Just thought I would give everyone a heads up, I have just rebuilt\replaced my 5th tranny on an Armada. Water intrusion was the cause EVERY time including two that I was able to save. Leaking trans coolers in the radiator was the cause! Just some advise if you are at or over the 80k mark I highly recommend either radiator replacement or install an aftermarket trans cooler and take the radiator out of the loop. By the way 2 times I had to have the fluid analyzed to find the water intrusion as I did not see anything unusual! HTH
Absolutely!!! After reading on here about radiator failures I changed mine to a Stillen as a precautionary measure. Cheap insurance, the cost of a radiator vs. tranny. Even if dealer or independent repair shop does it you come out ahead. The radiator is less than an OEM and is a better radiator FWIW.
Probably any replacement readiator is better than the original, however I recommend installing an aftermarket cooler and eliminate radiator as a potential failure.....awful cheap insurance and just about anyone can install it!
I don't tow but do carry a full load often. My only concern with the bypass trans cooler is that I live in a cold climate and worry about the warm up. Is this an issue I should or shouldn't worry about?
Cold trans fluid is not really a problem it will warm up very quickly on its own......the trans cooler is for cooling fluid to 200 or so degrees not for warming it up.
The tranny has a secondary external cooler to begin with after the internal radiator cooler. This has already been taken into account. The idea behind the aluminum radiator is to eliminate the plastic. Minus the plastic less of a chance of braking and a failure.
Don't really have a "favorite" cooler, really any cooler that will fit in the alotted space would work or just a quality replacement radiator should be fine.