Let Me Know if You Have Allison Transmission Fluid Questions

[hzjcm8]

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.

[J_Walker]

wilanddij wrote:
For each drain & fill, how much fluid would I need for an Allison 1000 (4speed w/OD) tranny?

I have the same transmission and just draining the pan I have to fill with just short of 12 quarts.

[wny_pat1]

gswcgi wrote:
Hzmjch8
I would appreciate an answer to my posting. Thanks, gswcgi

How about the book answer?: http://www.allisontransmission.com/service/changeinterval/recommendation.jsp?model=3000&voc=MH&type=...

[gswcgi]

Hzmjch8
I would appreciate an answer to my posting. Thanks, gswcgi

[wilanddij]

An alternative to this to convert from Dexron to Transynd is to drain and fill with Transynd, run two years, and drain and fill with Transynd again.

For each drain & fill, how much fluid would I need for an Allison 1000 (4speed w/OD) tranny?

[J_Walker]

hzjcm8 wrote:
Dicnic,

A double drain and refill goes like this. Drain the current fluid, toss it (dont' reuse it) and refill with TranSynd. Drive the RV around until it's warmed up and shifted through the gears. Then, drain it again and toss it (don't reuse it). Change the filters and refill with TranSYnd. At this point, you're good to go. Run it until oil analysis says it's time to change.
Hope this helps !!!

An alternative to this to convert from Dexron to Transynd is to drain and fill with Transynd, run two years, and drain and fill with Transynd again. This is what I did and is a little more cost effective and what I believe is the best way to convert, but not the quickest.

[wagonmaster2]

hzjcm8 wrote:

wagonmaster2 wrote:
Not necessarily a question for Tom, but since we're talking about a tranny fluid analysis how is the easiest/best way to get enough fluid to send in for the analysis? When changing the fluid it would be easy but when not changing it what do you do to keep from contaminating the sample you get?

Wagonmaster2

Wagonmaster,
The easiest way to collect a sample is down through the dipstick tube. You'll want to sample the fluid warm or at normal operating temperature. What sort of contamination are you concerned about? Are you worried about maybe collecting some dirt or dust with the sample from around the dipstick tube (oil fill tube)?

Didn't know if it was possible to really clean off around the drain plug then loosen it enough for just what was needed for the analysis to run out and retighten the plug. Could imagine getting sediments from around the plug or other contaminates from under the transmission.
What kind of tube or suction will be needed going down the dipstick tube, and about how much fluid is usually needed for the analysis?

Should the filters be changed periodically even if the fluid analysis checks out okay since Allison recommends changing the filters every 36 months with Transyend?

Thanks for all this expert advice.

Wagonmaster2

[hzjcm8]

Dicnic,

A double drain and refill goes like this. Drain the current fluid, toss it (dont' reuse it) and refill with TranSynd. Drive the RV around until it's warmed up and shifted through the gears. Then, drain it again and toss it (don't reuse it). Change the filters and refill with TranSYnd. At this point, you're good to go. Run it until oil analysis says it's time to change.

Hope this helps !!!

[dicnic]

Welcome Tom, as others have stated, it is wonderful to have a real expert on board. You stated in another post.......

"One more thing. When changing from a DEXRON-IIIH product, always drain and fill twice to ensure maximum TranSynd content. Flushing machines are not typically recommended and usually give the same results as a double drain and fill (per a test we ran at Allison)."

How is the "double drain" process work? Fill with Transynd, run the coach for awhile (?) then drain and refill with NEW Transynd or re-use what was drained or ???

I realize this might be obvious to those who have accomplished the process but I would appreciate more details on the actual process.

Thanks and again, welcome!

[gswcgi]

I have a 2003 DP I bought new with an Allison 3000 transmission and a CAT 3126E engine. The Allison came out of the Monaco factory with Transynd in it. The Allison manual said I should change the fluid at 5,000 miles including the filters, which I did. I was lead to believe that the fluid did not have to be changed again until 150,000 miles. I now have 38,000 miles on the rig. Should I change the fluid and filters now? Is Transynd in the Allison transmission not good for 150,000 miles? Thanks for your expertise.

[hzjcm8]

JWalker,

You've discovered the real "pot of gold" that few have discovered. The truth is, there's really no limit to TranSynd drain intervals whether you're measuing in miles, kilometers, or calendar time as long as you're running oil analysis. It states this in Allison service materials (I'm the guy that wrote it). The transmission oil analysis will tell you two things. First, it will tell you how the oil itself is holding up by assessing the amount of contamination, viscosity change, and oxidation change. Second, it will assess how the transmission has been responding to the condition of the oil by assessing wear metals. It's no different than a visit to your doctor to get a blood test to check your cholesterol and/or blood sugar. Oil analysis is the way to go to maximize your oil dollars.

Hope this helps. You can pass this on to others.

[J_Walker]

Tom
Thanks for sharing your experience with Allison transmissions. I have a MH 1000 in my MH and for the past eight years I have used Transynd or Castrol TES 295. I used the two year interval for the first change and four years for the second. I put five thousand or less miles on my MH yearly and suspect that I could make the change intervals much longer. Is there any limit to how long I can run Transynd with testing? As for Allison transmissions, when I bought my MH I thought the Cummins ISB engine would outlast the Allison transmission, but now I feel that the transmission will outlast the engine.

[spamtownr]

Again Welcome to the forum... Lots of great info.

I sent you a PM on a different subject.

[hzjcm8]

wagonmaster2 wrote:
Not necessarily a question for Tom, but since we're talking about a tranny fluid analysis how is the easiest/best way to get enough fluid to send in for the analysis? When changing the fluid it would be easy but when not changing it what do you do to keep from contaminating the sample you get?

Wagonmaster2

Wagonmaster,
The easiest way to collect a sample is down through the dipstick tube. You'll want to sample the fluid warm or at normal operating temperature. What sort of contamination are you concerned about? Are you worried about maybe collecting some dirt or dust with the sample from around the dipstick tube (oil fill tube)?

[wagonmaster2]

Not necessarily a question for Tom, but since we're talking about a tranny fluid analysis how is the easiest/best way to get enough fluid to send in for the analysis? When changing the fluid it would be easy but when not changing it what do you do to keep from contaminating the sample you get?

Wagonmaster2

[hzjcm8]

RCtime,

In the event of a discrepency, between the dipstick and shift selector reading, I'd suggest you go by the dipstick. You may not be at the correct temperature window for an accurate shift selector (oil level sensor)reading.

At the low mileage you're putting on the TranSynd, I'd say do an oil analysis at the beginning of each travel season and don't change it until the oil analysis says to. Your only concern should be contamination from water or glycol but it's a low probability on both. Change if water gets to over 0.2%.

I think you can get the dipstick "TranSynd Only" labels from Allison on their website.