Correct Transmission ?

[Ronbstewart]

On a recent trip my 1994 Monaco Executive, 300 Cummins, Allison MD3060. Transmission cooler in radiator failed, dumped all the fluid in the cooling system and forced it out the over flow hose, the very costly damage occurred after engine was shut down as coolant system pressure forced coolant back into transmission this happened about 3 weeks ago so my tranny is probably non-repairable at this point as what came out looked like strawberry milk shake when drained earlier this week. I've located several on line, but I'm not sure of what numbers on a replace need to be an exact match to the numbers on mine for a perfect fit. I have the Model # and serial #, but don't see those 2 as being enough, anyone one else had to deal with this?

[Iron Man]

I would not be so quick to replace the trans. How far did you drive it with water in the fluid. You may be able just to flush the transmission and drive it a little and flush it again. When I say a flush I mean with a machine to replace ALL the fluid. Maybe worth the try before you go through the expense of a transmission swap.

["007"]

I would do as Iron Man suggests had my twins car do same thing and they were driving it around, college girls, and finally went to garage.
They replaced the radiator flushed the trans three times that was at 80,000 miles now has 106,000 miles with no problems so far.

[Ronbstewart]

It was never driven with water in the Transmission, cooler blew about 50 miles from home, went through about 4 gallons of additional fluid to limp it home. Coolant only got in the tranny after engine was shut down due to the 20 PSI radiator pressure until it cooled down, shop removed the radiator/cooler system first, it was over 2 weeks before the tranny was drained. They told me they could flush and it might last for 1000 miles or 100,000 no way to tell. Finding a replacement tranny has been a real cluster @#%@. Found a place in Arlington, TX (ATS) that can build one to the same specs for about $3600 including shipping and operates on motor oil (claimed to run much cooler and last longer) All the tranny shops I've talked to claimed my tranny is shot even though none of them have examined it. I haven't seen any posting of what the final out come has been from anyone who has had the same problem with a coach and just flushed it and put it back in service.

[wa8yxm]

I agree. if it was not driven contaminated, and if it was quickly serviced.. Odds are it suffered not and is in... Well.. Much the same condition as before incident.

[dons2346]

The first think I would do is talk to Allison. They know more about their transmission than anyone on this board. They will have a solution to your problem.

[Ronbstewart]

It wasn't driven contaminated, but I'm not sure what amount of lapsed time is considered acceptable before the unit is drained as a reference to going with flush or tranny overhaul/replacement.

[allisontec]

you can fush it if you like but eventually it is going to fail.The glycol in the coolant attacks the glue that holds the friction material to the clutch plates,if left to long it will also short out the solenoids.The only way to save it is a complete tear down to clean,check solenoid resistance and replace all of the friction plates,including lock up damper.If you can supply me the serial # I can get you the replacement trans part number if you want to go that direction.

[Ronbstewart]

Thanks so much for your reply, that seemed to be the general consensuses I was getting across the board so I elected to replace the complete transmission rather then have it fail on a road trip. Ordered it from ATS Services, Arlington,TX (they assemble it after taking your order) about $3600 total shipped to OH (includes return shipping of my core) (I ordered from a person named Robert who was SUPER nice and explained and answered all my questions) this transmission will use motor oil. I'm still sobbing in my beer from facing the reality that a bad transmission cooler ($520 + $1000 labor) destroyed a perfectly good transmission causing an additional cost of about $6000. ATS says there are now "Air Cooled" tranny coolers for my coach that mount outside the radiator that can be used and if fail don't get coolant in the tranny. I had already ordered replacement, so going with everything still stock. I take good care of coach and do most of my own work. I don't know of anything else I could done to have seen this coming. Disconnecting the cooler lines immediately at tranny when I shut engine down might would have saved tranney, but there would all so have been one heck of a mess on the ground.

[allisontec]

Pretty sure the tranny was already contaminated before you shut the engine down.Did you also have to flush the cooling system,the contamination will go both directions.Sounds like you got a pretty good deal on your rebuilt tranny.Of course I am required to push Allison factory Reman units.Good Luck

[Ronbstewart]

Here's the closure of my transmission saga. $520 New Transmission cooler, $375 Radiator shop charge to R & R cooler and clean radiator, $3525 for rebuilt MD3060 Allison transmission included shipping of transmission and core return and $2126 to shop that removed and installed transmission and radiator (included all coolant and hyd fluids required to flush and refill both systems and several hoses) My total cost $6,545.00 give or take a dollar. Repair shop (WW Automotive) were very stand up guys by allowing me to shop around and purchase all parts directly from the suppliers which eliminated mark up that shops sometime add on and pass to customer.