36 Month Filter Change - Why not change fluid to save money

[chiefdave]

I am having my filters changed on my 3000MH transmission at the 36 month interval. They originally filled my transmission with Transynd fluid. If you change the filters at 36 months you need 2 gallons of transynd which is almost half of the fluid in the transmission which is 17 quarts. The fluid needs to be changed at 48 months regardless which means you are wasting 2 gallons of fluid which costs on average $35-40 dollars per gallon. Additionally if you don't change the fluid you will pay the labor cost again next year, so why not change filter and fluid and place everything on a 36 month interval. I've heard so many good things about the Transynd that Allison should consider extending the filter change to 48 months to coinside with the filter change. The 150,000 mile fluid change is unless in a motor home. Since the transmission is still under warranty you need to make sure you keep up with the transmission maintenance just in case a problem should arise. I would like to see the IRV2 gang proposition Allison to consider making a change to move the filters to 48 months to coinside with the fluid change. If the fluid is as good as they say it is this change should not be to much of a consideration. What your thoughts?

[AC eagle]

I notice you are AF retired. First Thanks for your service. Being in the service you should understnd what it would take to change anything in a large corporate structure. I agree with you, just change oil and filters at 36 months, you will still be covered because you are ahead of the 48 month change. It has a 5 year warranty so you wont need a sixty month.

[OneRVer]

I often correspond with a Allison man that is pretty high up in their food chain. The next time he is around I will pose this question to him. Might take a while do to his travels but I will reply with his answer.

[BigSkyBob]

I thought the transmission main and lube filters should be changed at 36 months but the fluid, provided it's transynd, can go to 75,000 miles to the first change. I must have read the latest Allison service bulletin wrong. This is provided the filters are high capacity.
On edit: the 48 month fluid change is correct.

[OneRVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneRVer I often correspond with a Allison man that is pretty high up in their food chain. The next time he is around I will pose this question to him. Might take a while do to his travels but I will reply with his answer.

This is the reply that I got back.

""I'm in China right now. Let me do some checking to make sure I get a complete answer. Give me into next week and I'll go right to the source of the intervals.""

So hang in there for another week and we should have an answer.

[OneRVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneRVer This is the reply that I got back. ""I'm in China right now. Let me do some checking to make sure I get a complete answer. Give me into next week and I'll go right to the source of the intervals."" So hang in there for another week and we should have an answer.

ChiefDave This is the answer I got back for the Allison Man.

"I checked out the lastest oil and filters bulletin. The question does have accurate information in it. I know Allison has gone through a lot of testing to extend the filter and the fluid intervals as long as possible. I really doubt based on the question, they're going to want to extend the filter change interval. Maybe it's just more cost effective and less hassle to do the oil and filters together every 36 months and not open it up again at 48 months".

I do not know if this is the answer you where looking for but at least you know you are accurate on the oil change.

[OneRVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneRVer ChiefDave This is the answer I got back for the Allison Man. "I checked out the lastest oil and filters bulletin. The question does have accurate information in it. I know Allison has gone through a lot of testing to extend the filter and the fluid intervals as long as possible. I really doubt based on the question, they're going to want to extend the filter change interval. Maybe it's just more cost effective and less hassle to do the oil and filters together every 36 months and not open it up again at 48 months". I do not know if this is the answer you where looking for but at least you know you are accurate on the oil change.

One more reply.

One more thought. Allison does encourage the use of oil analysis. If an owner really wants to be cost effective, change the filters on the recommended interval and only change the TranSynd when the oil analysis says to.

[chiefdave]

OneRVer, Thanks for your assistance in getting the question elevated to Allison. My thought behind the extension was the fact they had us change to the higher capacity filters which supposedly are much better quality filters than the ones they replaced. Additionally, TranSynd™ heavy-duty automatic transmission fluid, synthetic oil exclusively formulated by Castrol for Allison Automatics, extends Allison transmission oil drain intervals 300%. With this combination of quality filters and the best synthetic oil on the market today, future testing will allow us to extend the life of these new filters. By the way, during my filter change I did collect a fluid sample, which I plan to have tested in the near future. I would also give consideration to the fact that after 3 years one could have ones fluid analyzed to see if the filter life could be extended for an additional year. I could see spending $30 dollars for an oil analysis versus several hundred for filter change. Again, thanks for your help!

[Norm4015]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefdave I am having my filters changed on my 3000MH transmission at the 36 month interval. They originally filled my transmission with Transynd fluid. If you change the filters at 36 months you need 2 gallons of transynd which is almost half of the fluid in the transmission which is 17 quarts.

When you change the filters you lose 8 quarts. When you change the filters and drain the transmission you lose 19 quarts, but the transmission actually holds 29 quarts. So when you add back that 8 quarts it is about 30% of the transmission fluid and not almost half.

On mine I did not change the filters at 36 months because it had only 34,000 miles. I waited until 48 months and changed the filters and fluid. It is a very easy job.

The above is for the 4" deep sump used on most Allison 3000 transmissions. A few have the shallow 2" sump and the drain is 17 quarts and the actual capacity of the transmission is 26 quarts.

[wagonmaster2]

Where and how would you send a sample of the Allison transmission fluid for analysis? Do you need a special container to send in the fluid and about how much fluid does it usually take for this analysis? Should this sample be removed out of the filler tube or could it be obtained from loosening the drain plug very slightly assuming everything on the bottom of the tranny and around the plug was thoroughly cleaned to avoid any contamination of the sample? Or would it be impossible to avoid any contamination from the drain plug? Never done this before so appreciate any suggestions for doing it correct.

Wagonmaster2

[OneRVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonmaster2 Where and how would you send a sample of the Allison transmission fluid for analysis? Do you need a special container to send in the fluid and about how much fluid does it usually take for this analysis? Should this sample be removed out of the filler tube or could it be obtained from loosening the drain plug very slightly assuming everything on the bottom of the tranny and around the plug was thoroughly cleaned to avoid any contamination of the sample? Or would it be impossible to avoid any contamination from the drain plug? Never done this before so appreciate any suggestions for doing it correct. Wagonmaster2

When I have my done I go the a CAT service center and have my engine and tranny oil tested. They stick a long tube down the filler spout and draw the needed sample. The sample should be hot.

[DAN L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonmaster2 Where and how would you send a sample of the Allison transmission fluid for analysis? Do you need a special container to send in the fluid and about how much fluid does it usually take for this analysis? Should this sample be removed out of the filler tube or could it be obtained from loosening the drain plug very slightly assuming everything on the bottom of the tranny and around the plug was thoroughly cleaned to avoid any contamination of the sample? Or would it be impossible to avoid any contamination from the drain plug? Never done this before so appreciate any suggestions for doing it correct. Wagonmaster2

try blackstone labs. they will send you free test kits and instructions. you pay when you send the oil in for analysis.

Blackstone Labs

[wagonmaster2]

Thanks for the help. The Blackstone labs will probably be my best bet since any Cat service shops are anywhere from 90-120 miles from home and I hate driving into the big cities, especially in a 36' motorhome.

Wagonmaster2

[wagonmaster2]

Wonder if a favorable report from Blackstone on the fluid condition would convince Allison to still cover the tranny warranty (or extended warranty) for a 4 year fluid/filter change at the same time? Or if the 3 year filter/4 year fluid change (with Transynd of course) is set in stone. Of course by the 12 year end both filter and fluid will hit the same change period.

Wagonmaster2