Aftermarket Tranny cooler

I need to upgrade my tranny cooler for my tow vehicle. While it was warm last week but not "August in the south hot", my tranny temps reached 200 while towing to CMP last week. That seems a little high for me.

How about your opinions on suppliers, experiences, etc. FWIW, I am towing a 24' enclosed with a 2500 Chevy Crew diesel with Allison Tranny.

I am looking at a Setrab cooler that shoudl be plug and play. A "diesel specialist supplier" retails these for $450 but I have found them for ~ $250 or less.

Ideas?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pballance

I need to upgrade my tranny cooler for my tow vehicle. While it was warm last week but not "August in the south hot", my tranny temps reached 200 while towing to CMP last week. That seems a little high for me.

How about your opinions on suppliers, experiences, etc. FWIW, I am towing a 24' enclosed with a 2500 Chevy Crew diesel with Allison Tranny.

I am looking at a Setrab cooler that shoudl be plug and play. A "diesel specialist supplier" retails these for $450 but I have found them for ~ $250 or less.

Ideas?

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I tow with the same vehicle (2002) and also have a 24' enclosed, I can't remember what temp the red is at but I don't think that is high. Main thing I've been told and do is check the color of the fluid. If it is dirty color at all, not clear red, have the trans power flushed. It does get hot and humid here, maybe not like Alabama but I don't have any problems towing up any Hills that are 2500 to 3000' elev. Does everyone in Ala that has a 2500 HD have to replace their tranny cooler?

Well, I just changed the spin on allison filter and fluid to Castrol Transysnd synthetic (OEM) so that shouldn't be a problem(in February).

Don't know if they have to change out coolers. I have an '05 identical work truck that I towed a Miltary "Deuce and a half" trailer through summertime Texas at 100 degrees plus w/o problem even at 80+mph so this struck me odd.

I don't know if I have some other problem going on but it points towards a lack of cooling capacity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pballance

Well, I just changed the spin on allison filter and fluid to Castrol Transysnd synthetic (OEM) so that shouldn't be a problem(in February).

Don't know if they have to change out coolers. I have an '05 identical work truck that I towed a Miltary "Deuce and a half" trailer through summertime Texas at 100 degrees plus w/o problem even at 80+mph so this struck me odd.

I don't know if I have some other problem going on but it points towards a lack of cooling capacity.

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If you power flushed the system with new fluid & filter you should be fine in what ever temperature. I doubt if you have to change the trans cooler.

Didn't "power flush" just drained the old out and replaced. Yeah, I know the torque converter, etc stll contain fluid but I figured after the next change I am 90%+ all synthetic.

I may be at slightly "overfull" I am going to check the level this weekend. From what I have read it appears the Allison is very sensitive to fluid level. If you are at the full mark then temps rise, slightly below full when hot and temps stay down :shrug:

I am concerned about flow rates. It looks like Earls has a cooler that will work and Setrab. for me $150-$175 is cheap insurance for the Allison.

Dan, what do your temps run during the summer on a hard pull, ie uphill, 90 degrees+ air temp?