Tranny Cooler.

[kenmyfam]

Any recommendations for a suitable tranny cooler for a Trailblazer ??? easy to fit with minimal hacking and whacking of pipes, hoses etc ???
Looking for best efficiency over cheap price.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

Check into the B&M tranny coolers...They have good ratings and about 70 bucks.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

could check with the dealer, there may be a factory piece availible that will be direct fit

 

[robert graham]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

Since they're a fairly inexpensive insurance against transmission overheating and failure due to pulling a trailer, I'd check with your dealership's price for adding one. A place like Pep Boy's could likely install one for you. The towing package on my Roadmaster included a tranny cooler and the fluid seems to stay very clear and fresh and never gets that brownish, burned look and smell to it. Good Luck!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

Ken........ If you get one.... I would opt for one that uses metal connections and NOT the rubber hose and small hose clamps.

I have used them on my plow trucks and the small rubber connections always seemed to leak or fail...... until I changed over to the pipe connectors.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

e-trailer sells them. I had a great experience buying my hitch and wiring from there.

I hear that installing a tranny cooler is a messy job. I'm not sure if I'd do it myself just because I'd be worried about messing with the fluid level. I think too much or too little, or wrong type and you need a new tranny, defeating the intent of installing the cooler in the first place. Of course that's just my paranoia so don't take it too seriously!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

I think that unless you are doing radical towing, like 10,000 pounds through Death Valley, the factory original cooler built into the radiator should be sufficient.

If you don't already have an engine oil cooler, that would be a better first add on.

BTW: My S10 came equipped standard with an oil cooler on the 4.2 engine with no tow package. It is rated to tow 4500 pounds. I tow about 3800-4000 pounds sometimes up to two hours at highway speeds, and never had a problem.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

I like this style over the tube/fin type:

I haven't had problems with the slip on hose fittings when double clamped. The hardest part I've found is mounting the cooler as I don't like using the ties that go through the radiator core, I mount them on the core support somewhere and make a bracket if necessary.

 

[rbh]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

HI Ken, as you know, you already have a tranny cooler in your radiator
(I hope )
so when you put in the external cooler route the hose out of the radiator out hole into the coolers in hole and then tranny return.
It will help just that little bit more.

 

[89cruisers]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

I use the $35 job from advance in my Mark VIII, keep it in line with the radiator cooler and I havent had any problems as of yet

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

Regardless of what you end up buying, you will need to be creative in mounting it and connecting the lines. They are all "universal" in application which really means they don't fit anything

Trickiest part is identifying flow direction of the fluid. Most efficient placement in the system is after the rad cooler as rbh mentioned.

Many of the newer (?) vehicles use special quick connect fittings where the cooler lines connect to the rad. Will need a proper tool to disconnect lines if that's the approach you take.

Myself, I identified the appropriate line and cut the rubber flex line at a convenient place and connected the cooler in-line using brass barbed fittings and hose clamps. Going on 3 years now with no issues. Found it too difficult (space wise) to try and get at the lines right at the rad.

 

[gt]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

I just installed 1 in my trailblazer. Bought it at e-trailer, about $45 if I remember.. Wasn't too bad to install. Used the plastic zip-tie type mounts thru the a/c condenser. Ended up removing the top radiator support, so I could separate the radiator and condenser enough to get the zip-tie backing plates in. I cut the tranny line where it makes a 90? turn. Then rotated that piece so both rubber lines ran in same direction. Bought the special nipple, but didn't use it. Also had to cut a notch in the plastic fan housing to run the hoses. Total time, probably 1? hours. I also used a flaring tool to put a very small flare on the steel lines to act as a barb, to help secure the hoses. Also, be real careful removing the grill, that plastic can be brittle, and breaks easy.
I did a lot of research on towing with the TB, and the consensus was, to definitely install a cooler, and tow in 3rd. Check out trailvoy.com.

Take some measurements, can't remember which cooler I got, but there's not a lot of room in front of the condenser.

I tow about 4000lbs, and so far so good...

good luck,
Gary

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

All great and informative replies. Thanks to all of you.
Reason I am wanting / needing to install one is that we are about to buy a travel trailer. Total fully loaded with all Mrs Ken's bells and whistles will be a little under 5,000 lb. I have checked out the trailavoy site and as said above found the consensus to be to put an additional cooler in there.
Thinking about this one
http://www.etrailer.com/Transmissio...lblazer/2006/D13611.html?vehicleid=2006747975
as it is said to be "extra efficient"
If not that one then maybe one of these,
http://www.etrailer.com/tran-2006_Chevrolet_Trailblazer.htm

Is this the adapter you did not use ???
http://www.etrailer.com/Fitting/Chevrolet/Trailblazer/2006/D13035.html?vehicleid=2006747975

I can be very creative if there is limited space.
Thanks once again to all of you.
Ken.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

I like the second one. I had that style in my old Dakota's, bigger 11x11 one though,,, I'm in the desert. The OEM aux tranny cooler in our 4.7L Durango with factory tow package is something like 3"x18" (maybe 24") been awhile since I looked at it.

 

[gt]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

Can't find my paperwork, but I think I used the D13502
http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Coolers/Chevrolet/Trailblazer/2006/D13502.html?vehicleid=2006747977. I think you'll be hard pressed to fit a bigger 1 in. There is a center support that comes down the front of the condenser, so you only have ? the space to work with.

And yes, that's the adapter I did not use. My TB is a 2004. I don't know how the radiators are in other years, but my transmission ports face straight back. That adapter would be putting my line 2" straight back, then I'd need to loop the line back around to the front. If that fitting was a 90?, it would be perfect.

I would suggest popping off the grill, take some measurements, and get a feel what you're in for... Also, a little dab of grease on the clips before you put the grill back on, and it will pop off easier next time.

Gary

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Tranny Cooler.

Can't find my paperwork, but I think I used the D13502
http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Coolers/Chevrolet/Trailblazer/2006/D13502.html?vehicleid=2006747977. I think you'll be hard pressed to fit a bigger 1 in. There is a center support that comes down the front of the condenser, so you only have ? the space to work with.

And yes, that's the adapter I did not use. My TB is a 2004. I don't know how the radiators are in other years, but my transmission ports face straight back. That adapter would be putting my line 2" straight back, then I'd need to loop the line back around to the front. If that fitting was a 90?, it would be perfect.

I would suggest popping off the grill, take some measurements, and get a feel what you're in for... Also, a little dab of grease on the clips before you put the grill back on, and it will pop off easier next time.

Gary

Sounds great. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.