Allison/TranSynd

[HOOK]

Has anyone changed to TranSynd? What was result and how much cost. Thanks Larry

[mail2us]

I have read a little on this Castrol product. It claims alot and may be more cost. How do you determine use especially if you have an older model Allison? Is it worth the money to switch in mid stream?

One claim is that it runs cooler.

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

CountryGuy went to Transend at 25,000 miles, first trans oil change. He had completely flushed first. Again at about 59,000. He is happy with it. Recommended by Allison, it is their synthetic. Nope, not cheap, but, hey we are talking Big Butt here, BB is worth it.

[kdeiss]

I went with it Dec 2009 at about 25,000 was recommended by the Allison Dealer was pricy but this the last I will probibly change

[8.1al]

We changed to Transynd at 25,000 miles and 150,000 miles later the transmission is going strong. Did the Transynd help? Who knows but I have seen firsthand how much better synthetics are and use them in everything. I believe Allison said to drain the pan and fill with Transynd and since you now have mixture of fluids you can go 50,000 miles at which time you drain the pan again and refill and now you have mostly Transynd and can then go 100,000 miles before your next fluid change. They do recommend filter changes though. The last time I bought Transynd it was from an Allison dealer and it cost around $40 a gallon, a lot of money but certainly cheaper than a new transmission

[Clemson1881]

I used Dextron VI GM's synthetic formula on my last change. It too was not cheap.

[HOOK]

Thanks guys. My question arose when I read a thread on another forum where an Allison engineer (retired) was answering questions on the forum. I sometimes think you can't trust every thread, but it seemed to be good info. and I knew you guys would have some experience. He said to install TranSynd and change filter every 75000 and you should be good for 300000. Our truck fleet had 5 and 7 speed stick shifts. We had no trouble going 500000 + without trans trouble. My knowledge of the Allison is this is my first and I want to treat it well. It has been serviced at Chev. dealer as they reccomend. I just had not heard of this fluid until I read the thread. Thanks again.

[PapaBeav]

I have been using Transynd since the first fluid change. I have had no tranny problems yet and I have 114K on the truck now. I do replace the spin on external filter about every 10K and I do replace the fluid myself.

[TAKPAK]

I too have chatted with the dealer about changing over to synthetic in the Allison. Cost would run over $400, which is flush and replace. But, in chatting with him, he said that while the synthetic is good, it's all about temperature in the transmission fluid. The big difference is the synthetics will handle a higher temperature before starting to break down. He said somewhere around 300 plus degrees. The mineral oils (standard stuff) start breaking down at around 250 degrees. I have watched the temp on the tranny constantly, and even on a hard pull, have yet to see it hit 200 degrees. In my mind, that is staying within the limits. So, I'll probably stay with the standard issue oil. But, to each his own. I can see where if you lived in Arizona, or Texas, or......then you would probably have a good case for synthetics. However, here in the NW, it stays pretty cool! To each his own........!

[8.1al]

Even at lower temps synthetic provides much better protection. I think the defining question is "how long are you going to keep it?". If you plan to keep it a long time then you can't go wrong with synthetic, otherwise why spend the extra money?.

[kdeiss]

quote:Originally posted by TAKPAK

I too have chatted with the dealer about changing over to synthetic in the Allison. Cost would run over $400, which is flush and replace. But, in chatting with him, he said that while the synthetic is good, it's all about temperature in the transmission fluid. The big difference is the synthetics will handle a higher temperature before starting to break down. He said somewhere around 300 plus degrees. The mineral oils (standard stuff) start breaking down at around 250 degrees. I have watched the temp on the tranny constantly, and even on a hard pull, have yet to see it hit 200 degrees. In my mind, that is staying within the limits. So, I'll probably stay with the standard issue oil. But, to each his own. I can see where if you lived in Arizona, or Texas, or......then you would probably have a good case for synthetics. However, here in the NW, it stays pretty cool! To each his own........!

I have to pull my receipt I was not even close to $400.00 I had the service done at the Allison Dealer as recommended by my GMC Dealer

[Illini Trekker]

Lots of good reading at The Diesel Place

Here's the link
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=41

[dieseldan723]

It's a great product if you can afford it. I am on a limited budget. I have been using Chevron ATF (purchased at Costco). I change the filter every 6,000 miles in addition to draining the pan once a year (requires about 7 qts). Now over 107K miles and have had no problems. I tow a 11K trailer with my GMC 2500HD.

[ARJ]

http://www.allisontransmission.com/s...jsp?ThisPage=3

[Waynem]

I have posted on that same "other" forum.

Mobil Delvac ATF synthetic fluid is TES-295 approved by Allison, and less expensive than Transynd. My recent M-3 at Freightliner plant, my Allison with Transynd was topped of with Mobil Delvac ATF Synthetic. Make sure it is the DELVAC, and NOT just the regular Mobil 1 fluid.

[TLightning]

Transynd must be REALLY good fluid. We have RVing friends that have an Allison 3000 in their motor home. He called Allison to verify what the manual said regarding fluid changes. The first change is at four years or 300,000 miles! If the fluid is tested regularly and okay, it can go on until it tests bad.

[Waynem]

Hmmm! My book says 150,000 miles. Maybe they have changed since 2008.

They warranty their transmissions for 5 years.

[norskeman]

I changed to TranSynd in my 2011 - did a drain and fill = put 2000 miles on the truck and did another drain and fill and changed the external filter. I paid $32.00 a gallon for the TranSynd and $7.95 for the spin on filter. Purchased at a local Penn Diesel shop in Syracuse, NY.
List of TES 295 approved fluids

Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants TranSynd
BP Lubricants Autran Syn 295
Cognis Corporation Emgard 2805
International Truck & Engine Company Fleetrite Synthetic ATF
ExxonMobil Lubricants and Petroleum Specialties Company Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF
John Deere & Company HD SynTran
Volvo Trucks North America Bulldog Synthetic ATF

2011 Chevy Silverado 3500HD LTZ CCLB LML SRW 4X4 Blue Granite Metallic.
Towing a 2009 Montana Mountaineer 347THT Toy Hauler.