Fluid for 2013 Duramax Allison Trans?
- Thread starter oliver88
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use whatever is factory fill. your GM dealer should know what to use. you could also call/email allison and ask them.
What does the book or dipstick say?
Looks like low viscosity fluid. GM DEXRON® VI
http://www.amsoil.com/mygarage/vehiclelo...3500%20PICKUP+9
http://www.amsoil.com/mygarage/vehiclelo...3500%20PICKUP+9
dnewton3
Staff member
Being a 2013 I'd stick to DEX VI licensed products if warranty compliance is a concern. Not that non-licensed products are inferior, but why get into the risk when there are plenty of properly certified products for decent cost. Even W/M has a licensed DEX VI.
Dex VI has some potential issues with older Allison trannies, but by 2007 those were addressed adequately with seal material updates. Your 2013 should have no issues. Dex VI is a very good product with excellent oxidation resistance and vis retention. I'd use it with no hestiation whatsoever.
If OEM warranty compliance is not of concern to you, there there are other good options that are warranted by the lube maker (Amsoil ATL for one example; Maxlife for another) for that application.
The Allision 1000 series tranny was on the drawing board well more than a decade ago; it was designed with TES-295 and DEX III fluids in mind. While GM owned Allison, and GM introduced DEX VI, they forced Allison into accepting DEX VI as a scheduled fluid. After GM sold off Allison, Allison no longer recognizes DEX VI as an approved schedule fluid. Additionally, after selling Allison, GM also kept the rights to manufacture the 1000 series in their Baltimore plant for the light-duty trucks. Allison also makes the 1000 series for other applications in their Indy plant. And so now, you'll see GM 1000 series trannies with DEX VI from Baltimore and Allison 1000 series from Indy with TES-295.
There is nothing wrong at all with using DEX VI in your tranny. It is a good fluid.
Dex VI has some potential issues with older Allison trannies, but by 2007 those were addressed adequately with seal material updates. Your 2013 should have no issues. Dex VI is a very good product with excellent oxidation resistance and vis retention. I'd use it with no hestiation whatsoever.
If OEM warranty compliance is not of concern to you, there there are other good options that are warranted by the lube maker (Amsoil ATL for one example; Maxlife for another) for that application.
The Allision 1000 series tranny was on the drawing board well more than a decade ago; it was designed with TES-295 and DEX III fluids in mind. While GM owned Allison, and GM introduced DEX VI, they forced Allison into accepting DEX VI as a scheduled fluid. After GM sold off Allison, Allison no longer recognizes DEX VI as an approved schedule fluid. Additionally, after selling Allison, GM also kept the rights to manufacture the 1000 series in their Baltimore plant for the light-duty trucks. Allison also makes the 1000 series for other applications in their Indy plant. And so now, you'll see GM 1000 series trannies with DEX VI from Baltimore and Allison 1000 series from Indy with TES-295.
There is nothing wrong at all with using DEX VI in your tranny. It is a good fluid.
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Transynd, made by Castrol, in my opinion the best fluid for the Allison.
dnewton3
Staff member
Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
Transynd, made by Castrol, in my opinion the best fluid for the Allison.
"Best" over other licensed TES-295 products such as from Cognis and Mobil and CNH ... etc?
For that matter, there are some excellent clones out there such as ATD, 204S-AT, AutoTrans5.
How do you define "best" with Castrol, but exclude these other licensed and equivilant products?
And how is that choice "best" when the GM warranty for light duty trucks has called for DEX VI since 2007? While perhaps inferior to TES-295, it is certainly no slouch whatsoever, and leaves no doubt as to warranty compliance.
I'm not debating the fact that "Transynd" is a great fluid. I'm calling into question how you define "best" with such a wide, blanket approach over other fluids that are clearly well suited for the task.
Transynd, made by Castrol, in my opinion the best fluid for the Allison.
"Best" over other licensed TES-295 products such as from Cognis and Mobil and CNH ... etc?
For that matter, there are some excellent clones out there such as ATD, 204S-AT, AutoTrans5.
How do you define "best" with Castrol, but exclude these other licensed and equivilant products?
And how is that choice "best" when the GM warranty for light duty trucks has called for DEX VI since 2007? While perhaps inferior to TES-295, it is certainly no slouch whatsoever, and leaves no doubt as to warranty compliance.
I'm not debating the fact that "Transynd" is a great fluid. I'm calling into question how you define "best" with such a wide, blanket approach over other fluids that are clearly well suited for the task.
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I have Dex VI in my 2011
This is still active, 460 posts and counting: Former Allison Fluids Engineer (Here to Help)
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/57-gm-t...here-help.html.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/57-gm-t...here-help.html.
dnewton3
Staff member
Very familiar with Tom's posts; he certainly tows the (former) company line. His answer to nearly everything is " ... I reccomend you use Transynd." Not surprising for a former Allision fluids engineer.
He does actually credit DEX VI with being a very good fluid.
And then he goes right back to Transynd ...
He does actually credit DEX VI with being a very good fluid.
And then he goes right back to Transynd ...
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Originally Posted By: Stewart Fan
I have Dex VI in my 2011
Dex in my Allison too. never a peep, perfectly fine IMO.
I have Dex VI in my 2011
Dex in my Allison too. never a peep, perfectly fine IMO.
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