Recommended Supplementary Transmission Cooler for 2012 Honda Ridgeline

Question:

I have a 2012 Honda Ridgeline RTL with the OEM transmission cooler. I am looking to upgrade or supplement that. I havent had any issues that require it so far, but am looking to upgrade my enclosed motorcycle trailer from a 5x10 to a 7x14 and haul 3 bikes instead of 1. Total weight of loaded trailer will probably be around 4500-5000 lbs. Towing includes lots of hills in East Tennessee and we also have lots of elevation changes when going from Nashville to Florida for bike week. The trailer has brakes and I also added the rubber SuperSprings rear suspension enhancement. What recommendations do you have to help me possibly prevent future issues when towing a heavier load?

asked by: Ron

Expert Reply:

Oil, transmission and power steering fluid coolers all can lessen the stress on a vehicle that is asked to tow a trailer. These items are especially important if the tow vehicle is to be used near it's maximum towing capacity. Of these three the transmission cooler is most critical and even on vehicles like your Ridgeline that have an OEM cooler adding a supplemental cooler to further drop the temperature of the transmission fluid is an excellent way to help prolong the life of your vehicle's transmission.

You'll want to install the largest cooler you can fit on your truck. The ideal location to install a supplemental cooler is right in front of your A/C condenser. The transmission cooler I recommend is the Derale # D13503. This unit is a high-efficiency Class III type that measures 11-inches wide x 8-3/4-inches tall x 7/8-inches deep. If you have the space to install this cooler it will provide excellent cooling. If you need a slightly smaller cooler then consider Derale # D13502 which is also Class III-rated. All coolers for your truck can be seen on the linked page. I linked an installation video for the Derale # D13503.

For a power steering fluid cooler use the Derale kit # D13212. This includes the 4-pass cooler, hose, clamps and all necessary mounting hardware.

expert reply by: Adam R