Recommended Transmission Cooler with Fan for 2012 Chevy Suburban

Question:

Are all vehicles the same when it comes to transmission lines running through the radiator? I have a 2012 Suburban and I am wanting to determine which line is the cold return line for the transmission line running through the radiator before installing an axilluary cooler. Will the cold return line always be the lower line on the radiator or could it be the upper line?

asked by: Jason

Expert Reply:

I spoke with my contact at Derale and he said that your 2012 model Chevy Suburban 1500 uses 1/2 inch transmission lines so the Derale Hyper-Cool Transmission Cooler # D13960 won't be the best option.

For your Suburban you will instead want the Derale Hyper-Cool # D15960 which is essentially the same cooler with fan but designed to work with the 1/2 inch lines. An adapter isn't needed as the compression fitting that comes included with this cooler should work perfectly.

A transmission cooler like this that is equipped with a fan allows for more mounting location options since it doesn't need to be in direct air flow but there is no reason that you need to avoid direct air flow, either. Mounting the cooler in front of the AC condenser core on your Suburban is a great mounting location and will work just fine.

expert reply by: Chris R

Jason

12/26/2018

Now that I know that this cooler will work with my vehicle, what do I all need? My vehicle does not have an auxiliary cooler already, so I will need to run the cool out line from the radiator to the cooler, then to the return line. From what I can tell, I possibly need the following: Parts: #D15960 #D13035 to connect to the radiator #F2526 for the fans power #D13063 for mounting Will I need more tubing or anything else I am missing?

Chris R.

12/26/2018

The Derale Snap-In Radiator Adapter Fitting # D13035 that you referenced will not actually fit the radiator and lines for your 2012 Chevy Suburban. My contact at Derale said that the compression fitting that comes included with the Transmission Cooler # D15960 is what you need to connect it to the radiator. You can use the Firestone Fuse Circuit Tap Kit # F2526 that you mentioned to power the cooler's fan from a switched ignition source source in the fuse box if you don't want to splice into the vehicle's wiring. The cooler does include a wire tap though if you are okay splicing into the wiring in which case the fuse tap would not be needed. The Universal Bendable Metal Mount Kit # D13063 will work great to mount the cooler in your Suburban. Nothing else should be needed for proper installation and operation.

Jason

12/27/2018

Chris R.

12/27/2018

There is not a standardized system for the transmission fluid return line location on vehicles. In order to determine which is the return line on your Suburban an easy method is to wait for the vehicle to be cold, then start it up and shift it into drive for 10 to 15 seconds while applying the throttle a bit (with the brake applied). Then simply put the Suburban back in park and and go under the vehicle to carefully touch the transmission lines. One will be noticeably warmer which tells you that the cooler one is the return line.