Hey guys I have an 06 LBZ with the allison 6 speed. I have just over 27k miles on the truck and I believe its the original trans fluid. My truck is going to the dealer on Monday and they said the trans should have a fluid and filter change at 30k miles. They said the cost is $250 for this service.

My questions are: should I use standard trans fluid or synthetic? If so what should I be asking for? Is there just one filter? Is the price fair? It seems a bit high but never done a trans service on an allison before.

Thanks,
David

250 is a rip off.... search the do-it-yourself site. it is very easy to do.

If you use your truck for hard work, (hauling or towing) then I would recommend synthetic fluid. I think that your truck came with Dexron III, but I believe that you can keep using it or switch up to Dexron VI synthetic. If you want the best protection, them buy 5 gallons of Allison approved TES 295 fluid...TranSynd. It costs alot, but it is one of the best products that you can use (hey everyone, I did say one of the best! Amsoil Torque-Drive is great too, althought not "technically a TES-295 fluid, but many here say that it is just as good as TranSynd).
Buy a new Allison spin on filter for about $8.00 - $13.00 depending upon where you buy it, but don't buy from dealer unless you want to spend much more. A local GM dealer tryed to charge me $38.95 for the spin on filter!!
Just drain your pan, fill, and put on a new filter...and save enought $$$ for a couple months of beer.
If you want to do the flush then read about the 'Hoot' method...very easy.:D

The following is one method of a DIY flush.
http://mdt.volvospeed.com/repairs/allison_atf_filter.html

If you use your truck for hard work, (hauling or towing) then I would recommend synthetic fluid. I think that your truck came with Dexron III, but I believe that you can keep using it or switch up to Dexron VI synthetic. If you want the best protection, them buy 5 gallons of Allison approved TES 295 fluid...TranSynd. It costs alot, but it is one of the best products that you can use (hey everyone, I did say one of the best! Amsoil Torque-Drive is great too, althought not "technically a TES-295 fluid, but many here say that it is just as good as TranSynd).
Buy a new Allison spin on filter for about $8.00 - $13.00 depending upon where you buy it, but don't buy from dealer unless you want to spend much more. A local GM dealer tryed to charge me $38.95 for the spin on filter!!
Just drain your pan, fill, and put on a new filter...and save enought $$$ for a couple months of beer.
If you want to do the flush then read about the 'Hoot' method...very easy.:D


:exactly:

well not to sound like a pus*y but I don't want to do it myself. There are things I will do and things I hate to do and one of the things I hate is working on trucks/cars. Plus I then have to deal with buying the right tools, getting the fluid recycled etc. I would rather pay to have it done but if I don't use the dealer then who should I take it to? I see that allison says not to use the machine a quick lube place has.

David

David...
What's the point of having a great truck if you don't want to do some of the work yourself? Seriously tho', you will save a small fortune even on the small jobs. Most of the fluid changes (oil, trans, diffs, and transfer case) are really very easy.
It's your money. I just won't pay someone else about $100/hr to do a job that I can easily do on a Saturday afternoon.
Just my .02 cents worth:beerchug:

well not to sound like a pus*y but I don't want to do it myself. There are things I will do and things I hate to do and one of the things I hate is working on trucks/cars. Plus I then have to deal with buying the right tools, getting the fluid recycled etc. I would rather pay to have it done but if I don't use the dealer then who should I take it to? I see that allison says not to use the machine a quick lube place has.

David


Find a allison shop and ask them how much for a fluid change (transynd).
Better way to go IMO.

David...
What's the point of having a great truck if you don't want to do some of the work yourself? Seriously tho', you will save a small fortune even on the small jobs. Most of the fluid changes (oil, trans, diffs, and transfer case) are really very easy.
It's your money. I just won't pay someone else about $100/hr to do a job that I can easily do on a Saturday afternoon.
Just my .02 cents worth:beerchug:

Oh I know, and your right. But I travel a lot and only have so much free time and I really hate doing stuff like this, its also like paying someone to mow your lawn or clean your house. My friends think I am nuts but when you travel over half of the year for work and have hobbies etc doing stuff like this is more of a thorn in my side type thing. Its easier to drop it off for the day when I am working from home and pick it up all taken care of giving me the time to do all the things I want to do etc. It does cost more which sucks! I don't mind paying someone to do it but don't want to be raped at the same time.

David

Take it to an Allison dealer...much better price for a fluid change and filter. You can drop off the truck just like the dealership. Waiting room and coffee too!

To drain and refill it a pretty simple job. Flushing it can be messy doing it yourself. The dealer price is high by at least a $100 bucks.

If you want to save money go to a Allison dealer in your area. Look here http://www.allisontransmission.com/locator/mappoint/index.jsp?country=US

Don't go to anyone not familiar with your transmission if you want it flushed.

Oh I know, and your right. But I travel a lot and only have so much free time and I really hate doing stuff like this, its also like paying someone to mow your lawn or clean your house. My friends think I am nuts but when you travel over half of the year for work and have hobbies etc doing stuff like this is more of a thorn in my side type thing. Its easier to drop it off for the day when I am working from home and pick it up all taken care of giving me the time to do all the things I want to do etc. It does cost more which sucks! I don't mind paying someone to do it but don't want to be raped at the same time.

David
Hey David...I'm not trying to bust your chops. but if isn't in your comfort zone, then so be it.
I too work out of town; April has me all ready getting home from a Seoul trip, now a Beijing trip as of 3 hours ago. I leave for a transcon to Toronto tomorrow morning, then some days off. After that I do another Beijing, and then a Rome...then April is over.
I like working on my truck, as it is a way for me to relax, and I like to save money. I then play a little game, and that is the money that I save by doing things myself, I then like to spend on my special lady of 28 years. So far it seems to be working- she hasn't kicked my out yet. Maybe one day I'll spring for someone else to do the work.
:welcome:

Looks like you have 2 with in 10 miles of you.

Looks like you have 2 with in 10 miles of you.


Yup I am going to call them Monday morning.

Hey David...I'm not trying to bust your chops. but if isn't in your comfort zone, then so be it.
I too work out of town; April has me all ready getting home from a Seoul trip, now a Beijing trip as of 3 hours ago. I leave for a transcon to Toronto tomorrow morning, then some days off. After that I do another Beijing, and then a Rome...then April is over.
I like working on my truck, as it is a way for me to relax, and I like to save money. I then play a little game, and that is the money that I save by doing things myself, I then like to spend on my special lady of 28 years. So far it seems to be working- she hasn't kicked my out yet. Maybe one day I'll spring for someone else to do the work.
:welcome:


Oh I know your not bashing me, didn't take it that way. I am still single, never married and no kids so if anyone would have the time it would be me lol but never seem to have much of it. Your travel schedule is as bad as mine this month. Glad all mine is domestic!

PS your daughters are HOT, did I meantion I am single lol.

well check this one out. I called a couple of the Allison shops about doing my truck (found them from the Allison web site). They are more money then the dealer! They have been quoting 1.5 hours of labor at $106 an hour and my trans comes out of the factory with synthetic which is $90 a gallon, they only sell it by the gallon so I have to buy 3 gallons. The Chevy dealer wants $250 with labor, fluid and filter. I am shocked they are cheaper. I have 3 allision dealers close to me and they were all pretty much the same price.

Dave

You know what is amazing about the prices that you were quoted....here in Canada most things are a little more expensive then the USA, but my Allison dealer told me that their TranSynd was $47.00/gallon (which still seems high).
:wtf1:

The allison dealer is going to refill your transmission with TranSynd, a top-shelf synthetic fluid. Chances are the dealer is going to use a conventional Dex VI since that is what your truck calls for.

IIRC the allison dealer near me charges in the neighborhood of $250 for a spin-on, drain and fill with TranSynd on a 1000 series.

The allison dealer is going to refill your transmission with TranSynd, a top-shelf synthetic fluid. Chances are the dealer is going to use a conventional Dex VI since that is what your truck calls for.

IIRC the allison dealer near me charges in the neighborhood of $250 for a spin-on, drain and fill with TranSynd on a 1000 series.

well i am going to the dealer right now to have the EGR valve replaced, I am going to ask him before he does anything to it. I will let you know.

PS The Allison shop told me that around mid 06 is when GM started putting transynd in them out of the factory, not sure if this is true but I would think they know what they are talking about.

Dave

well i am going to the dealer right now to have the EGR valve replaced, I am going to ask him before he does anything to it. I will let you know.

PS The Allison shop told me that around mid 06 is when GM started putting transynd in them out of the factory, not sure if this is true but I would think they know what they are talking about.

Dave

Nah most Allison service centers aren't to interested in GM's application believe it or not. They get a little confused.

The fluid isn't cheap the $250 price that was quoted here is about right for synthetic.

My powertrain is covered for 5 yrs/100k so it looks like a dealer service for me,right??

Ok I took my truck to the dealer and he said the tranny has Dexron VI in it. The price quoted was for that service. The dealer is right at the price of allison shops and cheaper then one of them I called. I told them to go ahead and do it. The tranny dip stick even says Dexron VI required. I also had the trans lines replaced last month and that is the fluid they used.

Ok I took my truck to the dealer and he said the tranny has Dexron VI in it. The price quoted was for that service. The dealer is right at the price of allison shops and cheaper then one of them I called. I told them to go ahead and do it. The tranny dip stick even says Dexron VI required. I also had the trans lines replaced last month and that is the fluid they used.


So for the same price, you could have had transynd put in, but you had the dealer put in dex VI. Well good for you:banghead:.
Spend some time reading on DP and go to allisons web site. You will understand why some use syn. trans fluid.
But the good news is, you had the trans fluid changed.

So for the same price, you could have had transynd put in, but you had the dealer put in dex VI. Well good for you:banghead:.
Spend some time reading on DP and go to allisons web site. You will understand why some use syn. trans fluid.
But the good news is, you had the trans fluid changed.

Well the reason for this is per Allisons transynd specs you have to do another tranny fluid and filter change in 5k more miles after switching over, so that is another $350 or so bucks. Dexron VI is synthetic and I don't do much towing anymore so I figured why spend $700 plus bucks to put transynd in.

oh and by the way I might have mislead you earlier, the allison shops quoted dexron VI as well for that price, a couple brought up transynd but wanted $350 or so to do it and also said I will need to do it all over again in the 5k miles to get full transynd in the tranny. So I didn't figure $700 bucks was worth it. I have an extended warranty that takes me to almost 100k and I typically never keep a truck more then a few years and will never see 100k miles.

Your right, Like I said, the good news is you have fresh trany fluid in.
As far as changing it again in 5k, I put in transynd with my TransGo Jr. (thanks Mike L.) that way it takes 12 quarts. In 25,000 miles I will do a trans fluid change with transynd.

There is just a few misconceptions here. The 25,000 K fluid change recommendation is a Allison spec not GM that I recall. Also the Transynd is a recommendation from Allison and I believe all Allison 1000 series come that way from Allison not GM.

Although are GM's are labeled HD it will for the most part not see the Heavy Duty the Allison was intended for. For the average Joe recreational daily driver tow'r there is no need for panic. Of course doing the schedule maintenance and fluid option isn't a bad thing. But it's over-kill

It's more important to change the Allison spin on then anything.

If you really want to change fluid badly change the front differential fluid. :D

There is just a few misconceptions here. The 25,000 K fluid change recommendation is a Allison spec not GM that I recall. Also the Transynd is a recommendation from Allison and I believe all Allison 1000 series come that way from Allison not GM.

Although are GM's are labeled HD it will for the most part not see the Heavy Duty the Allison was intended for. For the average Joe recreational daily driver tow'r there is no need for panic. Of course doing the schedule maintenance and fluid option isn't a bad thing. But it's over-kill

It's more important to change the Allison spin on then anything.

If you really want to change fluid badly change the front differential fluid. :D
:exactly:

I am about to do trans fluid change. I read on here somewhere that one way to change most of the fluid was to drain pan change filter. Then start truck and run cycling the trans thru the gears for three minutes. Then change the pan oil again. This sounds easier than the hoot method. Any info helpful. Thanks!

oh and by the way I might have mislead you earlier, the allison shops quoted dexron VI as well for that price, a couple brought up transynd but wanted $350 or so to do it and also said I will need to do it all over again in the 5k miles to get full transynd in the tranny. So I didn't figure $700 bucks was worth it. I have an extended warranty that takes me to almost 100k and I typically never keep a truck more then a few years and will never see 100k miles.

A few points about your change and for others considering a fluid change:

The second fluid change would be unnecessary IF you would follow a flush like the "Hoot" method which pumps the old fluid from the lines and cooling system.

DEXRON 6 is not synthetic by default. The factory fill is not. Some synthetic fluids that meet DEX6 are on the market, but you need to know what was used.

You might want to check you S/N against the Allison break point for use of DEX6. Allison changed some seal materials for compatibility.

Lastly, the Allison is a robust transmission. You have nothing to really worry about unless you're really using it hard.

TranSynd or its equal is designed to protect your rubber components better under hard usage and allows your clutches to apply and release better. It has quite a few pluses over the Dex 6 for you guys that are really working your trucks. If you haul loads like I do ( 1 golf bag ) any good name brand fluid will do.

I just had a local Allison dealer do mine $360. For Deep pan and filter plus flush and refill with transynd, along with 4 extra spin on filters