Transmission and Oil Cooler Recommendations for 2007 Chevy Express 1500 With 4.3L Engine

Question:

I am trying to find out if my van above comes equipped to tow from factory with just the tranny cooler, or did it come with engine oil cooler as well? Van currently has hitch and wiring harness, but neither of the above. Was going to just add the tranny cooler, but didnt know if engine oil cooler was oem too? Wont be towing much weight, 1500-1700 pound camper, but van has high top and wheelchair lift which already reduces the gvwr. Thanks for any help you can provide!

asked by: Wendy L

Expert Reply:

Installing a transmission and an oil cooler is a excellent way to provide inexpensive protection for your engine and transmission.

If you call your Chevy dealer and provide your VIN, they should be able to tell you if your Chevy Express was equipped with an oil cooler. Since it's a 1/2 ton van (1500 Series) I'd doubt it, but it would be good to check.

Let's start with the transmission cooler. Since you won't be towing much weight, you won't need the biggest cooler available. I'd recommend the # D13502. You'll also need the # D13035 hose fitting that would allow you to install the cooler without cutting up your transmission lines. I'll link you to an install video showing how the transmission cooler is installed and how the hose fitting is used. The video shows a cooler being installed on a Chevy Suburban, but the process for your van would be pretty similar.

If you find your vehicle isn't equipped with an oil cooler, I'd recommend part # D15405.

expert reply by: Mike L