is (http://members.shaw.ca/prs2/IMG_7490.JPG) this a spd tranny?

http://members.shaw.ca/prs2/IMG_7490.JPG

is (http://members.shaw.ca/prs2/IMG_7490.JPG) this a spd tranny?

Looks to me like an Allison transmission. Besides, I always thought a tranny was someone who I didn't want to encounter.

Its an Allison, what style I am not sure.

Thread moved to Allison OEM.

is it a 6spd? forgot to put this in my thread, i know it is a ally

Six Speed Allison Pickup Trans built Feb. 2006. S/N is prior to the DEX6 seal changes.

Six Speed Allison Pickup Trans built Feb. 2006. S/N is prior to the DEX6 seal changes.
What is the DEX6 seal change that you are referring to. Mine has a build date of 1/06 and it has DEX 6 in it. Did they do some kind of change that I was not aware of?

What is the DEX6 seal change that you are referring to. Mine has a build date of 1/06 and it has DEX 6 in it. Did they do some kind of change that I was not aware of?
Do some searches on DEX III vs DEX VI and allison seal compatibility. You are in for a real treat! Reader's digest version is your tranny has a serial number prior to the cutoff number given by Allison in Service Tip 1099F for units built at the baltimore plant (6320784373). They discovered that GM's new DEX VI fluid can cause the viton seals to harden and possibly crack which may result in fluid leakage.

However, with sale of Allison from GM, the Baltimore units are now solely GM and Allison revised its Service Tip to 1099G that now only refers to the serial number cutoff for Indianapolis units (6310...... sorry I don't remember the Indy cutoff by heart).

GM has never produced any written literature, that I have found, (and I have done a ton searching) that references either serial number or a seal issue at all. They simply state that DEX VI is fully backward compatible and that it should be used in all 06 and later models. My manual and dipstick both say DEX VI, but I am before the cutoff for Baltimore units.

Don't bother going to your GM service dept, I called every GM dealer/service dept in the Denver metro area and none had any idea of this issue, they all blindly defaulted to "DEX VI is in the manual, use DEX VI.

My personal take is that GM knows it is an issue that is not likely to show up until after the 3/36 standard warranty on 2006 models. It is fairly safe to assume that most if not all 2007's and newer are fine, those with 100k mile powertrain warrantys. I think they decided to throw the dice on the 2006's, rather than issue a published statement that it was an issue to avoid having to pay up for a "fix" to the problem they created. My guess is that very few people will experience the seal leakage within the standard 06 warranty period, after that expires, GM can call it normal wear and tear and they have nothing on record saying it was an issue. Allison had revised their literature to only show units out of the Indy plant and they have purged the 1099F document from their website that listed the serial number cutoff for Baltimore units.

Bottom line, I bet you do have DEX VI in it, that is what GM blindly installed in all 2006's prior to Ally discovering the seal issue. It may be fine forever, who knows. If you want to be safe, you can spend the $$ and use a true TES-295 certified fluid like Transynd or Mobil 1 Delvac Synthetic ATF (about $10/qt). You could also use a DEX III(h) fluid that is TES-389 certified, as ally has stated this is also seal compatible and totally fine in their 1000 series trannys. You may run into warranty arguments with GM if it leaks and you take it in during warranty with DEX III, but they cannot dispute if you are using a true TES-295 fluid. However, my guess is if it is red liquid, those guys won't know the difference. Look at allison's website under fluids for list of both TES 295 and 389 fluids that are actually certified by Ally.

Good luck.

Do some searches on DEX III vs DEX VI and allison seal compatibility. You are in for a real treat! Reader's digest version is your tranny has a serial number prior to the cutoff number given by Allison in Service Tip 1099F for units built at the baltimore plant (6320784373). They discovered that GM's new DEX VI fluid can cause the viton seals to harden and possibly crack which may result in fluid leakage.

However, with sale of Allison from GM, the Baltimore units are now solely GM and Allison revised its Service Tip to 1099G that now only refers to the serial number cutoff for Indianapolis units (6310...... sorry I don't remember the Indy cutoff by heart).

GM has never produced any written literature, that I have found, (and I have done a ton searching) that references either serial number or a seal issue at all. They simply state that DEX VI is fully backward compatible and that it should be used in all 06 and later models. My manual and dipstick both say DEX VI, but I am before the cutoff for Baltimore units.

Don't bother going to your GM service dept, I called every GM dealer/service dept in the Denver metro area and none had any idea of this issue, they all blindly defaulted to "DEX VI is in the manual, use DEX VI.

My personal take is that GM knows it is an issue that is not likely to show up until after the 3/36 standard warranty on 2006 models. It is fairly safe to assume that most if not all 2007's and newer are fine, those with 100k mile powertrain warrantys. I think they decided to throw the dice on the 2006's, rather than issue a published statement that it was an issue to avoid having to pay up for a "fix" to the problem they created. My guess is that very few people will experience the seal leakage within the standard 06 warranty period, after that expires, GM can call it normal wear and tear and they have nothing on record saying it was an issue. Allison had revised their literature to only show units out of the Indy plant and they have purged the 1099F document from their website that listed the serial number cutoff for Baltimore units.

Bottom line, I bet you do have DEX VI in it, that is what GM blindly installed in all 2006's prior to Ally discovering the seal issue. It may be fine forever, who knows. If you want to be safe, you can spend the $$ and use a true TES-295 certified fluid like Transynd or Mobil 1 Delvac Synthetic ATF (about $10/qt). You could also use a DEX III(h) fluid that is TES-389 certified, as ally has stated this is also seal compatible and totally fine in their 1000 series trannys. You may run into warranty arguments with GM if it leaks and you take it in during warranty with DEX III, but they cannot dispute if you are using a true TES-295 fluid. However, my guess is if it is red liquid, those guys won't know the difference. Look at allison's website under fluids for list of both TES 295 and 389 fluids that are actually certified by Ally.

Good luck.

You are indeed a good detective. The only blank I would fill in here is that the Allison transmission plant in Baltimore continued to use DEX3 until the license expired in December, 2006 (you can speculate why). While the GM Truck plant topped off with the new corporate common fluid DEXRON6. So most 2006's and half of the 2007 model trucks (including this Jan 2006 built trans) would have had something like a 60% DEX3, 40% DEX6 mixture in it as delivered. This signifacantly dilutes the additives in DEX6 that attack the seals.

You are indeed a good detective. The only blank I would fill in here is that the Allison transmission plant in Baltimore continued to use DEX3 until the license expired in December, 2006 (you can speculate why). While the GM Truck plant topped off with the new corporate common fluid DEXRON6. So most 2006's and half of the 2007 model trucks (including this Jan 2006 built trans) would have had something like a 60% DEX3, 40% DEX6 mixture in it as delivered. This signifacantly dilutes the additives in DEX6 that attack the seals.
Good to know Crafty 1, thanks. Prior to finding all this out, I had changed my spin on and filled it with DEX VI as well as topped of trannyduring a hot check with DEX VI. Sounds like dilution will make this a none issue and I will either use 295 or 389 fluids at next drain/fill. Do you agree??

Sounds like a plan. You're probably about 50/50 now. At fluid change, I'd recommend a synthetic TES-295 fluid like TranSynd or Mobil Delvac ATF. Use the "Hoot" method to flush when changing and you've basically got no reason to change it again. With DEX3 fluids TES-389 ensures compatibility with seals as you mentioned and there are good synthetic DEX/Merc ATFs out there.

thanks for the help.