Hi all,I've just joined Good Sam Club. I was the former Transmission Fluids Engineer at Allison Transmission. I held that position from 1990 until my retirement in 2009. Let me know if you have questions about TranSynd, the TES-295 specification or just anything to do with automatic transmission fluids. I'm here to help.

Welcome to the forum. And, thank you for offering your expert advice.I don't have any questions at this time however, I'm sure others will.Thanks again.

You are a welcome sight on here!! Someone who says they know what they are talking about, and actually has the credentials and knowledge to back it up. Glad you joined. Gary

Welcome to the site, and, like gbopp, have no questions, but want to welcome you. Folks like you are what make this site such an incredible resource for help and guidance. Thanks.

Welcome aboard!I have a 2006 GMC Sierra with the Duramax / Allison combo. There is a ton of discussion about what fluid is best for the transmission. Some have said that upgrading to Transynd is the way to go. I converted about 100k miles ago. Primarily because I wanted the transmission to last longer with the extra 75hp the programmer was pushing through it. I am now getting some drips on the garage floor. Is Transynd the culprit? Should I change back to the GM fluid?

What is your take on changing trans fluid over to a TES 295 fluid? I have a 2003 Cummins 400 with the Allison 3000 that came from the factory with Dexron. Also if changing over to TES 295, should it be changed twice (after XX miles) to remove as much of the older Dexron fluid? Thanks in advance for any info, Bill

Let Me Know if You Have Allison Transmission Fluid Questions

237 Replies

wny_pat1
Explorer
Nov 25, 2011
NRALIFR wrote:
Oh, and I tried sending multiple emails to Castrol asking them that question, and of course got no response. :R

Some how I am not surprised. And if they had responded, could you believe them:R

Tom I would believe. You could e-mail him. He might know.

Use his profile for e-mail or call him at the office.
NRALIFR
Explorer
Nov 24, 2011
wny_pat wrote:
http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/Main/quickref/mantrans.pdf

Thanks. I had found that document a few months back, which specifies SYNTHETIC BLEND MERCON® V for my trans. Trouble is, since filling it with that, it's been very difficult to NOT grind the gears shifting from 1st to 2nd when the trans is cold. Once it warms up it's OK, but when it's cold, it takes some very slow, deliberate shifts to get it into 2nd without grinding.

The trans was originally filled with full synthetic Mercon (not Mercon V), so I'd at least like to try going back to a full synthetic ATF. I've run across more than one source that appeared to be saying that CASTROL TRANSMAX-S and TRANSYND are (were) the same product. As far as I can tell, Castrol still makes Transynd for Allison. Since it's one of the fluids recommended by ZF, is (as far as I can tell) full synthetic, and most importantly is still available, I thought I'd pick Tom's brain for any knowledge he may have about it. It's also reasonably priced compared to other full synthetic ATF's that I'm not quite as sure are correct for my trans.

Oh, and I tried sending multiple emails to Castrol asking them that question, and of course got no response. :R

Thanks again.

:):)
NRALIFR
Explorer
Nov 24, 2011
Double post.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Nov 24, 2011
NRALIFR wrote:
Tom-

While researching the correct fluid to use in a ZF manual transmission, I found this in a document on ZF's website:

"ALL S5-47 DIESEL SPEC. TRANSMISSIONS USE SYNTHETIC MERCON® (FORD P.N. E6AZ-19582-B or CASTROL TRANSMAX-S (TRANSYND)".

This seems to be indicating that Transynd is the same product as Castrol Transmax-S. Can you confirm that?

The reason I'm asking is because neither Transmax-S nor Synthetic Mercon are available any longer.

Thanks.

:):)

http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/Main/quickref/mantrans.pdf
NRALIFR
Explorer
Nov 24, 2011
Tom-

While researching the correct fluid to use in a ZF manual transmission, I found this in a document on ZF's website:

"ALL S5-47 DIESEL SPEC. TRANSMISSIONS USE SYNTHETIC MERCON® (FORD P.N. E6AZ-19582-B or CASTROL TRANSMAX-S (TRANSYND)".

This seems to be indicating that Transynd is the same product as Castrol Transmax-S. Can you confirm that?

The reason I'm asking is because neither Transmax-S nor Synthetic Mercon are available any longer.

Thanks.

:):)
2inAlabama
Explorer
Nov 22, 2011
Welcome. As has already been well said, thanks for your offer. You may be very busy indeed!
FIRE_UP
Explorer
Nov 21, 2011
Tom,
I've read many questions and all your answers but, I might have missed it if, this question has already been asked and answered. First, according to my books I received with our recently purchased '04 Itasca Horizon, with the 330 CAT and the Allison 3000MH, only the 2000 model Allison's came with the Transynd. The 3000 series all came with the Dexron. Yet, I've seen on this thread, some folks saying there rigs, one in particular, a Monaco, came with the 3126 CAT (older than my C-7) and the 3000 series Allison, came with Transynd.

Well, is the Allison book wrong? Did my '04 Itasca w/Allison 3000MH come with Transynd or Dexron. And, again, this may have already been asked and answered but, I'd really like to know the true and real benefits of changing over to Transynd if it did come with Dexron. Please forgive me if they've been answered. If so, send me to the answers and I'll go from there. Thanks for offering your technical, authoritative and professional assistance here, it's sincerely appreciated.
Scott
MandalayJim
Explorer
Nov 21, 2011
Tom Johnson,

I am interested in the fluid analysis that your company can do for me. However I need a little more information. I am at 41k and 43 months on my 2008 motorhome with factory installed Trans Syn and gold filters. I beleive that my first fluid change will be timewise at 48 months.

If through analysis the fluid tests good and I skip that fluid change will Allison accept that report and perform warranty work in the case of transmission failure in the future?

Thanks for all your answers on this form!
Snowman9000
Explorer
Nov 18, 2011
hzjcm8 wrote:
SpinRite wrote:
Hi, hzjcm8,

If using this method:
1. Drain old Dexron and re-fill with Transynd.
2. Remove return hose from transmission cooler and aim it into a bucket.
3. Have a helper start engine, then shut it down as soon as you see fluid color going into the bucket change over to Transynd.
4. Re-connect hose, top off with Transynd.

Does this only replace the fluid in the cooler, or does it also take care of the torque converter?

Spinrite,

Your technique is OK (kind of like a flushing machine but better). Just make sure you get the cooler hoses tight. Your technique gets everything (sump, torque converter, cooler, cooler lines). As soon as you start the engine the transmission pump is turning and will pump fluid through the torque converter and to the "converter out" circuit which is "cooler in".

No problem !!!

PS: The reason I didn't mention this is because most folks won't go to the measure and Allison doesn't recommend it for most people. The double drain does the same thing.

On my Duramax, can anyone estimate how much fluid it would take using the above method?
SpinRite
Explorer
Jul 09, 2011
wny_pat wrote:
You can buy these at: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/vacuum-pump.php. You will probably need longer tubing. It is 1/4" refrigerator tubing which you can get at most hardware store.
Harbor Freight has a similar item, which has a much easier-to-use one-handed pump (it is actually sold as a brake-bleeder pump).

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Let Me Know if You Have Allison Transmission Fluid Questions

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