Allison question....

chrisb009 · April 10, 2003

I believe I read on another board about the Allison having two filters...one being a screw on element located on the housing and another being inside the pan area. Is this information correct?

BlackSilver · April 10, 2003

That's correct. There are two filters. The external spin-on get's changed after the first 7,500 miles. Then they both get changed at 50,000 intervals (or 25,000 intervals if used for frequent heavy towing, hilly terrain, heavy hot wx city traffic).

SoMnDMAX · April 11, 2003

Yep. The spin on as Black Silver said gets changed first at 5,000 miles (unless Allison changed it's stuff). Then 25,000 intervals thereafter.

From the info I have, the internal filter doesn't need to be serviced until it's rebuild time. This came from two Allison techs.

Buy your filters from an Allison dealer- the spin on costs about $8.

BlackSilver · April 11, 2003

Yep. The spin on as Black Silver said gets changed first at 5,000 miles (unless Allison changed it's stuff).

The manual for the 2003 model year says 7,500 miles.

CMNTMXR81 · April 11, 2003

I change my spin on every 5k regardless! I'll probably do the internal one somewhere in the 30-50K area.

Firetiger(MN) · April 11, 2003

Is there any specific procedure required when changing this filter? I would assume you would lose fluid when you do this.

Thanks

CMNTMXR81 · April 11, 2003

Which one, the spin on, or the one inside the pan?

Spin on = unscrew like a regular oil filter, remove magnet from filter, put magnet on new filter, lube the o-ring on new filter, screw new filter back on. TIGHTEN, otherwise they DO seep a little. The only fluid lost is whatever is in the filter itself and what minimal amount was left in the lines to and from the filter. I'd say less than a half a quart is lost.

Internal filter = do just as you would on any other inside the pan filter.

BlackSilver · April 11, 2003

Is there any specific procedure required when changing this filter? I would assume you would lose fluid when you do this.

CMNTMXR81 outlined the procedure very well. The filter looks like a small oil filter that you'd find on a small automobile engine, and sits out in plain view -- easy to get at.

That magnet is easy to miss, so make a point of it. It looks like a large flat washer, and will be stuck to the top of the old filter when you pull it off.

You lose a very minimal amount fluid. I measured about a half pint.

Firetiger(MN) · April 11, 2003

I should have been more specific, yes the screw-on type. You answered my question.

I was under my truck last night and saw the filter. Looks like the oil filter on my Honda..

BigRed8100 · May 5, 2003

I have a related question on the Allison Spin-Off filter change procedure (might be a stupid one but I want to make sure I don't screw something up).....

When taking the magnet off the old filter, does it matter if you put the magnet on the new filter or should it be put back on the filter housing and then put the new filter on ?

Mortgage Paul · May 6, 2003

Just look at how much oil is in the filter when you pull it off and fill new one to the same and install.

This should even be done on engine oil filters. I our in enough to fill it let it soak into pleats then install so no dripping or spilling. You have instant oil pressure that way as well as the filter flows oil immediately.

Since the allison filter sits upright you should be able to fill filter up to about the same as its holding and install without spilling much.

BlackSilver · May 8, 2003

When taking the magnet off the old filter, does it matter if you put the magnet on the new filter or should it be put back on the filter housing and then put the new filter on ?

I don't think it matters one way or the other. I slid it up onto the journal, then screwed the filter into place, simply because when I pulled the old filter off, the magnet happened to stay up on the journal.

Mortgage Paul · May 17, 2003

Someone told me the Allison tranny fluid is some special stuff, so I called the dealer and he said any Dexron III is good to go and they dont even stock any and just send customers to the local Kragen.

Any truth to this?

Also who had the link to buy the spin on Allison filters? they were only 5 or 6 bucks online. Very good. The Allison place told me 8.99 plus tax. Id rather go online since hes 25 miles away and Im sure the dealer is even more

hosspuller · May 26, 2003

The Allison Trans-syn trans fluid is a synthetic oil. When the local Allison warrenty station does a rebuild, they'll refill with Trans-syn. Otherwise, you have to do two fluid changes using trans-syn to get all the Dexron out.