I have a 2005 Monterey (build date 8/2004) with an Allison 3000 transmission.  It has 33000 miles on it and I'm just wondering if, because of age, the transynd transmission is due for a change?  Thanks,  Don

Don,
According to the transmission oil change schedule that Allison has issued for your transmission, you are past due for an oil change. However because of the low milage and dry area that you normally travel in, I would not be in a big rush. I would change the transmission fluid and filter at the next time you change the engine oil.

Gerald

Thanks Gerald,

We came over the hills today from Grand Junction to a few miles north of Denver to Transwest to have my annual oil change and service tomorrow.  They have 50 amp hookup for us to spend the night and have treated me good the past 3 years on some repair stuff so am including the transmission oil change and filters too.  What are the Allison specs for transynd and filter change?  I was thinking 100,000 miles but the years passed me by.  Thanks,  Don

Don,
The Transynd fluid change recommendations that Allison list for your transmission are;

General service- 300,000 miles or 4 years
Severe service- 150,000 miles or 4 years

Filter change at;

General or severe service-  75,000 miles or 3 years

Personally I just use the four year time frame for fluid and filter change, so that they are always changed at the same time. That makes it easier for an old person like me to remember.

Gerald

Gerald,  

Thanks for the information.  Looks like my thinking about miles was incorrect.  I'll just do the 4 years from now on even if it does appear the transynd is going to cost around $600.  I guess Allison must really be proud of that oil.  

Don

Don,
To me $600 sounds a little above the price that I would expect to pay for a fluid and filter change. I would call around a little first. However you would have to have substantial savings to warrant driving very far out of your way.

Gerald

I caught a sale at Clark Internation Dealership in Pensacola at $28 and change per gallon. (usually about $33) The Allison filter set was about $65 dollars at that same dealer. I used 8 gallons and the filter set. With tax it was about $300 for materials. That is a do it yourself price so you can figuire an appropriate labor charge of maybe $150 or so. I see $450 to $500 as about right. If they were going to use more fluid or drop a cooler line to completely replace the fluid that would be extra. For my case it will take two fluid changes to take advantage of the extended TranSynd interval. Hope this helps.

later Ed

I have just had my Transynd oil changed at WW Williams in Columbia, SC.  I have an Allison 4000 and the cost was around $400, which included all filters of course.  I cannot give the exact cost as I had a few other things done while there.  But 500 would be on the very high side for a 3000.
That was when I found out that th 100000 mile that is advertized is not for motorhomes, as they take so long to reach thet millage.  Four years is max.

At the aparent high cost of Transynd and the 4 year deal, why is it better to use the transynd that the original dextron 111.  Perhaps in a 3 year cycle?
When converting to transynd, is there a proceedure for the first fill to eliminate as much of the old as possible?
No one in our area does Allison so what do I need to look out for on my first attempt?
Keith

Keith;
There are several reasons to use Transynd instead of Dexron III when you service your transmission. The first and most important reason is that Transynd lubricates better. If you change to Transynd from Dexron III, your transmission operating temperature will drop about 15 degrees because of less friction.

Next the cost of service will be less on Transynd over four years because of the labor cost in replacing the Dexron III four times (every 12 months), and replacing the Transynd only once.

The change-over method that you can use to remove all of the Dexron III when changing to Transynd is to remove the line running from the transmission cooler to the transmission after you have drained and refilled the transmission. Then crank the engine and let it idle as the transmission pumps the new fluid through the torque converter and transmission cooler and turn off the engine as soon as you see the fluid color change as the old darker Dexron III is exhausted and the lighter color Transynd starts to replace it. Then top-off the transmission fluid to the full level after reconnecting the cooler line.

This method will take about 2 gallons more fluid, but it will extend your next change to four years with one fluid change, instead of the two changes necessary to extend to four years with the drain and refill method.

Gerald  

Gerald, can Transynd be tested to see if it needs to be changed?

Allison does offer an oil analysis program. This article was copied from Allison's website.

Gerald

Allison Transmission offers an oil analysis program that will allow you to extend the life of your fluids to their maximum potential. The Oil Analysis Kit is available from our Distributor and Dealer network at very reasonable pricing. Ask for (P/N 29537805).

Thanks that may be the least e expensive and best for the enviorment.

I just had my transmission changed over to transynd by Quinn CAT. The tech told me he used a cleaner before filling with the transynd. When I asked if he circulated out the old fluid in the cooler he said no, that there wasn't enough in the system to hurt the transynd. What do you think, I am not so sure about this.

It is my understanding that this is a perfectly acceptable way of switching to Transynd.  No harm is done by having some of the old fluid mixed with the Transynd, but neither will it provide you with the same long term protection.  What is usually recommended in these cases is to repeat the fluid change at roughly one year (the normal Dextron interval) and then to switch to the 3-4 year Transynd change interval.

Thanks Joel,  I'll plan on changing it in a year then.

Castrol told me to do a simple fluid change plus filters. This means I put in 7 gallons of Transynd instead of 9 gallons for a complete drain. Castrol says to change the Transynd again at 50,000 miles or 1 year . This 2nd change will mean I am running 99% Transynd. At this point Allison would warranty my transmission.

Actually you end up with a little over 75% Transynd after your first drain and fill change with new filters getting about 31 out of 40 quarts to drain per the Allison website with a 2 inch sump. I think I got 30 quarts in mine with my first change. Jeramy, if you have to drive far to pick up the fluid you may want to pick up 8 gallons to be sure.

The second change gets you to 95% Transynd which Allison considers acceptable for the extended change intervals. Allisons actual limit is 90% for the extended change intervals. At this point you still have about 2 quarts of earlier Dexron versions in the mix. Your third transmission fluid change would get you to the 99% Transynd. Fluid capacities are here for the 4000 series among others.

http://www.allisontransmission.....leToGet=SA5429EN.pdf

Jeramy, given the age of these transmissions, I do not think we would be under warranty, even with the Transynd change over but I am not sure of this. Maybe you could buy an extended warranty at this point? You mentioned Castrol... I think you would need something that is documented from Allison to be sure of the warranty policy. Hope this helps.

Later Ed

Transynd is compatible with Dexron.

Quoted from Richard And Babs Ames

Transynd is compatible with Dexron.

Right, it is totally compatible but a significant percentage of it in the fluid will degrade the "long lasting" properties of Transynd so you have to treat the transmission as if it were filled with Dextron and not Transynd.

Transynd is made by Castrol.  My percentage was wrong......it is 95% at 2nd fill.   My trans temp gauge dropped from 200 deg F to 170 deg F when I changed  to Transynd.

Since I'm not sure if my transmission is on its first or second fill of Transynd, I'm going to have an oil analysis done before having it replaced.  The analysis will be able to show if it needs replacing.  I'm going to use the low-cost kits available from these folks--http://www.jglubricantservices.com/  The owner, Tom Johnson, was a senior Allison engineer and describes himself as "the father of Transynd".  

Jeremy, In one of your posts you state that if you have 95% Transynd in your tranmission that Allison will warranty your transmission. Am I getting that correct? Change to Transynd and they will put a warranty on your 11 year old transmission? Marty

Hi Marty,
  I will try to verify this with Allison but I believe it to be true.  Castrol suggested this would be possible after the 2nd oil change. Maybe you can research  this for me as I am in Baja right now.  It would be good to know this wasnt hearsay !!
this from another forum  "  The Allison dealer gave me a form called an "Allison Transmission Extended Transmission Coverage Agreement Registration" Form SE0010 (8/04). What it amounts to is: you pay Allison $300, show that the truck already has Transynd in the tranny or pay them to flush/install Transynd and Allison will provide a 5 year warranty with no mileage limitation. In my case they inspected the transmission and confirmed that it has Transynd in it. I paid them $300 and they gave me the 5 year transmission warranty.
Perhaps this is what the Castrol rep. was referring to??  

Jeremy, I find that hard to believe. I have made myself a note and will try to get a hold of Allison to get an answer. I do know that in the trucking industry, if you specced out a new truck with synthetics in the diffentials and the transmission, the manufacturer warrantied them longer (from 100,000 to 500,000 miles). In all my years in trucking I never heard of any company offering a warranty for changing to synthetics on used running gear. I'll let you know what I find out from Allison.
Marty

Ok Marty,
I shall be very interested to hear what you can find out.    Jeremy

Jeremy, I just spoke with the service dept. at Pacific Power Products in Kent, Wa. 253-854-0505. If you put in a remanufactured Allison transmission in your older vehicle and choose to put Transynd fluid in it, you will get an extended warranty over just using Dexron III. The warranty is not for just changing to Transynd. Marty

Hi Marty,
  thank you very much for clarifying this . Some service centers give out wrong information and this was one of those times.    I guess it is good news for those of us who have to install a rebuilt transmission.