Allison Transynd has been mentioned several times in multiple threads. The search function of YB is not the greatest though.


Hutch

 

THIS ☝ !!!

 

Hutch, are the other brands such as Castrol that meet that particular spec as good or is that the go to source?? I did see it mentioned and it had already perked my interest when I was going thru every lube that Castrol makes. I have some buddies that had used their Ultra Blue hydraulic oil with good success but the name has changed and reading it's new description doesn't really blow my skirt up........ The fluids for industrial/utility powershift transmissions is definitely interesting as it seems to favor long part life over shift quality(little to no friction modifiers).

 

Have seen a lot get lost in industrial fluids that sound great but don't meet expectation.
Castrol makes Transynd. Quality Dex 6 is my second choice. There are some guys that have had great success with LAT oils but I have not seen many results to pass opinion.


Hutch

 

Hutch, there is a new spec as of 2021 that may be the hot ticket. It's TranSynd 668 from Castrol. Thoughts about spec posted below. Thanks for the input Hutch.

Castrol® TranSynd 668® is a premium, full-synthetic automatic transmission fluid specifically formulated for Allison Transmission® heavy-duty, on-highway automatic transmissions. TranSynd 668 provides oxidative stability, anti-wear performance, and friction durability. TES 668™ specification differentiators include extended anti-shudder durability and extended clutch-friction durability. This fluid features an Allison TES 668™ approval. The TES 668 specification is fully backwards compatible with both TES 295® and TES 468™ applications. Advantages Delivers improved gear protection. Delivers extended anti-shudder durability. Delivers extended clutch-friction durability. Excellent corrosion and foaming resistance. Excellent thermal and oxidative stability that helps to prevent deposits and oil thickening. Excellent transmission cleanliness under all conditions permits extended oil-drain intervals and decreased servicing. Excellent temperature reduction through reduced friction leads to longer oil and component life. Outstanding cold-flow properties enables faster oil flow to all critical components particularly during cold starts. Optimized frictional characteristics gives smoother gear changing at all ambient temperatures and load conditions. Excellent shear stability properties help to retain full transmission performance over entire oil-drain interval.

 

Or maybe this one. Too many damn flavors......

TranSynd RD

Description TranSynd™ RD is a premium, synthetic, universal powershift and automatic transmission fluid engineered to remain stable under the most severe conditions. TranSynd™ RD was introduced by Allison Transmission for “Rigorous Duty” applications where extended drain intervals and reduced life cycle costs are desired in Allison 5000, 6000, 8000 and 9,000 Off-Highway Series transmissions Advantages Excellent thermal and oxidation stability resists deposit formation High viscosity index synthetic base fluids provide superior high/low temperature performance Excellent shear stability, excellent corrosion and anti-foaming characteristics Excellent wear protection Allows extended drain intervals and extended filter change intervals One fluid for year-round use in all geographic locations, reduced used oil disposal costs

 

We were using the older Tes295 spec oil and it was great. The newer 668 spec seems to be its replacement and has worked very well.


Hutch

 

What about the ATI Super F fluid?

 

ATI Max Duty Super F 30 weight is formulated specifically for this application...

ATI Super F Synthetic Type F Automatic Transmission Fluid

www.atiracing.com

 

I run Amsoil's version of Transynd. Zero issues, my trans looks like it was never ran....All I do is replace seals and gaskets when I pull it apart for inspection. And the seals are for peace of mind.....

 

Here's one of the recent threads.

Another Transmission Fluid Recommendation

Hi guys, I have a TH400 (leaving in 2nd gear 1.48) with Red Alto Clutches behind an 1800hp Procharger SBC on Methanol. Been running HyGuard regular viscosity and we just went through the transmission (broken main shaft) and wondering if HyGuard is still the best fluid to run or if there is...

www.yellowbullet.com

 

LAT it expensive but is the final word in racing trans fluids. HPL has good stuff too..

 

From all the research I did the last couple days it looks like the absolute best non-race fluid available would be TranSynd RD that meets the TES 353 spec. However it seems to only be available in 208L/54gal drums and I'm skeerd to even have a barrel quoted, LOL!! I guess I can try to get my buddies to go in on a group buy which is a damn shame considering we're talking about friggn' trans fluid..........

 

According to "Mr. TranSynd", it appears the TranSynd RD version is just a higher viscosity formulation of the regular TranSynd? Ref: Former Allison Transmission Fluids Engineer - Page 43 - iRV2 Forums

 

Another vote for ATI Super F

 

Transynd will outperform just about any other atf on the market......

 

With Hutch's blessing I switched to transynd last spring. I did some research, and it looks like the old 295 is 38 viscosity, and the new 668 is 30 viscosity. I ran the 295 all summer, and put about 45 passes on my LS turbo set up without issue...........without a fluid related issue....electrical glitch is another story....lol. Suspected micro switch issue on the shifter. John did a great job of turning the damaged 400 around in 1 day!

 

With Hutch's blessing I switched to transynd last spring. I did some research, and it looks like the old 295 is 38 viscosity, and the new 668 is 30 viscosity. I ran the 295 all summer, and put about 45 passes on my LS turbo set up without issue...........without a fluid related issue........lol. John will know what that's about.

Is that the vid about the flyback voltage that locked up the TH400?

 

Another vote for Castrol Allison Transyd, before making the switch a couple of years back I burned up just about every fluid I tried in my blown TD. I ran all last season on the same fluid, never had the pan off which was unheard of with my car in past years

 

No real experience with this Turbo, but have you looked into RedLine Oils?

 

from my experience with their engine oil
I wouldnt put redline anything in anything

 

As mentioned the old spec 295 Allison is a bit thicker in viscosity. I've used it in my turbo application. It comes out looking and smelling new even when I've been on the brake longer than I'd like. I've also tried the ATI Max Duty 30w ATF. It looked and smelled burnt when changing. In an effort to tighten the converter a bit I tried the Red Line High Viscosity racing fluid. It held up as well as the Allison and did tighten my app. 150 rpm flash stall over the Allison. I did not know Allison mad a thicker viscosity fluid. If looking to tighten up your application slightly that may be a good fluid to try as well.

 

myself and a few of my customers ran the HPL (BadAss) fluid
the really high hp procharged shit (2400 ish) it made a weird almost clingy film on some of his internals.
My shit isnt as high of HP, and i havent taken my glide apart, but when i drained it, there was almost a flim on the surface.
Never acted funny or smelled funny in either car
I got him some LAT and the film went away.
Not sure what it was
I still have a bunch of the BadAss im going to use in my car, but ill probably switch to Transynd when it runs out

 

For what it's worth, myself and my friends have done plenty of street driving and drag and drive events. With the tight converter required for big hp makes the drive (even pulling 1000lb worth of trailer) a non issue. Trans temps never get out of hand, might even say it doesnt get hot enough. I personally run dex 6 and my friends run hyguard. Granted not the horsepower we're talking about here but zero issues both on the street and the track.

 

Allison/Castrol Transynd 295 here, in GM tow vehicles and Powerglides.

 

Interesting post. As disclaimer, I am salesman for Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricant's but I hate people who get on these sites promoting their products, and although we offer products in all of these categories, to avoid a conflict of interest, I will keep my replies generic. I just gave a PowerPoint presentation on different types of fluids in racing transmissions and the results are findings and recommendations based on heat studies, component wear, ET consistency, horsepower, etc and interviewing hundreds of racers. Note these are just my opinion so take it for what its worth:

1. Ford Type F Fluids - Readily available, however that will be changing soon as other than racing applications, there's just no demand for it anymore. Good grabbing characteristics. Can handle extreme heat so transmissions will run hot and consistency will drop later in your runs. Inexpensive, but why would you put a cheap oil in an $18,000 transmission?

2. Tractor Hydraulic Fluid - Readily available. John Deere Hy-Gard, Case IH Hy-Trans, Mobil 424, cheap TSC stuff. Our's is called Simplex Supreme and is the only synthetic blend on the market. Best Extreme Pressure (EP) and Anti-Wear (AW) characteristics. Best performance with Low Viscosity (LV) choice. Only available in gallons, buckets, and 2-1/2 gallon containers. No quarts that I'm aware of.

3. Dexron/Mercon Fluids- Readily available at any tractor dealership. Designed specifically for newer automatic transmissions however will handle racing applications as well. Inexpensive and available in quarts.

4 Allison Approved Fluids - Readily available. Make sure it meets the TES-295 specification.

5. TO-4 Fluids - Designed to meet Caterpillar's TO-4 specification. Almost unheard of in the racing community, but these fluids are great transmission fluids due to their high viscosity index, grabby frictional characteristics for immediate and consistent lock-up, superior base stocks, oxidation stability, and can withstand extreme heat temperatures which results in better ET consistency. I have personally seen transmissions with a full season on them, and the inside and parts look brand new. I have numerous testimonies fro racers touting the benefits of these fluids. When you think about it a racing transmission isn't much different than a transmission in a Caterpillar D-11 dozer!

Just my two cent's worth so take it for what it's worth!

Alan Bradley, CLS
Certified Lubrication Specialist
Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricants