I know most of Y'all don't have temp problems with you trannies. But mine has run very warm since new....and stock. Now that I'm going to upgrade the innerds of the Ally, I need to beef up the cooling ability. I don't have a clue as to what to get. I've heard folks talk about "Perma-Cool" and "Hayden" but I've been told it needs to be a stacked plate type and have at least 1/2 NPT fittings (so that flow would not be restricted).


Anybody with any experience and/or advice would greatly be appreciated. My Ally is feeling a little under the weather so I'd like to get it fixed in the next couple of weeks.


Thanks a bunch,


Wayne

If you add an additional cooler to what you have, do not use a stacked plate cooler. The stacked plate cooler is designed to restrict cooler flow when cold(a good thing) then it will open up and get to operating temps real fast and hold pretty well after that. You do not need two restrictive coolers. I think you are seeing hot temps in your unit at slow speeds(stop and go), thats normal because of your constant 230 psi (even at idle) pressure. Synthetic fluid will drop temps and maintane proper cooling. This is the very reason GM and Allison put the G solenoid in the '04. I think every Duramax/Allison needs this update.


mike

Mike,


Thanks for the advice. I've been really frustrated with the temps. Put TranSynd in and it didn't help a bit. Still will run 210-220 with no load and no towing. It ran this temp this winter....outside temp 10-15 degrees. Just don't want to burn it up with the high temps.





Wayne

Wayne


I would have someone hook a scanner to your TCM and check temps shown on your gauge compared to what true temps are. Your gauge could be off or your cooler plugged.


mike

Chutag95 did a different cooler - you might PM him. Also, if you have a Chev, the BowTie really blocks the low speed airflow over the ooler. Some people were making a deflector to get more airflow. Edited by: Horse Trainer

Tom,


Thanks for the info. I will PM him and see what he did.


Thanks Again,


Wayne

Wayne,


I sent you back a more detailed message, but if others are interested, I used a Setrab 640-10. The cooler is about 12 1/2" x 13" with AN-10 (5/8" ID) fittings. Best thing I ever did for my Alli without a question.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


Chris

Chris


Where did you buy it? I would like to see the specs on it. thanks, mike

how warm is it running?

I bought mine of Ebay. If you do a search for Setrab on Yahoo or Google, you will find all kinds of info.


My warm running was 210 at a minimum and over 230 at times. That was unloading in stop n go traffic. The issue is insufficient flow of the fluid at idle. Allison knew it and corrected with the extra solenoid, plumbing changes and software control changes.


I've bought too many transmissions to ignore running that hot. 90% of all transmission failures are heat related. I don't want to be in that situation. I have added a tranny cooler on every vehicle I own that didn't have one with a towing package. Cheap coverage.

Have your trans cooler ports checked to make sure they were both drilled. I have heard that an occasional one gets through without having the coolant line open. Those temps are pretty high.

Hello, I would be intrested in all the details of the larger cooler, and how much it helped etc, (tell us more) and if possible a photo or two would be nice....thanks in advance,http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif


Sir-Col

I currently don't have any transmission cooling issues, but I don't get the advantage of increased cooling at idle because my '04 is an LB7 and the Allision mods are not activated on the LB7.


It seems like it would be just as effective to increase trans cooling at idle by adding an electric fan w/thermostat. A fan may be more cost effective and avoid any GM warranty issues. There are a number of ATV manufacturers that use small fans like this to move air through the oil coolers at low speeds.


Any thoughts on this?

I plan on adding a fan to my tranny cooler. I go to the desert during the summer months and drive off-road at slower speeds.


I will add this fan: (http://shop.offroadwarehouse.com/index.php?cat=108&item=141991)

Be careful adding an electric fan. I've got hot weather experience with an auxiliary electric fan. It helps when you hit stop and go traffic or when you stop suddenly. After some experimentation I found that if I ran it while actually under way it blew enough air to delay the fan clutch on the main fan and resulted in higher peak temperatures than I would get with it off. For what its worth.

I have used stacked coolers for years, and found they flowed more on a flow bench than any other type of cooler. I don't think they are designed to inhibit flow when cold.

chuntag95 - do you have any pics of the cooler? also you mentioned your temps previous to installing it, but i never saw you post what they are now..


thanks

Got my rig back this afternoon. The cooler that is installed is 8 1/2" X 11" X 1 1/2" with 1/2" NPT fittings. Tranny temps after the upgrades and the new cooler were 150 degrees with the cruise set @ 75-80 mph with ambient temps at 80 degrees and fighting a heavy headwind.


All in all, the new cooler is great! I think it is at least twice the size of the stock cooler. There is plenty of cooler above the Chev. logo and plenty below.


If you're running hot like mine was....I'd check it out.


Wayne