[Rockcrawlerdude]

i will probably be doing something like this in the upcoming months. If someone has beaten me to it, let's see your setup. Otherwise, stay tuned for more info.

https://www.etrailer.com/tran-2016_Chevrolet_Colorado.htm?style=2.8L+I4+Engine

 

[Burgess159]

Would definitely be interested in knowing how well it works for you and what difference it makes. Have never thought about putting one of these on the truck, but I guess if I towed a lot, it would probably be well worth it.

 

[RollyPollieBenito]

Keeping my eyes on this one.

 

[Roundhouse]

Im surprised a cooler wasnt a dealer option. Just imagine these trucks with a duramax, allison & dana combination. That so6hds like something i'd look into after the warranty expires.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Alright, so I've been crawling around under the truck and, boy, did they make it hard to get to anything. I've found a spot to put an auxiliary cooler but it would have to be short and wide (about 2" x 24")

But, also, I have noticed that the part of the radiator that is utilized as the factory trans cooler is completely blocked by a plastic shroud. At first, I thought the plastic was diverting air into the trans cooler, but it is not. This plastic area diverts air down and out the bottom of the truck, completely blocking the trans cooler. See attached pic. This is the lower opening, a few inches below the grill, between the fog lights.

I am thinking my first shot might be to remove this plastic piece and see if:
A) it helps with trans cooling
B) hurts mpg (mpg enthusiasts know that blocking the grill helps mpg)

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Some plastic removed, showing the transmission cooler lines plumbed into the bottom of the rad

 

[Burgess159]

why put a transmission cooler on the truck then if no air can get to it. That's.....really dumb to say the least haha. Or is it? Seems like it would be.

 

[RollyPollieBenito]

The trans cooler was in place before the bean counters at EPA got to the truck...

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

why put a transmission cooler on the truck then if no air can get to it. That's.....really dumb to say the least haha. Or is it? Seems like it would be.

I'm with you. I'm stumped. It's completely blocked from the front.

 

[bigoilbob]

Is this not an oil/liquid cooler? Looks like it to me, at least, and I'm also assuming that it is similar to what I THINK I have in my 2018. Set me straight if I'm wrong. But if so, then air flow is irrelevant. And also if so, then I don't see how trans cooling with a properly sized liquid/liquid cooler can be significantly improved on with oil/air cooler. Oil/air coolers are WAY less efficient in the first place, because vis of the cooled oil increases and not only insulates the flow from the outside in, AND the cooler, more viscous oil also resists that flow. And, since your radiator (like almost all modern radiators) is so oversized that it's thermostat usually only lets a fraction of the coolant flow into the engine, under all but the most punishing conditions, it has beaucoup spare capacity, for both the engine and the transmission. Put another way, IF the liquid/liquid trans cooler is properly sized (and I'll bet our stock one is), then by the time trans temp gets too high, we need to be unloading the drive train any how, by slowing down, pulling over, etc.

Also, I just hate more mechanical complexity and leak points. I'd ask Chevy, and heed their advice.....

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Very valid point, and you're right. I had to do some reading as I didn't know all the things you know. So, thank you for that information. You've at least made sense of the blocked off trans cooler.

But, the stock trans cooler on the truck (as with many trucks) still isn't satisfying me. I'm still seeing 220° as normal for towing and 200° as normal for stop and go traffic.

You can't over cool trans fluid (you do want it to warm up on a cold start) so I'm still interested in running a cooler after my radiator, which is the correct way to run a trans cooler anyway.

Since I've already tuned the TCM I don't think my trans is covered under warranty anyway. At least, not supposed to be, according to Gm. So, it's up to me to make it last.

If I was going to talk to gm about the transmission, I would ask them why they didn't put a stronger transmission behind it to begin with (look up the maximum torque rating for the 6L50)

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Update: the panels that block the lower radiator are removable. Even though it has been pointed out that it is an oil/liquid cooler, I feel like more airflow could only help (especially in a warm climate)

I think I am going to pull the panels out when I have time to tear the truck apart

Pic stolen from another forum showing he passenger side panel removed

 

[RollyPollieBenito]

The temp sensor in the middle may have to be relocated. Otherwise it may read the writing no temp with those panel removed.

 

[Hookster]

Update: the panels that block the lower radiator are removable. Even though it has been pointed out that it is an oil/liquid cooler, I feel like more airflow could only help (especially in a warm climate)

I think I am going to pull the panels out when I have time to tear the truck apart

Pic stolen from another forum showing he passenger side panel removed
View attachment 4929

Keep us posted , I know you tow a lot and will be towing before it gets cool.. You can take them out without pulling the front end.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Keep us posted , I know you tow a lot and will be towing before it gets cool.. You can take them out without pulling the front end.

How? I'd love to pull them but I don't really want to pull the nose off the truck

 

[Hookster]

How? I'd love to pull them but I don't really want to pull the nose off the truck

Check that other forum post 10 from Chuck_B

 

[Hookster]

I would probably pull just the drivers side since that where the trans. cooler is, and see how that does first.

 

[Skrow]

Has anyone pulled the covers on theirs yet? Did you put any mesh or anything to help limit bug ingestion into the cooling fins?

 

[18Z71Minimax]

Very valid point, and you're right. I had to do some reading as I didn't know all the things you know. So, thank you for that information. You've at least made sense of the blocked off trans cooler.

But, the stock trans cooler on the truck (as with many trucks) still isn't satisfying me. I'm still seeing 220° as normal for towing and 200° as normal for stop and go traffic.

You can't over cool trans fluid (you do want it to warm up on a cold start) so I'm still interested in running a cooler after my radiator, which is the correct way to run a trans cooler anyway.

Since I've already tuned the TCM I don't think my trans is covered under warranty anyway. At least, not supposed to be, according to Gm. So, it's up to me to make it last.

If I was going to talk to gm about the transmission, I would ask them why they didn't put a stronger transmission behind it to begin with (look up the maximum torque rating for the 6L50)

I think you can overcool trans fluid... if the trans fluid temp doesn't get high enough or for long enough, you can have condensation build up and having water in your transmission is a problem. The viscosity will also be different at low operating temperatures. Many auxiliary transmission coolers suggest putting them before any built in transmission cooler in the radiator because it's not only a cooler, but a transmission fluid heater.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

@18Z71Minimax Rather than argue with you, I'll just say that your opinion is completely different than my opinion on the topic of trans cooling. Happy trucking!