on it. Tranny fluid gets to 185 and so far stays perfect.
