[hzjcm8]

Great to have an engineer on here....plus he is local.

Do you run your oil analysis company from avon?

Yes. Though our mailbox is Plainfield, IN.

 

[hzjcm8]

Alto Clutches

All 06+ GM's came with DEX6, but the ALLISON S/N breakpoint wasn't until mid year 06. TRANSYND is a good fluid, but speaking from experience it doesn't work well in a performance built ALLISON with the ALTO clutches. SO keep this in mind that quite a few of teh guys here are NOT running ALLISON clutches anylonger, and this changes things a bit. TRANSYND is a very smooth shifting fluid sompaired to DEX3, but with ALTO clutches this isn't good.

thefermanator,

So, I'm guessing your not covered under warranty. Which is OK. I'm guessing the Alto clutches have an increased coefficient of friction for harsher (firmer) shifts. Don't know much about them but what fluid are you running then? I could blend up something special for you guys if there's enough interest. I'd have to run some clutch tests though.

Your comments?

 

[hzjcm8]

Hi Tom glad I found this site, my lucky day.
Here id my situation I have an 08 Chevy Duramax.
I recently had a local shop service the Ally trans and he dropped the pan changed the internal filter and external filter and refilled with DexIII and used an additive to "make it identical to Dex VI". I had this done aprox 500 miles ago.
Here are my questions.
1) If I change to Transynd do I need to change the filters again.
2)Can I just empty the pan and add Transynd and run for 1k to 2k miles then empty and add Transynd again without hurting anything?

J658,
First, there's no such thing as a DEXRON-VI additive. All ATF's are "fully formulated" meaning they contain all necessary components to pass the OEM specification. In the case of DEXRON-VI, once they pass the tests and get a GM license, they can not be reformulated or changed in anyway unless the GM ATF Committee agrees. I know because I sat on that committee for a number of years. DEXRON-III fluids are obsolete and are no longer licensed or monitored. So, if you purchase a DEXRON-III (mostly known as D3M today .... stands for DEXRON-III/MERCON), all bets are off on the quality of the product.

No need to change filters. They'll be unaffected by the fluid. Yes, change to TranSynd, run it awhile and drain and refill again and you'll be ready to go. Use oil analysis to determine when to change (probably 100,000 miles or more).

 

[hzjcm8]

im looking at an 07 cc/lb 4x4 if im not mistaken from what ive read so far the seals would be compatible with the transynd fluid? also it only has 52K miles, out of curiousity should i change out the trans fluid for the transynd or leave it as is?

WhiteRam,

If your owner's manual says DEXRON-VI then it's OK. Otherwise, change to TranSynd but do a drain, refill, drive it for 100 miles, drain again and refill again. This should get you almost "fill for life" but check it periodically through oil analysis if your unsure.

 

[J658]

J658,
First, there's no such thing as a DEXRON-VI additive. All ATF's are "fully formulated" meaning they contain all necessary components to pass the OEM specification. In the case of DEXRON-VI, once they pass the tests and get a GM license, they can not be reformulated or changed in anyway unless the GM ATF Committee agrees. I know because I sat on that committee for a number of years. DEXRON-III fluids are obsolete and are no longer licensed or monitored. So, if you purchase a DEXRON-III (mostly known as D3M today .... stands for DEXRON-III/MERCON), all bets are off on the quality of the product.

No need to change filters. They'll be unaffected by the fluid. Yes, change to TranSynd, run it awhile and drain and refill again and you'll be ready to go. Use oil analysis to determine when to change (probably 100,000 miles or more).

Thanks for the quick response Tom.
The local shop owner told me he had used the Dex3 and Additive, I forget the name, and had it analyzed and it was identical to Dex VI, should have known better.:rippedhan
Another Question, how do I get an oil analysis, should I save some oil on this drain? How much? In what?
What is the proper sampling procedure?

 

[06lbzdirtymax]

could you PM me or post info on your oil analysis company?

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

DEX VI is a synthetic base fluid, so DEX III couldn't be made to DEX VI. ALL ALLISONS are compatible with TRANSYND as it is basically a synthetic DEX III as I understand it with a unique additive package to it. It worked well for me in most regards, but after going back to a DEX III type fluid i got MUCH crisper shifts and firmer lock-up as well as a much more positive feel when I put it in gear.

Heres some good reading regarding the ALLISON in performance applications and what fluid.
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19666

 

[MaxPF]

I don't think Dex VI is synthetic, unless you consider Group III base stock "synthetic" like the motor oil marketing folks do.

 

[Sir-Col]

Hello, and welcome Tom. Can I please have your thoughts on the tes295 spec Mobil 1 Delvac trans fluid for a stock 04 Allison? Thanks and await your comments.
Sir-Col

 

[Canadian Cowboy]

:welcome2: Tom to the Forum.

CC:sfa:

 

[hzjcm8]

I don't think Dex VI is synthetic, unless you consider Group III base stock "synthetic" like the motor oil marketing folks do.

MaxPF,

You are correct. DEXRON-VI is not synthetic. It is made from a blend of Group II and Group III base oils plus the additives package. It does not contain any PAO (polyalphaolefin) which would make it a "true synthetic" Group IV like TranSynd and the other TES-295 approved products.

 

[hzjcm8]

Hello, and welcome Tom. Can I please have your thoughts on the tes295 spec Mobil 1 Delvac trans fluid for a stock 04 Allison? Thanks and await your comments.
Sir-Col

Sir-Col;427906,
It's good stuff. Equivalent performance to TranSynd. I personally worked with ExxonMobil to test it and approve it for Allison.

 

[gmctodd]

Hello and welcome Tom. I here lots of talk about Transynd and Tes295, what about Tes389 do you not recommend it?

I have an 06 6 speed that specs Dex VI in both the owners manual and on the dipstick but based on the serial number on the trans I am before the compatible seals were installed (11/12/2005 build) I have Castrol HD trans fluid available at my work that is TES389. Would this be OK

Thanks,

Todd

 

[Norskeole]

Tom - thanks for being part of the forum. Nice to have an individual with direct Allison experience.
Question from me - is a deep pan needed for the Allison transmission? I would think changing to TES 295 approved fluid would be the best option. I am pulling a 12,000 lb fifth wheel. Reason I am asking - I will be changing the fluid to Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF but have not purchased the deep pan yet.


2011 Chevy Silverado 3500HD CCLB SRW LTZ 4X4 DA Blue Granite Metallic, Bed Rug bed liner, Luverne SS running boards, PML diff. cover, Air Lift air bags, Handy fifth wheel tail gate.
Towing: 2009 Montana Mountaineer 347THT Toy Hauler.
Previous DAs:
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 CCLB SRW LT 4X4 DA Silver Birch Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD EXLB SE 4X4 DA Sand Beige Metallic

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I don't think Dex VI is synthetic, unless you consider Group III base stock "synthetic" like the motor oil marketing folks do.

Not a true synthetic, bot more or less a semi-synthetic that GM calls a synthetic for marketing reasons is how I understand it.

 

[06Chevdmax]

Hello, and welcome Tom. My transmission came with DEXRON-VI (I confirmed this with GM) and the vehicle has a manufacture date of 04/06 and the transmission S/N indicates it is one of the early ones before the seal change. In 06/10 (4 years with DEXRON-VI) I changed the fluid to Transynd. I added about 3 ½ gallons using a method that also flushed out the cooler lines and cooler. It is not leaking now. Do you think I changed the fluid in time to prevent any future seal problems? Can you describe the problems that may occur in the earlier seals when using DEXRON-VI?

Thanks

 

[chinook47]

Tom, what are your thoughts on the Transynd clones such as Amsoil ATD?

 

[hzjcm8]

Hello and welcome Tom. I here lots of talk about Transynd and Tes295, what about Tes389 do you not recommend it?

I have an 06 6 speed that specs Dex VI in both the owners manual and on the dipstick but based on the serial number on the trans I am before the compatible seals were installed (11/12/2005 build) I have Castrol HD trans fluid available at my work that is TES389. Would this be OK

Thanks,

Todd

Todd,

I actually wrote the TES-389 spec. It's getting a little old now and we never got any more approvals after the first few made it through the test. That's why it's such a short list. If you read the spec (it's on the Allison website) you'll see that the fluid had to have had a valid DEXRON-IIIH license and then it had to run the Viton seal test for compatibility.

So ..... bottom line is this. TES-389 fluids are compatible with all Allison model year seals (as well as all GM model year seals). However, they are still all DEXRON-IIIH fluids so they have a relatively short life due to viscosity shear. This means they lose viscosity over a relatively short time so the drain intervals are much shorter to allow for the viscosity change and ensure it doesn't get too low before you change it.

I'm working on a new fluid that will do 100,000 miles and sell for around $10/gallon less than TranSynd or the other TES-295 fluids. It will take me another 6 months or so to develop it but then I plan to make it available across the US. Interested ..... ????

 

[hzjcm8]

Tom, what are your thoughts on the Transynd clones such as Amsoil ATD?

Chinook,

I'm not here to judge or "bad mouth" any products .... but, if it's not on the TES-295 list (on the Allison website), I don't recommend it. If these "look alike" fluids meet the TES-295 performance specification like they claim, why not just run the performance specification and get a license?

PS: You'll hear talk about Allison not allowing folks to get a license and that we tore down the test stand. These statements are incorrect. Allison released the specification to the independent test labs so they have always been capable of running the spec.

 

[hzjcm8]

Hello, and welcome Tom. My transmission came with DEXRON-VI (I confirmed this with GM) and the vehicle has a manufacture date of 04/06 and the transmission S/N indicates it is one of the early ones before the seal change. In 06/10 (4 years with DEXRON-VI) I changed the fluid to Transynd. I added about 3 ½ gallons using a method that also flushed out the cooler lines and cooler. It is not leaking now. Do you think I changed the fluid in time to prevent any future seal problems? Can you describe the problems that may occur in the earlier seals when using DEXRON-VI?

Thanks

It's dependent upon time and temperature and would be extremely difficult to predict your actual seal condition. The affect results in hardening the surface of the seals that could lead to surface cracks. As far as I know, Allison has not conducted testing to determine if TranSynd can correct any hardening but I personally think it's probably irreversible. I wouldn't worry about it. If you see leaks at some point, you can question it based on the info you have on S/N break points and the fact that GM told you it contained DEXRON-VI.