Derale 13503 Series 8000 Plate and Fin Transmission Oil Cooler , Black

What can I say that hasn't already been said already. Heat is a killer of transmission, whether or not you tow. Stop and go traffic, short trips, excessive idling all add up to heat. The stock transmission coolers on most vehicles is laughably inefficient. I had purchased this as an add on to the transmission cooler already in the radiator of my 2002 Trailblazer, only to discover that the stock cooler was leaking. So instead of replacing the radiator (project for another day) I installed this instead. This, along with the Efan replacement, has done wonders in keeping my transmission cooler and happy. Mounted it in front of the radiator and condenser using the Hayden mounting kit. Also purchased additional hose, as the one supplied in the kit is never enough. Installation was a breeze. Cut the ends off the lines from the transmission, double flared them, attached the hoses, ran them to the front and attached the cooler. Mounted it up and topped off the fluid. It fits nicely in the space behind the grill and doesn't restrict the flow of air to the condenser and radiator. Worth the price.

Installation: Installed on my 2008 Chevy Avalanche with almost no issue. I was able to install by removing the front grille inserts instead of the whole front bumper assembly which was a huge time/pain saver. I used the Derale 13002 metal strap mounting kit to mount to the metal bracket in front of the radiator. I did go ahead and purchase the Derale 13003 4' hose per previous review suggestions as the supplied hose is a couple of feet short of what was needed for my install. For a GM truck you'll need the Derale 13035 radiator adapter for GM to connect to the cooler to the radiator where you pull the factory cooler line from. Here's where my only problem arose. From the videos I watched on how to install this, I knew that tiny retainer clip that holds the radiator adapter in place was going to be the death of me. It was. As soon as I popped it off, it fell straight to the ground and, unfortunately, I don't have a garage or paved driveway to work in so into the gravels it went never to be seen again. Long story short...BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING/REPLACING THE RETAINER CLIP! Performance: I generally run a constant 185 degrees on most normal days and the other day I was in heavy interstate traffic and my gauge read 205. I'd been thinking about a cooler for a while and hitting 205 degrees sealed the deal for me. In the days since installing we've had some 90 degree weather and I've had some long and short driving distances and have observed a constant 165-167 degree operating temp since installing! In closing, I'm very pleased with the ease of installation and the many videos available online showing the installation of this product as well as the immediate temperature savings the cooler is providing. I highly recommend this item!

I purchased this for my 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Derale makes a good quality product and this 13503 is no exception. I was lead to the 13503 from another websites app guide which showed this as an option that would work. It dose fit '99-'04 WJ's, but, installation was not without it's complications. The 3/8 hose O.D. is too large to fit between the condenser and the frame, it's better to bend up some hard line to get around the radiator. My issue was the connections, the overall height caused interference between the hose connections and the frame which lead to a significant leak a few months after installation. Aside from that it performed perfectly well and I had no problems with the cooler itself. I ended up replacing it with the Derale 13611 9000 series cooler which was a much better fit for my Jeep. I will be installing this 13503 on my '82 K20 as there is ample room for the cooler with the hoses connected.

Decided to install this on my road trip car because of the mountain passes we regularly go through and because we sometimes pull a small trailer with it. This isn't the kind of accessory that you are going to install and notice a huge difference but in theory it will keep my transmission cool while loaded down and pulling a mountain pass. Product quality is good and it has everything you need to install it although the hose is a little short. It would be nice if they included about double the length they do but fortunately for me the mounting location was right next to the fittings on the radiator and the included length worked with maybe an inch to spare. I did have to remove the front bumper in order to install it in the location I wanted (and where it had to be for that short hose to work) but that was mostly because I was working on a large/mid-sized car and not a normal tow vehicle. You will most likely need to cut one of the hard lines going to the transmission, which is what I did, but if that makes you nervous there are adapters for specific vehicles that just require you to screw or clip them in. All in all it was a quick and easy install and now I feel much better about pushing my big heavy car over mountain passes.

The external transmission cooler is a game-changer. It efficiently cools your transmission fluid, enhancing performance and extending the life of your vehicle. Easy installation and noticeable results make it a worthwhile upgrade.