Transmission Cooler Recommendation for a 2008 Honda Pilot

Question:

What is the difference among all the coolers? I see a few choices differing in price. Is it mainly the size for fitment? Or is there a difference in performance? Which one would you recommend for my vehicle not pulling a trailer but consistently hauling tools?

asked by: Fadi E

Expert Reply:

The main differences between the available transmission coolers is the style of the coolers and the size. There are style that are more efficient that others, and obviously the bigger the cooler the more efficient it is as well.

The tube-and-fin style has a tube that carries the transmission fluid through the cooler. It is also distinguished by its turbulators, which agitate the fluid to get more of it to contact the aluminum in the tube. Aluminum fins are attached to the outside of the tube and, since aluminum dissipates heat quickly, the heat from the fluid is absorbed by the aluminum, moves out to the fins, and is then carried away from the cooler by the air flowing through the fins on the outside of the cooler. This style of cooler works well but is the least efficient type of cooler that we carry.

Plate-and-fin coolers work on the same principle as the tube-and-fin-style coolers but are more efficient. Plate-and-fin coolers force fluid through much smaller plates that, like the tube-and-fin cooler, cause turbulation (or agitation) of the fluid. But fluid in the plate-and-fin style is cooled better before leaving the cooler because the smaller, flatter plates allow more fluid to contact the aluminum surface inside the cooler.

Stacked-plate coolers are the most efficient coolers. They have the same design as the plate-and-fin style, but they have high-flow turbulators for heavy-duty towing or race applications.

When picking out a cooler the best way to do it is to go with the largest cooler that will fit the available space in front of the radiator of your vehicle.

For example the Derale Cooler part # D13503 would be a great choice and a very popular option for a 2008 Honda Pilot like yours. This cooler is 11" wide x 8-3/4" tall x 7/8" deep and is a plate-fin cooler.

I attached an install video for this cooler on a very similar 2006 Honda Pilot as yours for you to check out as well.