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.

[moisheh]

Tom: Thank you for answering my question.

Moisheh

[hzjcm8]

Daytonaman wrote:
Great info! I did TranSynd and filters at 77. Just once. Did not want to rush to judgement. I like the oil analysis idea; if the unit had it initially, that means it never had Dexron, just used TranSynd. Except for some possible make-up.
Will an O.A. show fluid composition. Thanks for your expertise.

Daytonaman,

Yes. The oil analysis will show you if the viscosity and TAN (Total Acid Number) are in the correct ranges for TranSynd. A good oil analysis company will include all of the following tests which will allow proper assessment of the fluid and will show you the fluid composition as well as its chemical and physical properties:

• Wear metals
• Contaminant metals
• Additive metals
• Water Content
• Soot Content
• Fuel Dilution
• Viscosity @ 100C
• Oxidation/Nitration
• TBN/TAN (if it's an advanced analysis)

Note: I recommend that RV and Tow Vehicle owners do Oil Analysis every 5-6000 miles on engines and once a year on transmissions and generators. Owners should also do a Coolant Analysis on engines and generators once a year. Data shows that about 40-50% of all engine failures are due to problems related to poor coolant maintenance.

I've attached (2) links for your benefit. One is a Technical Paper that I wrote explaining how oils are formulated and what happens to them over time. The other link shows the slides I use when I give seminars at Good Sam Club state rallies. I've given this seminar at Good Sam Club state rallies in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia over the past couple of years.

Technical Paper on Oils and Oil Degradation

My Good Sam Rally Seminar Slides

Please pass this information on to whomever in the Open Roads Forum needs this information.

IN CLOSING, THE INFORMATION AND LINKS ARE PROVIDED AS A BENEFIT TO THIS FORUM. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT INTENDED AS SALES TOOLS.

[Daytonaman]

Great info! I did TranSynd and filters at 77. Just once. Did not want to rush to judgement. I like the oil analysis idea; if the unit had it initially, that means it never had Dexron, just used TranSynd. Except for some possible make-up.
Will an O.A. show fluid composition. Thanks for your expertise.

[hzjcm8]

Daytonaman wrote:
This has been covered before, but I was wondering what the cutoff date for allison using transynd on MH4000 xmisions. The coach has a model year late 2002 w/ISM. I changed the fluid and filters at 77,000 one time and wondering if it should be done again. There is only a 1,000 or so on the new fluid.

Daytonaman,

TranSynd was used in the Allison factory in 2002 but it depends on what was used at the chassis manufacturer for "top off" (factory fill). Some folks don't understand this; but, the chassis manufacturer purchases the transmission from Allison and then builds it into a chassis along with the engine, driveline and cooling system. Then, the cooling system and transmission are topped off with whatever the chassis manufacturer has for "factory fill" transmission fluid. So, it could have been TranSynd but not necessarily. The best way to tell it to do fluid analysis once a year to watch the viscosity and oxidation state. If it remains stable from year to year, then it's no doubt TranSynd. Did you install TranSynd at the 77,000 mile change? If you only changed it once, then you could be running a mixture. The oil analysis would sort this out for you.

[Daytonaman]

This has been covered before, but I was wondering what the cutoff date for allison using transynd on MH4000 xmisions. The coach has a model year late 2002 w/ISM. I changed the fluid and filters at 77,000 one time and wondering if it should be done again. There is only a 1,000 or so on the new fluid.

[jimmyfred]

.............Flushing an Allison 1000 is NOT recommended by anyone that I know Of , except for a shop that Knows better but wants too make a little exrea $$ on their cash flow !!! , jf

[PF_PM]

I had a similar issue when I changed over to Trans Syn. The shop changed the oil (power flush) and filter. When I climbed the hill out of Laughlin some oil blew out of the breather on the top rear of the tranny.. I've since left it a little low on the dipstick because I'm worried if I fill it right up to the top of the marks it will happen again. This was a few years ago and I have'nt had a problem again.

[jimmyfred]

okeefecrew1 wrote:
Hoping you or someone else here can offer a little advice for a problem I am having with my Allison 1000 in my 08 Fleetwood Fiesta LX. The problem is that I am purging tranny fluid from the breather on top of the transmission. I purchased the rig last December (from a dealer who got it at auction, so it's history is unknown.) It currently has about 8000 miles on it. I have taken it to a authorized Allison dealer who simply told me not to tow in overdrive ( I do tow a Jeep about half the time.) They steam cleaned the outside of the tranny told everything should be fine and sent me on my way. Well when I got back home with it (50 mile drive) I found it purged fluid again and was dripping off the back of the tranny and I wasn't towing! Before I take it back to the repair shop I would like to know what could be causing this. The fluid is not overfilled, it is currently at the bottom of the "hot" hash marks checked on level surface after driving for an hour. In fact, I previously had to add a about a quart because it had purged enough fluid for the level to read between the cold and hot hash marks and it was still leaking. This was just before I took it too the shop. The fluid doesn't smell burnt, however it is an amber color, not bright red. I think it is getting hot and thus causing the fluid to purge. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

............Your tranny cooler maybe clogged ! Pull both lines too the cooler and check for paper like material that may have come from the torque converter or other internal parts of the tranny ! , jf

[okeefecrew1]

Hoping you or someone else here can offer a little advice for a problem I am having with my Allison 1000 in my 08 Fleetwood Fiesta LX. The problem is that I am purging tranny fluid from the breather on top of the transmission. I purchased the rig last December (from a dealer who got it at auction, so it's history is unknown.) It currently has about 8000 miles on it. I have taken it to a authorized Allison dealer who simply told me not to tow in overdrive ( I do tow a Jeep about half the time.) They steam cleaned the outside of the tranny told everything should be fine and sent me on my way. Well when I got back home with it (50 mile drive) I found it purged fluid again and was dripping off the back of the tranny and I wasn't towing! Before I take it back to the repair shop I would like to know what could be causing this. The fluid is not overfilled, it is currently at the bottom of the "hot" hash marks checked on level surface after driving for an hour. In fact, I previously had to add a about a quart because it had purged enough fluid for the level to read between the cold and hot hash marks and it was still leaking. This was just before I took it too the shop. The fluid doesn't smell burnt, however it is an amber color, not bright red. I think it is getting hot and thus causing the fluid to purge. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

[Ozlander]

fourmat wrote:
you are a brave man

Whoever YOU is????????:?:?:@:@

[hzjcm8]

moisheh wrote:
Tom: Can you please answer a quick question. My 08 Dynasty has a 3000MH that has a factory fill of Transynd. I had the Allison shop change the filters today. Unit has 35,000 miles. After the job was done the shop foreman asked me why I did not change all the oil. I didn't think it was necessary. He said it should be done @ 4 years due to moisture????? What do you think? Thanks

Moisheh

Moisheh,

The Allison tech is repeating what he's heard which is not good information. TranSynd is very stable and will last up to 300,000 miles or more. When you change filters, just top it off with TranSynd. Do an oil analysis once a year to check for coolant leaks, water, excessive dirt, etc. The fluid itself will remain stable, but you should check it once a year for contaminants. Water contamination is rare since most water boils off during operation. The oil analysis will measure water content and tell you whether or not you have excessive moisture (water) in the fluid. Typically, you won't have excessive water. It will typically show less than 0.1% water and that's acceptable.



Hope this helps !!!!

[fourmat]

you are a brave man

[moisheh]

Tom: Can you please answer a quick question. My 08 Dynasty has a 3000MH that has a factory fill of Transynd. I had the Allison shop change the filters today. Unit has 35,000 miles. After the job was done the shop foreman asked me why I did not change all the oil. I didn't think it was necessary. He said it should be done @ 4 years due to moisture????? What do you think? Thanks

Moisheh

[hzjcm8]

00 BUCK wrote:
Would TES 290 make a good hydrolic fluid ?

It's TES-295 and "yes" it makes an excellent hydraulic fluid. Why? Because the viscosity is perfect for hydraulic systems both at operating temperature and at extremely low temperatures. It's super resistant to thermal breakdown and oxidation and it will not lose viscosity over time. Plus, it has excellent anti-wear properties in pump applications.

TranSynd, or any of the other TES-295 approved products listed on the Allison website are acceptable for use in hydraulic systems. Here's the link to the approved TES-295 fluids list: TES-295 Approved Fluids List

[00_BUCK]

Would TES 290 make a good hydrolic fluid ?