Preventative steps to avoid the milkshake...

[bigdonniebrasco]

I have a 99 limited, with auto tranny and 255k miles, and it still runs like a dream (I want to keep it that way). I will be headed to Wyoming htis fall to hunt antelope and will be doing a lot of slow dirt/mud road cruising.

What is the general consensus on:

Which replacement radiator to use?

If I don't tow, why not just replace the radiator and skip the tranny cooler?

Thanks!!

Don

 

[WallyWest]

If I don't tow, why not just replace the radiator and skip the tranny cooler?

You mean just delete the tranny cooler entirely? I can't see that being good for the tranny, it was designed to be used with one. With the stock setup temps are ok but certainly not too low, so I would run a tranny cooler no matter what.

Basically you either replace the stock radiator with another stock radiator, or you put a stand alone tranny cooler in there and bypass the stock radiator. That way if the radiator fails you're just going to have an engine coolant leak, no risk of pink milkshake.

For a radiator bypass cooler I've seen the B&M 70264 mentioned a lot. Haven't done it myself but it's on my list.

 

[jgue467]

Agree with WallyWest. Only Sure way to avoid the pinkmilkshake is to bypass to an external cooler. And yes you need one whether you tow or not, just wait till ya hit some mountain passes trying to keep 70mph. Luck and enjoy! :cowboy:

 

[shahsmerdis]

Are you stock radiator? have you been maintaining your coolant?

Are you in the rust belt? Go check out your coolant lines, if they look rusted you might want to do it asap. Where it actually leaks though You won't be able to tell until you take off the oldradiator.

I bought a denso radiator for 100 bucks on amazon. Going to replace it soon. give you another 10 years of life. You could by pass, but my logic was with 14 years + 100k+ miles you are going to have to replace the radiator at some point in the future, so might as well do both and peace of mind.

The trade off for by passing it entirely with external cooler is, if you tow, and in stop and go traffic you might have an issue with no enough air passing through the transmission.

Don't over think, just pick one and do it. Both are relatively cheap, and you have a lot of miles on your car, so you probably know how to maintain your car. or know of someone who can do it for you.

 

[bigdonniebrasco]

Thank you very much for all of the input!!

I should have been more clear (my fault)...

I should have said:

* replace with an OEM radiator or a similarly configured one.

* replace with a different radiator AND add a tranny cooler.

Thanks again!

 

[nobb]

Or just add a tranny cooler, then take a 3/8" hose and connect the two existing cooler ends on the radiator. That way if it corrodes through the coolant is contained and the truck still driveable until you replace the radiator.

 

[fblainen11]

Personally I think the tranny cooler is overkill especially if you don't tow.

Just replace the radiator and be done with it. Be sure to regularly maintain the fluids to keep them clean.

 

[etc.]

Add a Hayden 678 and be done.

/thread

 

[DK327]

I would say replace the OEM radiator with Koyorad 1998A or Denso, then perform regular coolant flushes every 30K miles to prolong the life of radiator.

 

[Kmurt]

Ultimate peace of mind: replace radiator and add external tranny cooler.

Replaced my original radiator recently and glad I did. Tranny lines were in real bad shape. I got super lucky I caught it in time. Also added an external tranny cooler and couldn't be happier.

 

[alumarine]

Personally I think the tranny cooler is overkill especially if you don't tow.

Just replace the radiator and be done with it. Be sure to regularly maintain the fluids to keep them clean.

This.