Allison filter change

[walkerkd]

i guess changing the filter every 5k miles wouldnt be a bad thing would it. i done it the first time and im thinking about doing it every 5k because i haul a trailer every weekend. normaly about 1200 miles in three days round trip.. does anyone have any idea why this is a bad idea. they are only 9 bucks and i could pay the dealership 15 bucks or maybe you guys know how to do this. so i could even save that money..

[4x4man]

I think every 5k is overkill, there are not THAT many contaminates that enter in your tranny that enter in your engine, the main thing you have to watch out for is fluid condition.  Changing fluid and filter every 25k will ensure you keep good fresh clean fluid in your tranny.  However I have heard switching to Transynd synthetic tranny fluid will allow you to go 50,000 miles between fluid and filter changes once it is 100% in your tranny.

If you replace the filter yourself (very easy), make sure you take the round magnet off the old filter, clean it and put it on the new filter.  Prefill the new filter with good ol Dexron III tranny fluid, lube the gasket and spin the new filter on.  Fire up the truck and warm it up and top off the fluid.  

 

Bob

[walkerkd]

OK GUYS I GOT THE LOW DOWN FROM ALLISON. FROM NEW TO 5K MILES YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE FILTER AND FLUID. FOR THE FIRST TIME OUT. THEY RECOMEND THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME OUT.. AND THEN AFTER THAT ON SEVER DUTY THEY RECOMEND YOU CHANGE IT AGAIN AT 25K..

I GOT THE INFO FROM THE ALLISON REP HERE IN FT WORTH TEXAS. (INDUSTRIAL POWER ISUZU TRUCK INC.)

[CMNTMXR81]

I just got off the phone with the local Allison dealer (which happens to be just down the road from me.   ).

 

I got 3 of them for $8.87 each.  Part# is 29539579

 

I asked him what they recommend and he reiterated what you guys already said, the first 5k, change the filter and fluid.  After which, at 25k (50k, 75k, 100k, etc), change the fluid.  He said as reassurance, it wouldn't be a bad habit to change the filter every 5k still though.

 

He mentioned the magnet.  Where is this magnet in the filter?

[Kansas Kid]

Where is this magnet in the filter?

If I am not mistaken, it is right on the top of the filter.  With the top being the end you screw onto the mount.  It should be a round magnet that sits down in a lip on the filter.

[CMNTMXR81]

Cool, thanks.  He wasn't sure where it was, but I really don't think they are too familiar with this trans yet.  

[walkerkd]

yea see that was my thing i had heard we just need to change the filter at 5k but the fluid needed also to be changed. i have 11k on mines im going to have it changed to trandyne this week i hope. i think the Allison dealer does it for like 85 or something like that. oh well im going to buy some filter while im there and just change it every 5000 - 7500 miles at less than 9 bucks you cant go wrong.

[CMNTMXR81]

Exactly!  I'll do mine tonight possibly.

[Pancho]

I changed my fluid and filter this weekend as I was under there for a oil change anyway. Bought the filter for $7.60 and two gallons of TranSynd for about $30 each from a local Allison distributor. The magnet is the shape of a washer that sits in the middle of the filter, you can't miss it upon removal. He gave me a copy of the service bulletin from Allison dated January 2002 where they recommend the 5,000 mile initial change (my GM dealer didn't recommend it until 30,000 miles). Future changes are then at 100,000 for 100% TranSynd and 50,000 with a mixture of TranSynd and non-TranSynd. I think I will be doing it sooner for good measure. A mixture is defined as the quantity of oil remaining in the transmission after a standard fluid change combined with the quantity of TranSynd that is required to fill the transmission to the proper level (about 7.5 quarts). The bulletin contains a table which has a "Severe Vocation" schedule as well.

 

Be careful to not overttighten the plug as the pan looks like it is aluminum.

[Duramax_Dually]

Walkerkd,

Since you tow a trailer alot like I do,  I would highly recommend upgrading your Allison to the Deep pan(or Standard pan as Allison has named it) For our truck Allison installed what they call a "Shallow" pan..not sure why. Anyway at that time I would also add the Transdyn synthetic fluid. I did this and found my tranny runs 20 degrees cooler all the time. Plus you add another gallon of fluid and it is synthetic. I have changed my filter at 500 miles and 5K miles. I am at 20K now and will change fluid and filter at 25K. This way here I have increased the transdyn synthetic to the mix spec level that the data sheets states and then can you "could" go as far as 100K before the next fluid change. I personally will not. I will change mine again at 50K miles.

 

I have a list of parts and pictures of the install on my website if you are interested.

 

e-mail me if you have any questions: [email protected]  

 

Jeff

[walkerkd]

cool might do that. i have to take it in today to allison dealer i will ask them about doing that if they have it in stock.. cant go wrong with a deeper pan.. going down today and buy the bigger oil filter for the 8.1 i dont know how much more oil it holds but i know a little more oil cant hurt either. i order a throttle body spacer today going to add it see if it helps with the jba plug wires. i want to go with a higheer flow muffler but i dont really want my truck loud im not used to gm my fords and dodges are so lound im getting spoiled in this gmc haha... once ive gotten over the oil thing just been affraid about burning the thing up.. hey has anyone added and aux. tank to a 8.1???? i will post that in a minute..

[CMNTMXR81]

Does the deep pan have cooling fins on it?  I could see it running a little cooler as it hangs down into the air stream a little more therefore cooling better.  

 

Going into the Allison dealer was like a kid in the candy store!  Allison 1000 and 2000's everywhere, CTA buses and firetrucks and semi tractors all in their being serviced............