Former Allison Transmission Fluids Engineer

[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..

[powerboatr]

HOWDY from north east Texas
you could be asked a whole bunch of tuffies.

[REWahoo]

OK, I'll start: How come TranSynd is so darned expensive?

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by powerboatr

HOWDY from north east Texas
you could be asked a whole bunch of tuffies.

powerboatr,

First, thanks for your service to our country. I too am a vet (USAF 1968-1972). Weapons specialist. I too will not apologize for my belief in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord.

[Mekanic]

if you are accepting general auto trans fluid questions I have one.

I am aware that the fluid is the lube and coolant for a automactic trans.
I have a concern with using ANY synthitic trans fluid. I am worryed that the clutches will not hold as much torque and start to slip and create heat and all the bad stuff that goes with that.
I use synthitics in every else I have, but i'm just not sure they will work right in the clutchs of a transmission.
(I had a limmited slip diff in a mustang years ago that went unlimmited slip on me after a swap to synthitic axle lube.)

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by REWahoo

OK, I'll start: How come TranSynd is so darned expensive?

Well, for one thing Allison gets a royalty off every gallon sold. Also, it's blended with pure synthetic base oils (PAO, polyalphaolefins). The PAO is responsible for most of the cost.

PS: I cannot and will not divulge the inside info on the royalty deal.

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by Mekanic

if you are accepting general auto trans fluid questions I have one.

I am aware that the fluid is the lube and coolant for a automactic trans.
I have a concern with using ANY synthitic trans fluid. I am worryed that the clutches will not hold as much torque and start to slip and create heat and all the bad stuff that goes with that.
I use synthitics in every else I have, but i'm just not sure they will work right in the clutchs of a transmission.
(I had a limmited slip diff in a mustang years ago that went unlimmited slip on me after a swap to synthitic axle lube.)

Mekanic,

The frictional characteristics of any transmission fluid are determined by the additive package and not by the base oils. So, it really doesn't matter if it's synthetic or not. What matters is that the OEM specified fluid is installed. Allison has two specifications TES-389 and TES-295 (I wrote both of them). Both have friction tests built into them ... TES-389 requires proof of a DEXRON-IIIH license which means it passed the GM DEXRON-IIIH spec (which includes both band and plate friction tests).

[Mike Canter]

Hi, Mr Transynd. Great to have you on the forum, We had a long discussion on two things.

1. Is there an easy way for an RV owner to tell if the fluid in his Allison is Transynd or Dexron. Taste or smell, or some easy test?

2. Why is it my slighty aged Transynd in the tranny golden in color but the fresh bought Transysnd is red color. Does it change color with time or did the color specification of Transynd change?

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by Mike Canter

Hi, Mr Transynd. Great to have you on the forum, We had a long discussion on two things.

1. Is there an easy way for an RV owner to tell if the fluid in his Allison is Transynd or Dexron. Taste or smell, or some easy test?

2. Why is it my slighty aged Transynd in the tranny golden in color but the fresh bought Transysnd is red color. Does it change color with time or did the color specification of Transynd change?

Mike,
It is difficult to tell the difference if both are new. If the fluid is used, you can look at Viscosity at 100C (through oil analysis). If it's TranSynd, this number will not change much from new to used. This is because TranSynd is "very" stable and will not lose viscosity over time. New or used, TranSynd's KV100C (Kinematic Viscosity at 100C) should be around 7.0 to 7.5 cSt (centi-Stokes). If it's lower than that, then it could be DEXRON-III or a mix of TranSynd and DEXRON-III.

I have seen the gold tint after teardown on transmissions. We beleive it is due to the PAO base oils giving off an "iridescence" under some lighting conditions. The color has not changed. Red dye is still put into the formulation as specified by the specification.

[akadeadeye]

Mr. Transynd,

Welcome here. I have an Allison 3000. I haven't needed to add fluid yet, but when I do, what kind do I add?

Don

[Mike Canter]

Thanks, it is a shame that Allison didn't make the Transynd fluid color blue or green just something different that the same red color as DEXRON. This sure would make things a lot easier.

The other question I have is do you know what date Transynd was used as standard fluid from the factory in all the Allison transmissions. Did this vary from one RV company to another or did Allison mandate it after a set date?

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by Mike Canter

Thanks, it is a shame that Allison didn't make the Transynd fluid color blue or green just something different that the same red color as DEXRON. This sure would make things a lot easier.

The other question I have is do you know what date Transynd was used as standard fluid from the factory in all the Allison transmissions. Did this vary from one RV company to another or did Allison mandate it after a set date?

I think we changed over to TranSynd in the factory in January of 1999. Before that we used DEXRON-III GM factory fill from Petro-Canada.

[hzjcm8]

Originally Posted by akadeadeye

Mr. Transynd,

Welcome here. I have an Allison 3000. I haven't needed to add fluid yet, but when I do, what kind do I add?

Don

akadeadeye,
Add TranSynd or one of the other TES-295 approved fluids. You just can't go wrong that way.

[powerboatr]

i just have to ask.
Transmission filters??? which ones/brands if you can, worked best for the requirements of the fluid and transmission?