Advance Auto Parts has three versions of the Imperial Maxi-Cool Cooler, the light, medium, and heavy duty versions. Does it matter that much which one to get? or should I get one suited to my actual driving style, medium duty?

 

no one knows?

 

heavy duty.

btw be patient, you only waited two hours for a reply.

 

Extra heavy duty. I tested multiple trans coolers on my truck, and very few of them actually even made any difference. Most did nothing. It wasn't until I went to one rated at 32000 GVW did I see any signficant change in trans temps. Search for posts by me on this topic, I have covered it in pretty good detail many times.

 

I'm just curious, but does the fact that you live in Colorado make any difference in your results (i.e. the higher altitude)?

 

I think the fact that I live in high altitude and drive up and down steep elevations all the time simply means that my trans has to work even harder then average. So when I test out a trans cooler, i'm going to be able to tell faster and better if it is working or not because I am putting it through much more extreme conditions. So if you live at lower elevation and flater landscapes, you would ultimately have the same results, it just might take you longer to come to the same conclusions because it won't be as evident if your trans is really not that stressed out the majority of the time.

The key to understanding if a trans cooler is sufficient is not by watching how it performs under normal operating conditions, but rather how it performs under extreme conditions (excessive towing, steep grades, high ambient temps, i.e. the times you really need a cooler to be there to save your trans). So, I would still recommend a heavy duty cooler to everyone regardess of altitude. You might buy a light-duty cooler, and find that it works fine under normal conditions, but when you find yourself in one of these extreme conditions, you will be kicking yourself for not having bought a better trans cooler.

 

Sorry for the thread jacking but I have an '01 Ram 1500 4x4 "Off Road Edition" with Dodge's "Towing Package". Does anybody know if that tranny cooler is worth a damn or should I be looking at something more heavy duty. I do some occassional towing but I'm going to be towing a pretty heavy boat pretty soon.

 

I've visually compared the size and design of the OEM cooler with some aftermarket coolers. It seems to be about the same size and configuration (i.e. cooler type and # of passes) as aftermarket ones rated at 15000-17000 GVW. This seem right too since that would about match what our trucks where rated for when you combine the weight of the truck and the max towing capacity rating. In my testing of aftermarket coolers in this same size range, they had no impact on trans fluid temps when compared to running no cooler at all. Even the better plate/fin design cooler only made a difference of about 5 degrees, and that was only under normal operating conditions. As soon as I put a heavy load on it, there was no difference at all, the cooler just couldn't keep up to the cooling needs under those conditions.

I wonder if an original build sheet of a truck with one of these coolers describes the actual rating of the cooler?

If it where my truck, i'd get a better one (i.e. bigger cooler with higher GVW rating, or one with an integrated fan and thermostat) if I where going to be doing something more, like towing a heavy boat frequently.

 

Thanks
If I replace the cooler, will a heavy duty slide right in the same place as the old one or do I need to get creative on the placement? Or do you just add the new cooler in line with the old one for tandum cooling.

 

I never liked the idea of running two coolers. I run my oversized cooler on the outside of the A/C condensor instead of between it and the radiator (see pic below). That's about the only place it would fit honestly. If you run one with its own fan though, they are smaller in size, but thicker due to the fan, so you really have to get creative with its location (it might fit next to the radiator if you removed one of the rubber flaps for improved air flow).