Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

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Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

August 01, 2015, 08:17:55 am

Has anyone used Valvoline Syn Gard? It says on the back approved TES 295 but I dont see it on Allison's approved fluids list.
We have a 95 MD3060R with 87000 miles and no idea what is in it now. Do I need to have it tested or just change it?

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #1 – August 01, 2015, 09:49:47 am

It costs thousands of $$$$ to get your fluid approved (with Allison doing the testing) so it appears on Allison's approved list. Lots of synthetics will work fine.

But with the amount of fluid in the trans, why consider synthetics? Any Allison is a super duty transmission doing super light duty work in a motorhome. I know our U300's Allison is found in garbage trucks and city buses where they get tortured everyday. Imagine a garbage truck stopping every hundred feet in 100 degree days and the pedal to the metal to the next business or house, all with a big load in the bin. And they last, last, last.

Even if you were to change from DEX/MERC to a synthetic, you can't get all of the conventional out so you have to change fluids twice. For what?

Pierce

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #2 – August 01, 2015, 10:58:11 am

On the other hand, if you don't know what is in there now, it might already be a synthetic. Ours had Transynd in it when we bought it, and that is what I put in when I changed it. Fortunately the previous owner had that in the documentation that came with our coach. Have you already gone through all of those records (assuming that your coach came with it)?
Don

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – August 01, 2015, 09:49:47 am

Even if you were to change from DEX/MERC to a synthetic, you can't get all of the conventional out so you have to change fluids twice. For what?
Pierce

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #3 – August 01, 2015, 11:25:36 am

Don,

While our coach came with a ton of manuals, absolutely NO maintenance records came with it. I'll bet that many others are in the same boat. The wife half of the previous owners took me aside and said I should look into "deferred" maintenance as they had only fixed what failed and not much else. We just bought some sheets and blankets, jumped in and drove it all the way across the U.S. when we purchased it. We have been lucky as it runs like a clock and only a handful of small items has needed fixing in six years and a lot of miles.

Sending a transmission oil sample to the lab will determine the type and condition of the fluid.

Pierce

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #4 – August 01, 2015, 12:26:47 pm

I searched for the cheapest tes295 fluid and the best deal i found was the local allison dealer at $170/5gal bucket for oem castrol transynd. Im going to buy 20 gals and a set of filters this week and start doing flushes. The cost of any transmission work towers over what a little maintenance will cost me.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #5 – August 01, 2015, 12:44:45 pm

Quote from: car54 – August 01, 2015, 12:26:47 pm

I searched for the cheapest tes295 fluid and the best deal i found was the local allison dealer at $170/5gal bucket for oem castrol transynd. Im going to buy 20 gals and a set of filters this week and start doing flushes. The cost of any transmission work towers over what a little maintenance will cost me.

20 gallons???

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #6 – August 01, 2015, 12:49:00 pm

Our coach also came with lots of manuals but poor maintenance records. The PO had a sheet of paper in the manual were he priced out a trans fluid service, syn or regular fluid. I do not know if it was done with either. The bolts on the filter covers look like they have had a wrench on them so I think it was serviced. To be safe I sent in a fluid sample. They sent me back all the technical info. The bottom line was the fluid was good, don't need to change at this time, but they couldn't say if it was syn or not. Mark

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #7 – August 01, 2015, 01:57:24 pm

We too found a lot of manuals that the 2nd owner didn't even know she had. Unfortunately no maintenance schedule.
She purchased it from the original owner (we were told) in 2010. Maybe an oil analysis would be worthwhile?
Had planned on using the Valvoline synthetic because it's the only tes295 Napa can get for me locally.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #8 – August 01, 2015, 05:15:59 pm

I changed over to synthetic last year. International dealer was running a special for their FLEETRITE synthetic ATF (TES 295 approved) seems to me I paid about 30 bucks a gallon. I'll run it for 2 years and change again then I should be a hundred percent synthetic.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #9 – August 01, 2015, 08:31:48 pm

Like pierce said it is a joke that Castrol put over on most people and they buy it!
I use Amsoil Synthetic Trans oil and it works great but I was told not to use it by the guy on our Forum a few years back that supposidly was on the test team for Allison/ Castrol. It runs rar smoother and a 100% GAURANTEE from Amsoil for a new transmission if it failed because of using their oil. Look at the specs for the oils you consider and all will be fine.
JohnH

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #10 – August 02, 2015, 07:59:19 am

update: Yesterday I found a small red booklet "Allison Transmission Warranty Information" that was in with some miscellaneous paperwork in a plastic bag.

I had previously overlooked this bag as it didnt look to contain anything important.

(Note to self- check out everything) In the back of the booklet there were a few notes in "Maintenance Records"

There were just a few entries, normal service of oil changes and filters, the last entry was around 50,000 miles ( now has 87.000) "Changed to Amsoil synthetic - changed filters too" .....
Question? Am I to assume (hate to use that word) that they changed they transmission fluid or does Amsoil make a synthetic motor oil.
It appears from the notes he is referring to the transmission.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #11 – August 02, 2015, 11:06:31 am

Quote from: FourTravelers – August 02, 2015, 07:59:19 am

Question? Am I to assume (hate to use that word) that they changed they transmission fluid or does Amsoil make a synthetic motor oil.
It appears from the notes he is referring to the transmission.

I think Amsoil also makes a synthetic transmission fluid but John Haygarth would know for sure. My 643 is not supposed to use a synthetic but the tranny fluid it is listed to use isn't around any more. I'm wondering if the Amsoil syn will work for me.

Craig

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #12 – August 02, 2015, 11:15:30 am

I would "assume" that the PO is referring to the transmission. My 8.3 only has one oil filter. Trans has oil filters. Amsoil does make engine oil, trans oil and lots of other stuff. All real good in my opinion, real popular around my part of the country, made near by. Mark

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #13 – August 02, 2015, 11:54:45 am

Yes, certainly could be transmission, or engine....

Any part numbers of either the fluid or filters purchased at the same time?

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #14 – August 02, 2015, 12:12:17 pm

Actually Amsoil were the first to make synthetic and all the other oil people said it was not neaded and would not work. Well history has told that they all now and sell large amounts of Syn' oil and in fact a lot of the oil manufactures make it and new cars come from factory with syn oil.
Our coach is all Amsoil fluids and it runs fine and oil changes are not as often as before, saving money and time.
Sy Torque Drive is Amsoils oil for Allison and with 100 % guarantees to boot.
JohnH

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #15 – August 02, 2015, 01:27:09 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – August 01, 2015, 12:44:45 pm

20 gallons???

I feel as if I was fairly clear.. but ill explain why... four 5 gallon buckets is 20 gallons of fluid, for a transmission that holds 40 quarts, that is two times the initial fill capacity, which gives me enough fluid to do a few flushes to get as much of the old fluid out as possible. Its impossible to get all of it out, but repeated flushes will replace enough that it wont matter. I bought this unit with no service history on the transmission at all, it was a repo. I believe the fluid in my transmission is the factory fill, 20 years old.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #16 – August 02, 2015, 01:40:11 pm

Matt,

Allison specifically recommends AGAINST flushing the transmission.

Instead, they recommend changing fluid and filters. And them perhaps changing them again on an accelerated schedule.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #17 – August 02, 2015, 02:02:54 pm

Right. Allison recommends a change to synthetic, then change oil and filters at the dino oil filter schedule. After that use the severe duty synthetic schedule.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #18 – August 02, 2015, 02:03:49 pm

What is the difference between flushing or changing? Terminology? Im draining, changing filters and refilling. Call it what you like.

Allison probably also would not recommend going 20 years on dextron 2.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #19 – August 02, 2015, 02:07:44 pm

Flushing is essentially immediate change while a change is after extended service.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #20 – August 02, 2015, 04:27:55 pm

I think "flushing" is when a pressurized machine is used to force ATF through the trans. Some swear by the process, some swear about doing it. Mark

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #21 – August 02, 2015, 04:55:46 pm

Quote from: mark f – August 02, 2015, 04:27:55 pm

I think "flushing" is when a pressurized machine is used to force ATF through the trans. Some swear by the process, some swear about doing it. Mark

Correct. VERY different procedures.

Re: Opinions on the Valvoline Syn Gard TES295 Trans Fluid?

Reply #22 – August 02, 2015, 11:23:54 pm

I've unhooked a cooler line and started engines to pump out old fluid. Stopped engine, put some new fluid in. Repeat until clean fluid comes out. I would call this "flushing".

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