Former Allison Transmission Fluids Engineer

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Mystery

Just had my Allison service and tech said fluid was dirty. Should I go to the expense of having it done again. Drain and refil and new filters again? Only put 1000 or so miles on it since service. Just want it as good as I can make it. Pls comment! Thanking y'all in advance.

I read your post as, you had the filters changed about 1000 miles ago at which time the tech said your fluid was dirty. I think you have an '02 motorhome so it did not have Transynd as OEM fluid. Has it been changed to Transynd or equal? How old is the fluid that's it there now? If you still have Dexron III, Allison calls for the fluid/filters change every 12 months. If you have Transynd or equal (TES295), then the interval is 36 months for filters and 48 months for fluid or change fluid based on sample testing. I would have the fluid tested right now and you will know what to do. Here is the web site to get the test:

http://www.jglubricantservices.com/online_store.html

Wow, that was long winded. If you still have Dex III and plan on owning the coach for a while, I recommend you change to TES295 fluid and then sample test annually. The filters should still be changed at 36 months. Dex III is no longer licensed and so you are at the mercy of the fluid merchant.

[Sky_Boss]

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

...
I should have done a better job counting months last May when I had my coach serviced. My 3 years on the filters was due last October. Not too big of a deal since we drove it until December 15th and been parked since then. We also had an oil analysis last summer and all looked good. We are planning to leave TX in 8 days. I have a scheduled service @ the Spartan factory June 23rd.

I'm thinking I should probably do the transmission fluid (3.5 years since that was changed) and filters before I hit the road. Would this require the double drain & double fill or just one drain & fill, then filters?

Follow up...

I dropped Tom and Email and he called me right back...WHAT A GUY!!!

I will have my sample kits in time before I leave our current location but probably won't have time to get them back JG Lubricants in time to get the results. Friday I will have the filter's replaced and fluid topped off. Depending on the results (which I have no reason to believe will be "bad") I will either have Spartan do a drain and fill at my June annual service or wait another year.

To be honest, the only reason I would NOT use a good sample report to go another year on a fluid change is for my service contract. They do not appear to recognize fluid sampling as a means to avoid "scheduled" service.

[Mystery]

Thanks Steve, I have transynd in it now. I am having oil changed next week so I will have the fluid checked too. Thank you.

[Mtmoi]

The yellow plug on the dip tick of my 3000 MH transmission slides up and down. Is this normal or should it or the dipstick be replaced?

[Engle]

I received this report from my transmission fluid analysis. I purchased this coach last year. It is a 2006 A Workhorse Gasser with 27000 miles. I do not know if the previous owner ever changed the ATF. I did change the filter when I purchased it. From this report, the best that I can tell is that it is OK, even though it may be several years old. I would like a little help deciphering it.

Thanks, Leo

[Engle]

Well I have my answer already. The owner of the company saw my post and called me immediately. He filled me in and said all was great. This test saved me quite a bit of money.
If you think you might need a fluid change, have it checked first by these guys.
THANKS JG LUBRICANTS

[Mtmoi]

Originally Posted by hzjcm8

Hi Folks,

My name is Tom Johnson and I was the former Transmission Fluids Engineer at Allison Transmission from 1990 until my retirement in 2009. I am a member of the Good Sam Club Class A motorhome forum and one of the members asked me to join the IRV2 forums.

I'm here to help with your questions about Allison Transmission fluid specifications, TranSynd, oil and coolant analysis, etc.

Let me know how I can help.

PS: You can call me "Mr. TranSynd" if you like..

Local Freightliner dealer (Bachrodt Freightliner of Pompano Beach, FL) replaced TranSynd in my 2007 Winnebago Tour Allison transmission with "Delvac Synthetic ATF". Is this equivalent to TranSynd and if not is there a danger if I run the motorhome for 5,000 miles before replacing it? Thanks.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Mtmoi

Local Freightliner dealer (Bachrodt Freightliner of Pompano Beach, FL) replaced TranSynd in my 2007 Winnebago Tour Allison transmission with "Delvac Synthetic ATF". Is this equivalent to TranSynd and if not is there a danger if I run the motorhome for 5,000 miles before replacing it? Thanks.

I'm sure Tom will reply. Here is the Allison listing of approved TES295 fluids:

http://www.allisontransmission.com/p...highway-fluids

[Old Scout]

OK--624 posts is just too many to deal with. Please indulge my short-cut--I have settled on changing out my TranSynd every 4 years or 50k miles [about the same]. This seems to be in line with at least some schools of thought. What I am curious about is the "requirement" to change out the filters every three years. Does that mean that at the end of 3 years I would change filters then the following year change fluid and leave the one year old filters in? Then in two more years change the filters again but wait two years to change the fluid, now with two year old filters????? What am I missing here--help please.
PS-- I appreciate the discussion about annual fluid testing and the longevity of these fluids but 4 years seems like long enough to go without a fluid change--just me.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Old Scout

OK--624 posts is just too many to deal with. Please indulge my short-cut--I have settled on changing out my TranSynd every 4 years or 50k miles [about the same]. This seems to be in line with at least some schools of thought. What I am curious about is the "requirement" to change out the filters every three years. Does that mean that at the end of 3 years I would change filters then the following year change fluid and leave the one year old filters in? Then in two more years change the filters again but wait two years to change the fluid, now with two year old filters????? What am I missing here--help please.
PS-- I appreciate the discussion about annual fluid testing and the longevity of these fluids but 4 years seems like long enough to go without a fluid change--just me.

Good question. Here is my solution to that conundrum.

Starting at a fluid/filter change:
1. At approx 36 months I pull a fluid sample & send to JG Lube Services for testing (advanced).
2. If the fluid test good, I change the filters & top up with fresh TES295 fluid.
3. I continue to test fluid annually and change filters again 36 months after previous change. I always pull a fluid sample just before a filter change and if the fluid is showing time to change then I do it At the filter change. If it's still good I just top up again & test the next year.

I changed my fluid and filters in 11/09. In 11/12 I tested fluid which was good and changed filters. Took 2 gal of fluid to top up. I tested again in 11/13 and fluid was good. Very little change from a year ago. I will test again this fall and do a filter change fall of '15 at which time I will test fluid again.

If you want to start a similar program, Tom will be a big help. I also purchased a sampling port from JG which installs on the transmission which enables you to take a warm sample under pressure which is much easier & cleaner than sucking it up the dipstick tube. Less than $30 for the part & if you have an adjustable wrench you can install.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Steve Ownby

I also purchased a sampling port from JG which installs on the transmission which enables you to take a warm sample under pressure which is much easier & cleaner than sucking it up the dipstick tube. Less than $30 for the part & if you have an adjustable wrench you can install.

Steve,

Can you install this port without draining the TranSynd?

To me that method seems like the most logical one and less mess.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Steve,



Can you install this port without draining the TranSynd?



To me that method seems like the most logical one and less mess.



Dr4Film ----- Richard

Hey Richard,

Yes you can. There is a threaded plug with an O ring on the port and with the engine off & no pressure there is just a little dribbling. Easy to take off the plug & install the fitting.

Here is a pic:

http://www.checkfluid.com/sampling-v...st-series.html.

Page 8 of this Allison publication shows the location as: main pressure tap.

http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/transmi..._operators.pdf

I bought the valve from JG when I bought a couple of sample kits. Using this method, you have to use a throw away sample needle and short piece of tubing. The guy at JG knows what to send you when you tell him what you are doing.

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by Mtmoi

Local Freightliner dealer (Bachrodt Freightliner of Pompano Beach, FL) replaced TranSynd in my 2007 Winnebago Tour Allison transmission with "Delvac Synthetic ATF". Is this equivalent to TranSynd and if not is there a danger if I run the motorhome for 5,000 miles before replacing it? Thanks.

Mtmoi,

Yes. Mobil DELVAC Synthetic ATF has the same performance level as TranSynd. So, no harm in running it for a long time. I always suggest the RV owners do oil analysis once a year on their transmission just to ensure against any contamination or anything else going on that may be unforeseen.

The product should look like this and carry the Allison Approval Number AN-051005.

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by Old Scout

OK--624 posts is just too many to deal with. Please indulge my short-cut--I have settled on changing out my TranSynd every 4 years or 50k miles [about the same]. This seems to be in line with at least some schools of thought. What I am curious about is the "requirement" to change out the filters every three years. Does that mean that at the end of 3 years I would change filters then the following year change fluid and leave the one year old filters in? Then in two more years change the filters again but wait two years to change the fluid, now with two year old filters????? What am I missing here--help please.
PS-- I appreciate the discussion about annual fluid testing and the longevity of these fluids but 4 years seems like long enough to go without a fluid change--just me.

Old Scout,

Use Steve Ownby's method. I think this is good.