Let Me Know if You Have Allison Transmission Fluid Questions

MandalayJim wrote:
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!

MandalayJim,

I cannot speak for Allison anymore but the oil change recommendations say that oil analysis is the "primary" way to determine drain intervals. So, I believe you are safe to skip the oil change if the analysis is good. I do recommend you change the filters according to schedule. I would also recommend you install the new "High Capacity" filters to push the filter change out to 75,000 mile intervals.

genesimmons wrote:
can you tell me if a 07 bounder/workhorse with 6-speed allison came with transynd as factory fill?i cannot find anywhere that says it came with dextron or transynd.thanks

Genesimmons,

Don't know. I'd recommend you call Bounder or Workhorse and give them the VIN.

FIRE UP wrote:
Tom,
Maybe you missed my question, I'd like to know the real benefits of changing from a Dexron (factory equipped) fluid to the Transynd or any other Synthetic Auto Trans fluid for our 3000MH? What EXACTLY does it do for the trans? Thanks
Scott

Scott,
I think I covered this for you on the other forum. Let me know.

can you tell me if a 07 bounder/workhorse with 6-speed allison came with transynd as factory fill?i cannot find anywhere that says it came with dextron or transynd.thanks

Tom,
Maybe you missed my question, I'd like to know the real benefits of changing from a Dexron (factory equipped) fluid to the Transynd or any other Synthetic Auto Trans fluid for our 3000MH? What EXACTLY does it do for the trans? Thanks
Scott

Thank you so much Tom, I appreciate your help with this. I had a feeling after reading through this thread that I would get a straight answer here.

I've ordered some TranSynd from an internet dealer ($38 a gallon + shipping), and I hope it makes a difference for me. Of course, with a little over 200,000 miles on this transmission it could be that the 1st to 2nd gear syncro is getting worn. I thought it was worth a try though.

I was also able to confirm through ZF's "Contact Us" webpage that TranSynd is still a recommended fluid for the S5-42 and S5-47 Diesel spec manual transmissions. I'll let you all know how it works out.

Thanks again, Tom

:):)

NRALIFR wrote:

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,

TranSynd and Castrol Transmax-S are "very similar" in formulation. Castrol discontinued Transmax-S in favor of marketing TranSynd. TranSynd is indeed a "full synthetic" meaning it's made from only PAO (polyalphaolefin) base oils and contains no additives that can shear down. So, it's very stable, both in oxidation resistance and viscosity retention, for a very long period of time. If your ZF manual lists Castrol Transmax-S (TranSYnd) as being OK then, by all means, use TranSynd. It's available at your nearest Allison dealer distributor or some folks carry it on the internet.

Please let me know what else you need.

Cloud Dancer wrote:
I wish someone would say, instead of "if your Allison has the deep pan..... blah, blah....", why not just put it in useful terms, like:
Measured from ...... to ......., the deep pan is ...inches, and the shallow pan is...inches.
I've never been able to find these measurements. Some of us have only owned ONE Allison, and there's no way to know the difference in pans.

Thanks

Willie,

http://www.allisontransmission.com/servlet/DownloadOnDemand?ApplicationID=155&DownloadID=5

Page 12 Shows where to measure and the dimensions:

4 inch Control Module Measures 3.5 inch approximately DIMENSION
2 inch Control Module Measures 1.75 inch approximately

I wish someone would say, instead of "if your Allison has the deep pan..... blah, blah....", why not just put it in useful terms, like:
Measured from ...... to ......., the deep pan is ...inches, and the shallow pan is...inches.
I've never been able to find these measurements. Some of us have only owned ONE Allison, and there's no way to know the difference in pans.

Thanks