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Old 01-11-2006, 10:43 PM   #1
Montana Sky
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Duramax and Allison fluids?

I am wondering how many of you folks who have the Duramax diesel and Allison transmission are running synthetic oil and synthetic transmission fluid in your rigs? My tranny will be due here in the next few months for its 50,000 mile fluid change and am thinking of switching over to synthetic. I run my oil changes every 3,000 miles,(or as close to) but am wondering if I would be better off running synthetic oil to promote longer engine life. I would like to get 150,000 - 200,000 miles out of this truck.
 
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Old 01-12-2006, 12:54 AM   #2
foggyb
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Hi This is my second Duramax and I have and do run them on synthetic Amsoil. I change all the fluids in the fall just b4 we set out on our winter adventure. My plan is to run 15000 btwn oil changes. I never make it as I seem to get nervous around 10000 and change it somewhere btwn that and 15000. I always order 4 oil filters at the time and change them every 5000 no mater what. Seems to work fine for me and I expect at least 200,000 or more. I don't wait for the 50000 mile trans change as I work mine harder than the average user. It gets changed every fall and the smell tells you it definately needs it. Dan
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Old 01-12-2006, 10:51 AM   #3
Montana Sky
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My dealership offers both sythetic and traditional oil and tells me since I pretty much stick with 3,000 mile changes there would be no need to go to synthetic oil. The tranny is the one I am more concerned with, I am running the standard tranny fluid it comes from the factory with. This is my 2nd Duramax as well, first one (2003) had 24,000 miles on it before it was a total loss after an accident in a blizzard. I run synthetic in both the front and rear diffs and am planning on having them switch the tranny as well. The truck gets all the recommended services and fluid changes at each mileage suggestion from GM. I really want to run this well past 150,000 miles.
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Old 01-12-2006, 11:15 AM   #4
Broome101
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Are you sure your tranny does not have synthetic in it from factory. Most all of them 2004 and after come with synthetic in transmissions, or at least this is what I was told. I run synthetic in my Ford and go 10,000 between oil changes and Ford comes standard with synthetic in tranny. Going to have both diff' done once I get 30K on truck and everything is broke in good.
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Old 01-12-2006, 12:28 PM   #5
Montana Sky
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I know the tranny does not come with synthetic as I have already had the fluid replaced at 25,000 miles and my dealership asked then if I wanted to stay with the standard fluid or switch to synthetic. I figured at that time I would stay with traditional fluid to make sure tranny got broke in well and now am thinking of switching over. GM has the onboard computer that tells you when it is time to change your oil, have on the Silverado and GMC Envoy. The Envoy will go as far as 5000-6000 miles before the computer says to change the oil, not as worried about that since it has never towed anything and is pretty much an around town rig. As of now my plan will be to switch over the tranny and continue to change the oil every 3k.
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Old 01-13-2006, 01:30 PM   #6
BigAl52
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I have been an Amsoil Dealer since people would look at you like you have lost your mind to use synthetic oil. That would be about 28yrs. I don't have a big downline and just sell it to my friends or anyone who wants to use it. I bought a Dodge 2003 Cummins last may had 46000 miles on it. Clean truck and runs really good. Changed the rear ends and transfer case for starters and gained 1.4 mpg. Changed the motor later and gained to about 2.0 mpg. Amsoil has just received an award from the API for there new filter technology. This all sounds like a sales pitch I know but Synthetic is the only way to go in my book. They also have the synthetic fluid for the Allison Transmissions. Your tranny will run cooler with the synthetic. I use this stuff in everthing. There 100 to 1 2 cycle oil is the best there is. I have never had a problem with any of there products. Whats also nice is the drain intervals are just once a year now and definitely a cheaper way to go. This fluid also has an extended drain time. If you are interested in more info just e-mail me and mybe I can help Al
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Old 01-13-2006, 02:00 PM   #7
Montana Sky
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Al,
Thanks for the info, I was just talking with my neighbor about Amsoil and he pretty much said the same thing as you. Maybe I need to look into it for the engine oil as well. I am going to switch the tranny over for sure, thanks again.
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Old 01-13-2006, 03:32 PM   #8
BigAl52
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One more thing I forgot to mention is that all of our trucks now where I work have synthetic in the drive train and if you take it out it voids the warranty which at last check was 1,000,000 miles and thats not a typo. Al
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Old 01-14-2006, 02:56 AM   #9
Montana_1424
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Switched everything to Amsoil myself, the Transfer case, tranny, diffs, and oil, everythingruns great, gained some mileage and the all thr drain intervals are definatly longer. It is a good eay to go. I have a dodge cummins,but i know they have the fluid for the allison.
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Old 01-20-2006, 02:41 AM   #10
G McCall
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You can go to the web site, dieselplace.com, and find all the info you want on fluids. Most prefer synthetics but gains are minimal.
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Old 01-24-2006, 06:19 PM   #11
sreigle
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Broome, your Ford came with synthetic in the differential, too. Mine did, including the 1999, 2003, and 2005 years.

I need to check the Ford "rules" on synthetic oil in the engine. I don't think they care but will they care about extending the oil change interval if there is need for warranty engine work? I run Rotella T but not the synthetic. I wouldn't mind using synthetic but not if I have to change the oil every 5,000 miles or so. Synthetic is too expensive for that. Keep in mind 5,000 miles for us is 6 to 7 weeks.
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