Trans cooler setups

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
I'd like to see some pics of your guys aftermarket trans cooler setups. I can only imagine I will be battling trans temps this summer/season since I'm now running 2 shims with the ratiotek spring in conjunction with a suncoast 1053 converter. Currently running completely stock cooler setup and I'm seeing about roughly 130 degrees trans temps over ambient temp with that kind of line pressure and stall.

Curious what setups people are running, what has worked, what hasnt...cheap kits, expensive kits...whatever. looking for ideas right now!
 

Awenta

Active member
Sep 28, 2014
4,090
2
38
CT
Subd, curious to see what you guys have going on. Was considering either Mikes cooler or the larger one from merchant.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 

CaptPhil

Active member
Sep 10, 2011
1,012
0
36
Delaware
These are two setrab coolers in the bed with fan setups on them. I am running about as much line pressure as it can make with a 2600 stall. I see about 120 over ambient the majority of the time. I am planning on doing away with the fans and moving the coolers up in front of the radiator behind the intercooler though.

5ed0acbac1a22207ffe1bb14900eb999.jpg
 

OregonDMAX

NOT IN OREGON, NO DURAMAX
Apr 28, 2013
3,964
8
38
36
Goodyear, AZ
Not much of an upgrade but just to battle the 100* heat here I swapped the 5sp cooler for the 6sp cooler. I picked up the cooler on amazon for $80. Dropped temps about 10-20* or so depending on conditions compared to the 5sp stocker.
 

Big Chris

2 Duramaxes> 1 Duramax
Mar 30, 2010
361
1
18
46
Rives Junction MI
I've had an Earl's cooler on my lly since 08. I don't think it is supposed to be as high quality as Mike L's though. It's the one Renodmax made a thread about on DP back in the day. It works well. No issues.
 
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CaptPhil

Active member
Sep 10, 2011
1,012
0
36
Delaware
So what would be the most efficient way of cooling a trans? Bed mounted with a fan or up front?
I really think a front mounted one would be more efficient, you just can't match the airflow that a moving truck has with a fan. But a fan can cool the fluid while sitting still, which a front mount cannot do.
 

Mike L.

Got Sheep?
Staff member
Vendor/Sponsor
Aug 12, 2006
15,681
232
63
Fullerton CA
Unless you are using the radiator heat exchanger in line; you will get no air flow below 35 mph. A fan will be a must in that situation. It's amazing how much the heat exchanger knocks down temps. The new Ford 6.7 only uses a heat exchanger ( water to oil ) and seems to work.
 

malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,294
610
113
42
in the buckeye state
I noticed with stock fan clutch not much air movement at idle/low rpm/low speed, engine oil and tranny temps would get high/warm till I got moving..
.. Swapped to a Hayden fan clutch, engine fan will now hold a sheet of paper on the trans cooler at idle before it wouldn't think about staying.. Along with aftermarket tranny lines. In 60-70° ambient I see 130-140. 0° ambient I'm running ~100° tct and ~180° ect, natualy that's loaded pulling the trailer
 

malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,294
610
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in the buckeye state

plowboy_lbz

Farmer
Aug 6, 2013
431
0
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malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,294
610
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in the buckeye state
malibu795, is the fan clutch for the 2007.5 in your signature and is it the new body style?

Yes ran one on both trucks. Encluding when the red truck had a 6.5TD in it

As for cold weather say 0° its on at initial startup..its engaged, After a few minutes it disengages. Truck warms up to about 160°.. Takes little longer now that the EGR cooler is removed..
Just started the truck bout 15minutes ago. Oil temp(cooler fans off) is ~140° Tanny is ~90° ect is ~140° ambient is 27°
My LMM doesn't have elevated idle. This is all done at ~750rpm
Fwiw. Had no issues at -20°F which is the coldest I've seen with this setup
 
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Bonestock

Active member
Aug 9, 2010
1,358
1
38
Worland Wy
I used to run Earls coolers and used to like them. After 3 different coolers on 3 different trucks I am done with Earls. They are too thin and dont hold psi well especially in cold temps. I have since switched to the Mike L cooler and am very impressed with the cooler construction mounting brackets and performance of the cooler. Running ppe and magtec pans on built 5speed and built 6 speed trans temps are right around 155 to 170 normal driving.
 

JDub

Member
Aug 9, 2009
607
0
16
Hooper, Utah
I used the BD cooler kit, removed the built in fan and installed it in the stock location with a couple brackets I made. Paired with the DRP high flow cooler lines it was all super simple to install and temps came down from 100-110 over ambient to 50-60 over ambient.
 

malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,294
610
113
42
in the buckeye state
Should clarify.. Efi, 4" exhaust and fan clutch went on within the first month I had the truck.. Egr came off this past thanksgiving day. Had no issues with all that wonderful ~20° temps we had last winter
 

Ridin'GMC

I like red
May 20, 2010
645
22
18
MA
Should clarify.. Efi, 4" exhaust and fan clutch went on within the first month I had the truck.. Egr came off this past thanksgiving day. Had no issues with all that wonderful ~20° temps we had last winter

Does the aftermarket fan clutch consume more fuel since it creates more work on the engine at idle and through out the driving rpm range?