Allison Trans Temp

[Mike Merchant]

Have '06 Monterey, Cat C-9, Allison 3000MH trans, 45,000mi. Trans has always run at +/- 192-196 on Aladdin; last couple of trips has been running at 206-210 degrees and seems to take longer to cool down at  idle when we stop. Temp increased to 223 going down eastside of Mt Hood last week; always run with exhaust brake switch "on". Is this a looming black cloud on the horizon?

[Forrest King]

Had my oil in tran changed in July with about 46,000 miles on it, and it was brown an smelled burned at that time.  Have about 2000 on it since and seems to be fine now.  Also, had filters changed at that time. I would pull the dip stick an check the color an smell. Mine is also on 2006 Montery C-9.

[Gerald Farris]

Mike,
You did not say whether you have ever serviced you transmission or not. I do not believe that the '06 models came with Transyn fluid. If your transmission is running Dexron III and you have never serviced it, that is probably your problem.

If you are running Transyn fluid it is probably about time to service the transmission, but 4 year old Transyn is not going to give the problems that 4 year old Dexron III does so you may have other problems. If you are running Dexron III it should be changed once a year.

When I changed my Marquis transmission from Dexron III to Transyn, the operating temperature on the transmission dropped 15 degrees. So I would definitely recommend changing to Transyn now if you are running Dexron III.

Gerald

[Louis and Elise Williams]

I too have an '06 Monterey with the Cat 400 with about 20,000 miles. My transmission temps always read over 200 degrees when it's all warmed up.  I would think something was unusal, if mine ran that cool.  Maybe something is wrong and I'm not smart enough to know it!!!!

[George Harwell]

Mike, my '03 Monterey came with Transynd, and there was a small tag placed in a ziplock that was tie wrapped to the dipstick tube to inform the owner that the transmission was delivered from Allison with Transynd. As Gerald stated it may have been delivered with Dexron and is due to be changed regardless of the type of fluid due, to the time in service (years). It would be prudent on your part to confirm which type you have, as you surely don't want to put Dexron in a transmission that has been seviced with Transynd. I had mine changed in '07 by a certified Allison shop, and it cost around $415. Good luck!

[Bill Sprague]

On my Cummins powered '04 Monterey the Alladin says the Allison is usually at 186.  On a hill so steep it can't get out of 2nd, it can get close to 200.

[Mike Merchant]

Quick follow-up on my query of Nov. 5th 2010 regarding rising trans temps.
Thanks to all. Your input was right on.
Had the trans fluid and both filters changed, specified Transynd. We are finally able to get away South, and trans temps consistently stayed 184-186 southbound on I-5, had been running 205-210 last time out.
Side light- Had work done at nearby RV business with good rep. Charged $160 for the Allison filter kit. I called the south Seattle distributor, and they RETAIL it for $55.  Another call resulted in sizeable refund.  Caveat emptor!  Thanks again.                             Mike

[Jeremy Parrett]

I changed to Transynd from Dexron 4 in January 2011. The operating temp has dropped from around 200 deg F to around 175 degF.  Even down here in Baja California where the grades are awesome the temp has never gone above 180 degF.  

[Richard And Babs Ames]

I changed to Transynd from Dexron 4 in January 2011. The operating temp has dropped from around 200 deg F to around 175 degF.  Even down here in Baja California where the grades are awesome the temp has never gone above 180 degF.  

Like our 1997 the older Beavers seem to have more robust transmission oil coolers because they came with Dexron III so when we change to Transynd get some pretty dramatic changes.