NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

[BeerRanger]

Thinking of adding one of these coolers to my '99 Silverado 1500 4.8L V8.

Anyone have any experience with these? I can't find any cooling capacity info besides the product description of For Towing Loads up to 5,000 lbs. and For Towing Up to 10,000 lbs. Some other searching has described suggested size in cooling capacity of 3x total load. I think they are made by Hayden Auto Parts, but catalog has the same basic specs.

I will be towing about 4300 lbs load (boat, trailer, gas) behind my single cab truck.

Ideas?

 

[Bondo]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

Ayuh,... I put 1 of the Biggest they sell on my 96 Ford diesel/ automatic...

It works Great...

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

Hmmm, great thread. I was thinking about putting a transmission cooler on my 2005 F-150 4.6L XLT Supercrew. I have a small factory one on there now, would like to install a larger one. Are they difficult to install? Where should we get one?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

Hmmm, great thread. I was thinking about putting a transmission cooler on my 2005 F-150 4.6L XLT Supercrew. I have a small factory one on there now, would like to install a larger one. Are they difficult to install? Where should we get one?

Easy to install you can just splice it in after your factory cooler. Usually just involves cutting the hard line on the output side, flaring the ends and attaching the hose supplied with the new trans cooler. I buy them mainly from Summit racing since they have a lot of choices.

 

[BeerRanger]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

So I installed the Hayden Rapid Cool 679 today on my 99 Silverado. Available at most parts stores under their own part #s. Really easy once I had acquired the right fittings for my vehicle make. Just hose clamped the transmission cooler hose to these fittings and no crimping or cutting the hard lines required. I did have to go back to the parts store for some additional hose as my mounting location was farther than the kit supplied hose would run. It's 95F out right now and after hammering on the highway a bit and idling around running errands I never saw it above 172F, which is 30 degerees cooler than I was getting yesterday before the install.

The package advertises up to 60 degrees cooler run, but that is possibly with synthetic tranny fluid and lower ambient temps?

If I had a proper workshop and the proper length of hose to start it would have only been a couple hour job. Took me half a day including all the trips back and forth to the store.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

So I installed the Hayden Rapid Cool 679 today on my 99 Silverado. Available at most parts stores under their own part #s. Really easy once I had acquired the right fittings for my vehicle make. Just hose clamped the transmission cooler hose to these fittings and no crimping or cutting the hard lines required. I did have to go back to the parts store for some additional hose as my mounting location was farther than the kit supplied hose would run. It's 95F out right now and after hammering on the highway a bit and idling around running errands I never saw it above 172F, which is 30 degerees cooler than I was getting yesterday before the install.

The package advertises up to 60 degrees cooler run, but that is possibly with synthetic tranny fluid and lower ambient temps?

If I had a proper workshop and the proper length of hose to start it would have only been a couple hour job. Took me half a day including all the trips back and forth to the store.

View attachment 98391

Hayden makes good stuff, the bigger the better. I think the "up to 60 degrees cooler" is very application specific. I don't think it would have much do do with regular vs. synthetic fluid.

 

[robert graham]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

My Roadmaster has the Harrison transmission cooler which came as part of the trailer towing package. Harrison is the same company that makes all GM air conditioning units. I believe for towing that an auxiliary transmission cooler is the life of the transmission, and I've noticed that the fluid seems to stay fresh, clear cranberry red color with no darkening or burned odor like some of my previous GM cars without the cooler. The Harrison guy told me the cooler was good for a 15 degree drop but I've no way to prove it, not having a transmission temperature guage. Napa and others have them and I understand they're not much trouble to install. If I didn't have one, I'd darn sure get one! Good Luck!

 

[lncoop]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

mmmmmmmmmm, cranberry red. Thinking I might need to look into one of these.

 

[nlain]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

I think I would get some heater hose and put it around the cooler hoses where it crosses the metal bracket and make sure the lower end is not hitting the unit behind it, looks awful close in the pic. Don't want to rub holes in any of that stuff.

 

[robert graham]

Re: NAPA Rapid-Cool Transmission Cooler?

mmmmmmmmmm, cranberry red. Thinking I might need to look into one of these.

A green transmission fluid just wouldn't match my upholstery!