Is there a way to know with out taking the old radiator out if I need the new one to be with the aux toc or with out. It's a 99 5.2 l Dakot . Thank you

 

Whats a "toc"?

 

I'm going to guess transmission oil cooler. Lol

 

Id buy the one "with", regardless...… an extra cooler never hurts, the one I got had the pre formed lines already there between the cooler within the trans and the aux one already there and installed....
I did just that on my own 99, (after I hit a deer) though mine is only the 6 banger it takes the same radiator. In my case I found one "with" for the same price any parts store in town wanted for the one "without". made it an easy choice.

 

The oil cooler is mounted in front of the radiator, so if you question is if you have one, check for a second small looking radiator towards the middle/bottom front. If you do have one, you don't need to buy one with the oil cooler as you can just swap it over to the new radiator so long as it is the proper one with the fittings.

 

If you have an automatic transmission you want the radiator with the internal cooler. If you want more cooling capacity, add an auxillary cooler. They can go behind the grill or down under the truck depending on which type you buy.

My brother-in-law (family mechanic) told me that the fluid goes into the auxillary cooler first and then to the internal cooler. This is because the radiator outputs the proper temperature fluid to the transmission. Too cold is almost as bad as too hot for the transmission.

Steve

 

If you have an automatic transmission you need a radiator with the internal heat exchanger for the transmission. It should be plumed so the transmission fluid output goes to the radiator first then to any auxillary cooler you have, that is the proper way to do it and how it's done from the factory.