Chevrolet Express Transmission Cooler Lines - Transmission Cooler Guide (2024)

The transmission cooler lines play an important role in keeping your transmission running smoothly. They help to allow transmission fluid to flow through the cooling system, which prevents overheating and damage to the transmission.

When they’re clogged, leaking, or break, it can cause all sorts of problems with your Chevrolet Express .

If you’re noticing problems with your transmission, such as slipping gears, delayed acceleration, or a burning smell, it might be time to change your Chevrolet Express’s transmission cooler lines if this is the cause due to low transmission fluid.

The good news is that this is a relatively easy job that most people can do themselves.

Here are the steps you need to take to change the transmission cooler lines on your Chevrolet Express :

1. Get the vehicle up in the air with the use of either a jack and jack stands or ramps.

2. Remove the skid plate and the splash guard (if applicable).

3. Disconnect the transmission cooler lines from the transmission. It is best to do this one by one so you know which line goes where. Often times, it may be better to cut the lines to make removal easier

4. Remove the old lines and replace them with new ones.

5. Reconnect the transmission cooler lines and reattach the skid plate and splash guard.

6. Fill your Chevrolet Express with the correct fluid to the right level. Find the right transmission fluid for your Chevy Express van here.

It’s important to note that there are a few different ways to do this job, so be sure to follow the instructions that came with your new lines.

Also, be careful not to damage any of the other components in the area when you’re working on the transmission cooler lines.

If you’re not comfortable doing this job yourself, then you can always take your truck to a mechanic. But it’s a good idea to know how to change your Chevrolet Express’s transmission cooler lines, just in case you ever need to do it yourself.

Chevrolet Express Transmission Cooler Line Issues

If you are planning on installing an aftermarket transmission cooler on your Chevrolet Express, it is a good idea to check the existing transmission cooler lines prior to installation, especially if your Chevrolet Express is older and in an area where rust is problematic.

If you’re installing a transmission cooler you will need to work with your factory transmission cooler lines, so now would be the time to see if your Chevrolet Express’s transmission lines are leaking or they will need to be replaced.

It is common that you will find your transmission lines are leaking due to rusting out over time, especially if you live in an area that is more prone to causing your vehicle’s under carriage to rust. Below shows a perfect example of what rusted transmission cooler lines look like.

How To Remove & Replace Transmission Cooler Lines on Chevrolet Express.

Replacing the trans cooler lines on yourChevrolet Express is not too hard of a task. The hardest part will be removing the lines from the transmission. These fittings are typically held in by clips that go into fittings, which can make things easier or harder depending on how you choose to remove the lines.

Typically it is easier to remove the clips that hold the metal lines in place rather than messing around with a wrench in a tight space.

How To Remove Transmission Lines From Radiator on Chevrolet Express

Removing the transmission lines from the radiator on your Chevrolet Express is pretty straight forward and easy. Just like the lines going from the transmission, the lines at the radiator are held in by C clips into fittings that route fluid to the cooler inside the radiator. The image below shows what the fittings look like on your Chevrolet Express’s radiator.

To remove these lines first peel back the small plastic cover on the fitting and simply use a pick or small screw driver to pop the clips out.

It is always best to have a couple of extra C clips around when removing old ones due to the fact they tend to pop off with force and fly into random places.

Chevrolet Express Transmission Cooler Line Diagram & Routing

The design of the transmission cooler lines on most GM vehicles is fairly straight forward. If you have a setup without a transmission cooler from the factory (in most cases this is standard unless you have a truck), you’ll only have 2 transmission cooler lines going to and from the transmission to radiator, the send and return.

If your Chevrolet Express does have a factory external cooler, then the return line at the top of the radiator will then go to the front of the truck to the cooler, rather than straight back to the transmission.

This often confused people who aren’t familiar with transmission cooler line orientation, and they confuse the send and return lines.

Below is a basic Chevrolet Express transmission cooler line diagram showing the standard hot (send) and cool (return) lines as the flow through a factory cooler setup.