Allison 3000 trans capacity

[RKL]

Today I had the transmission fluid changed at an Allison shop....2 filters and 17 qts of transynd.....The manual says the 2 inch pan holds 17 qts and the standard pan holds 19 qts....Does anyone know for sure that on the 2002 journey 36GD with 330 cat if the pan is 2 inch or standard size?

Reason for asking is that after I left shop for the first dozen or so stops I got a hard jolt when the tranny downshifted to 4th gear from 5th...After about 12 stops it started to return to a normal smooth downshift...At first I thought fluid was low but trans was too cool to check and then I wondered if the trans for some reason had to relearn shift point pressures....Same thing happed to me at last change with Dexron and I returned to shop for a reprogram. and all was fine....Shop was closed today by the time I noticed the hard downshifts but after a while it ran as normal...Should I be concerned,...thanks RKL

[robbstein]

My coach generally uses 19 quarts when changing. What I would normally do when changing is put about 17-18 quarts in, drive it till warm and do the electronic level check. That is probably more accurate than the dipstick check. It will tell you if you need to add additional fluid.

[wagonmaster2]

It usually takes anywhere from 20-21 quarts on my 2004 Allison 3000 with the 330 Cat engine, but the coach generally has been setting a couple of weeks or so when I change the fluid. I called Allison to ask why it was taking a little more than the suggested 19 quarts at change and I was told since the coach has been setting more fluid probably has drained down out of the convertor. I asked if this was good or bad and again was told by doing it this way I'm getting more of the old fluid drained out each time. This has been my experience.

Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

[MrTransistor]

The hard shifts are probably a direct result of the transmission computer relearning the shift points. This explains why, after several shifts, it starts to smooth out again. The new clean oil would be just different enough to require relearning. That’s how good the software in the control unit is. Call Allison and see if they confirm this then let us know.

[RKL]

Mr. Transistor etal......allison service mgr confirmed that sometimes after draining and refilling, the transmission relearns shift points due to different fluid or pressure changes during refill.....He also confirmed I have a 2 inch pan and 17 quarts is the correct refill amouint for my transmission...I was able to do the conversion to Transynd plus filters for $269 including labor at an Allison facility,,,,,Transynd price was $7.95 per quart or apprx $32 per gallon which I think is a great price....Last Dexron change in 2008 was $230 for dexron.....didn't have to think twice about the switch to transynd....Service mgr said next and final transynd change could be stretched to 40,000 miles.....RKL

[CaptBill]

Glad you made the switch, Gary. Years ago, when I had mone done at Gaffney, I experienced the same hard downshift as we drove home to Delaware. I was sure my transmission had something really wrong. I called Allison tech support to find out what it could be, and they said, as was posted above, the trans computer re-learning the shift points. The shifts smoothed out just fine

[a k]

Here's electronic level check procedures if you need it