transmission cooler question

so i did the transmission cooler add on and not sure if chose the best cooler

I went with the trucool LPD 4454 model 18,000 GVW @ 13,000 BTU cooling rating (Stacked pate type)

after looking around at the trucool brochure it seems that the LPD 4543 model (FIN and PLATE) is the exact same size but has better cooling 20,000 GVW @ 15,000 BTU cooling rating.
heres the brochure
http://media.spicerparts.com/cfs/files/media/JuzYrhRsKxtwj9rTr/tru-bro-52014 2.pdf?store=original

I did research about the difference between FIN and PLATE vs. STACKED PLATE transmission coolers and everything i came across says that the STACKED PLATE is the better cooler and can provide better cooling performance.

Why is the TRU-cool cooler different? seems that their Fin and Plate coolers have better cooling capabilities for the same size of cooler (only difference i can tell is the barb size)

anyway if anyone can chime in and tell me the difference between the two choices that would be great.

I already have the Stacked Plate version installed on my truck but would like more cooling and don't have more space so i was going to purchase the Fin and Plate design for better cooling.

anyway......

why is tru-cool backwards on their cooling characteristics?

 

ok. anyone else have input. really want to know which cooler is better and why

fin and plate vs stacked plate

 

@gearcruncher will probably shed some light on this subject.

I went with the 4454 and I don't really think you would gain much with the 4543.

 

I was told that for engine oil cooling the pressure drop in a plate stlye is less than a tube style, in an auto trans situation I dont think it matters. Have I tested this theory, no.

 

thanks for the input

but the question is stacked plate vs fin plate

not trying to compare to tube style which i know is less efficient than both stacked plate and fin plate.

all my research says the stacked plate design allows for more cooling, but according to the tru-cool specs their fin and plate design cools better than the stacked plate design for the same exact size.

looks like the 4543 has better cooling than the 4454 and they are the exact same size. being such a tight fit in the tacoma i figure the best cooler would be the one that peovides the most cooling.

only dilemma is everything i've read online says the stacked plate is BETTER than the fin and plate.

WHY is TRU-cool different from everything im reading online?

 

Every company is going to tell you their thing is better than the other guy's thing. So you should buy their thing. Take all that with a grain of salt.

You're splitting hairs here. These are Tacomas, not high performance racing machines where every 1/4 hp matters. It honestly doesn't matter with these trucks.

If you are towing, or I dunno, doing lots of sweet burnouts, then maybe your tranny needs some extra cooling. Throw a $50 tranny cooler on it and be done with it.

 

thanks everyone for all the input.

not really trying to compare the tru-cool to other companies just trying to compare tru-cool to tru-cool just the different models that tru-cool offers.

i understand that most companies will advertize their products as being superior to the competition but i am wondering why Tru-cool has better cooling performance on their Fin and Plate model VS the stacked fin model.

from everything i have read the stacked plate is supposed to be more efficient (better cooling) than the Fin and Plate, however, tru-cool has their fin and plate at better cooling ratings than the stacked plate. Can anyone explain the differece or why is it like that?

when would you choose staked plate over fin and plate?

 

It would be very difficult to determine why one tru-cool cooler is more efficient than another unless you have access to a lot of their testing and design data. Their cooler design is somewhat proprietary, and the test methods for determining cooling capacity are not a standardized test (as far as I know), so really the only people who could possibly answer your question would be the design engineers at tru-cool.

Why are you unsatisfied with the 4454? I can’t imagine that the cooling capacity is inadequate for your needs. I am supercharged on 35’s, and I tow a boat over a mountain pass on a fairly regular basis. The 4454 has kept my ATF well within an acceptable temperature range.

 

directly from their brochure that you posted @1HItaco

LPD4454 7¼ x 11 x ¾ (36 fins) 11/32 hose barb
LPD4543 7¼ x 11 x ¾ (23 fins) 3/8 hose barb *I would assume better air flow through the cooler, thus cooling more efficiently? Or just larger fins to house more fluid.

What is the difference between “tube & fin” and
Tru-Cool coolers?
A Tru-Cool cooler has many plates for ATF to flow more
efficiently. It also has more “live” surface area than tube & fin,
which further enhances cooling. Finally, though both designs
are made of aluminum, the design and manufacturing
processes behind Tru-Cool coolers make them much more
durable.
How can larger tube & fin coolers offer less cooling?
Bigger isn’t always better. Tube & fin designs are inefficient
and have a lot of dead space, while the Tru-Cool stacked
plate design puts most of the oil close to the surfaces that
are in contact with passing air. In fact, when it comes to
cooling, the Tru-Cool cooler is up to 30% more efficient than
tube & fin designs

Tru-Cool LPD Transmission Oil Coolers
• 30% more cooling and 15 times less flow restriction
than traditional tube & fin design
• Self-regulating for maximum cooling and running
protection
• Durable brazed aluminum construction with a lifetime
guarantee
• Available in stacked plate or fin & plate configurations
• Available in 13 sizes