Jegs brand with the 20000 vehicle weight rating. That what I have.

 

Are you going to be towing?

 

honestly.. it doesnt truly matter which make or model tranny cooler you pick. Any of them that are Universal fit or say their specifically for a Colly/Canyon/I-series will work. And any of them are an upgrade to the factory one.

 

hey joe, got a link to it?

 

joe is this the one your talking about?

JEGS Performance Products 60381 JEGS XHP Transmission Coolers

 

JEGS Performance Products 60381 JEGS XHP Transmission Coolers Used the factory center support brace to mount it. Think I had to drill a hole in the cooler to match the brace.

 

Transmission Oil Coolers

The Twins have a factory transmission oil cooler built into the bottom of the radiator (where coolant temps are at their lowest). On the passenger side and near the top of the tranny are two 3/8" ID tubes. One tube carries fluid to the radiator cooler and the other is the return to the transmission. Having a cooler built into the radiator does have one advantage. In cold weather, as the engine warms up and coolant flows through the radiator, the cold tranny picks up some of the heat. This helps the tranny warm up faster; until the fluid reaches a certain temp, the torque converter will not lock up.

There are two disadvantages to this type of cooler. First, on rare occasions the cooler inside the radiator can stress fracture and allow tranny fluid to contaminate the coolant. Second, in hot weather conditions, when driving up steep hills or towing, it's normal for the tranny fluid to get hotter than usual. At the same time the engine, because it's working harder, also runs slightly hotter. The tranny fluid isn't able to give off its' heat to the coolant like it normally would. Why is this situation potentially harmful? To answer this question, lets look at where the heat in the tranny comes from. Since the tranny bolts to the back of the engine some of the heat from the engine is conducted through the bellhousing. The biggest source of heat is from the torque converter. The torque converter impeller receives high pressure fluid from the tranny pump. The fins inside the impeller 'sling' this fluid against the fins of the turbine. The turbine is splined to the input shaft of the tranny. Since the torque converter is bolted to the flywheel, this allows the transfer of power from the engine to the transmission. Because of the laws of physics, when you force tranny fluid to move in this manner, heat is produced. This webpage gives a good description of how a torque converter works and shows the internal parts: TCI - TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Torque Converters Explained

When petroleum based tranny fluid gets to temps of 250 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, it begins to breakdown. It then begins to lose its' special properties so the friction material on clutch plates starts to wear quicker and seals start to soften. Fluid temps below 225 degrees are ideal. Experts claim that a 20 degree drop in fluid temp can double the life of a tranny.

Aftermarket oil coolers are available to prevent or eliminate high fluid temps. They come in three basic styles: tube and fin, sandwiched plate, and a combination cooler with electric fan.

Tube and Fin

Sandwiched Plate

Cooler with Electric Fan

These coolers are typically mounted in front of the radiator/AC condenser to ensure maximum airflow when the truck is moving. The dimensions of some coolers allows them to be mounted to the frame to save space. Again, having adequate clearance for airflow is important. Size for size, the tube and fin type is usually least expensive, then the plate type, with the cooler fan combo costing the most. I would recommend the plate type over the tube and fin for three reasons. The plate cooler is more resistant to damage from road debris thrown up by vehicle tires. This type of cooler is also more thermally efficient; it does a better job of transferring heat from the fluid to the moving air. Last, it's rumored that the tube and fin type can restrict fluid flow One note of caution: in extreme cold, petroleum based tranny fluid will thicken.
The small passages in the plate cooler may restrict fluid flow until the fluid warms up. B&M and Tru-Cool both offer plate coolers with a bypass feature. Cold fluid coming in bypasses the main portion of the cooler and goes directly to the return line.

So what size cooler would you need? Cooler sizes are based on gross vehicle weight (GVW). Add the curb weight of your Canyon/Colly + the weight of the trailer you plan to tow + the weight of the items on the trailer to get your GVW. Keep in mind the curb weight of your truck includes passengers, cargo in the bed of the truck, plus added accessories like brush guards, lift kits, etc.
Once you determine your GVW, round it up to the nearest thousand. This is the minimum size cooler to use. If you go a size or two bigger, thats fine as long as you have the space to mount it. I only tow on rare occasions but I installed a cooler anyway. Even if you never tow or haul, an aftermarket cooler is still a good investment.

Coolers can be mounted in one of several ways. Some coolers come with long straps that go through the radiator/condenser. This is the easiest but least preferred method, since it damages the fins. Coolers may also come with metal straps that can be used to mount it to the radiator support. Or you can custom fabricate your own brackets. Here are a few pics of my install with homemade brackets.

The experts recommend that you install an aftermarket cooler in 'series' with the factory. It's relatively easy. Get underneath your truck and find where the tranny cooler lines attach to the bottom of the radiator. The passenger side line is the return to the transmission. You cut this line, add a fitting, and then run a length of rubber hose to one of the fittings on your new cooler.
Then run a piece of rubber hose from the other fitting back to the other half of the cut return line. Fluid flows like this: it leaves the tranny and goes to the driver's side of the radiator; leaves the passenger side and flows to the aftermarket cooler; leaves the cooler and goes back to the tranny. Installing the cooler in this manner won't void the factory warranty on new trucks and it allows the tranny fluid to get warmed up by the radiator in cold weather. Here are the 'How To' links for doing an install: How-To: Install an auxillary transmission cooler on your truck - 355Nation Chevy Colorado & GMC Canyon • View topic - How to install a transmission cooler in your Colorado 3.5
In addition, a cooler with barb fittings for 3/8" hose makes installing it easier since the oil cooler lines are the same size.



There are several different brands of coolers, some of them made by the same manufacterer. For example, the B&M, Long, and Tru-Cool plate style.
I've compiled a list of the major brands and their websites/catalogs:
B&M: Coolers
Derale: http://www.derale.com/catalog.pdf
Hayden/Imperial: Hayden Products Catalogs
Perma Cool: Thin Line Trans Cooler Kits
Heavy Duty Trans Cooler Kits
Long/Tru Cool: http://www.dana.com.br/Automotivo/GerenciamentoTermico/images/TC_Brochure_2004_Website.pdf

Transmission Cooler Quick Guide: Cooling products Cooler Quick Guide Makco Transmission Parts

I went with the B&M 13k Btu

 

i have a b&m but its the bigger one lol its rare i see temps over 175 but if your going to put one in get an external filter also

 

just bought the JEGS one.... hope it works