If my truck had a stock oil cooler, should I put a new one in with new engine?

**Big6ft6** · 11-07-2008, 12:02 PM

Title says it all.

Truck had OEM engine oil cooler, it was really nasty and some lines broke when I pulled it out. I put in a new engine w/o an oil cooler assembly know I could add one later if needed.

my question is should I? Or only if I"m going to be towing and stuff at max load?

I figured it was originally added becuase this was a 3/4 ton truck with A/C etc..but I pulled the A/C so that should help with engine temps...but how about towing?

**retired2001** · 11-07-2008, 12:11 PM

Just my opinion, but I'd say yes. Heat is the transmissions worst enemy. There are "add on" coolers on the market that can really help out. My brother has had to replace his tranny recently due to a failure of the cooling lines failing inside the bottom of the radiator and dumping the fluid into the cooing system. His mechanic found this and after rebuilding the tranny, added an external cooler. Good luck!

**Big6ft6** · 11-07-2008, 12:23 PM

Retired2001, thanks for the quick response. The oil cooler I am referring too is the less common engine oil cooler not a transmission oil cooler. The engine oil cooler ran from a piece sandwhiched between the oil filter and the block to a small radiator up front.

I agree, transmission oil cooler is a definite must have in my opinion too, but in this case I'm wondering about actual engine oil. Any thoughts?

**ct9a** · 11-07-2008, 09:43 PM

I would say go for it. Heat isn't good for the viscosity of oil. Even so, an oil cooler couldn't hurt anything.

**dwill3015** · 11-07-2008, 11:52 PM

I am in agreement that the cooler should stay.

**tlperry68** · 11-08-2008, 04:34 PM

I would change it out as well. Those radiators are small and a change would be quick and easy.

**CarpenterGuy** · 11-08-2008, 04:41 PM

How do I know if i have an engine oil cooler and transmission fluid cooler?

**Big6ft6** · 11-10-2008, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by CarpenterGuy

How do I know if i have an engine oil cooler and transmission fluid cooler?

Carpenter Guy,

the engine oil cooler is a seperate small radiator in front of the normal radiator on the drivers side of your turck. If you have A/C it will be the THIRD "radiator" and smallest of the three (the A/C condensor is quite large maybe 2/3 the size of your normal radiator and the engine oil cooler is roughly 12" x 12")

An easier way to tell might be to look and see if you have two lines coming from just above your oil filter and heading out to the front of your grille.

Most trucks have a transmission oil cooler, but it is built in to the side of the radiator. Look for two hard lines coming into your radiator on the passenger side. On newer vehicles it may have its own "radiator" type heat exchanger as well. But on older vehicles it is inside your radiator.