Transmission Cooler Kit Recommendation for 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 5.3L Engine

Question

Question:

What kind of trans cooler do I need? I have a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3L. My trans temp is up to 190-209 in the city. Temp out side is about 100 in the summer. Also what kind of temp difference will I see.

asked by: Dustin

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Expert Reply:

For your situation, the best, most-effective transmission cooler I can recommend for you is the Derale Atomic-Cool Remote Transmission Cooler Kit with Fan # D13950. You will also want to use the Derale Snap-In Radiator Adapter Fitting for GM # D13035, so you do not need to flare lines for installation.

When driving in the city, easy and abundant air flow to the factory or aftermarket transmission cooler is not as available as when driving on a flat, open highway. The # D13950 cooler with the fan will provide its own air flow to best cool the transmission fluid. This is useful in situations such as traffic, when the vehicle is at a standstill, to still be able to provide cooling to the transmission fluid.

With the fan attached to the Derale transmission cooler, you also have more freedom with where the cooler can be mounted. A cooler without a fan will need to mounted at the front of the engine compartment to receive the best air flow. If you decide you'd rather have a cooler without a fan, a great option is the Derale 19-Row Stacked-Plate Transmission Cooler Kit # D13403.

It is hard to determine just what kinds of temperature differences will be seen after an aftermarket transmission cooler is installed. I recently learned that the factory transmission temperature sensor for Silverados is located in the transmission, and gauges the fluid when it is at its hottest. The effect of the aftermarket cooler is sometimes not seen at all when only monitoring the temperature with the factory gauge. A temperature gauge in the transmission fluid pan, like the Temperature Gauge Kit # D13009, will more accurately illustrate the cooling effect of the aftermarket cooler because it measures the fluid temperature before entering the transmission.

The installation instructions for these coolers and temperature gauge are linked to this page for you.

expert reply by: Victoria B

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