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Topic: Transmission Oil Change (Read 1005 times) previous topic - next topic

Transmission Oil Change

As some of you know, I'm picking up my 95 U295 today!  My plan is to change all the fluids as soon as I can.  I'm curious on the transmission if there's room to funnel the oil into the reservoir or if you can do it from the engine bay at the tranny dip stick (it's a fairly large hole)?  If not, then I guess I'll need to pump it in?
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #1 –
I used a 2 litre pop bottle with bottom cut off (funnel) and a a three foor piece of 5/8 hose duct taped together. I wired the funnel to the open engine door and a step ladder. Two and a half gallon fluid containers was all I could handle, but it did not take long.

Getting the fluid level correct was the tricky part, requires warm (after driving) and engine running. I installed a litres less than capacity listed so I had to add 1.5 litres.
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #2 –
Easiest way is to buy about 5' of cheap clear plastic hose.  Put the 5 gallon pail on a ladder or the roof.  Start a siphon and run all but a quart into the fill tube.  Check and top off if needed. This is not only easiest, but least likely to get dirt into the transmission.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #3 –
Ralph has some good info in this thread

Time for fluid change
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #4 –
Yup, good photos-- same thing I do.  Beats the heck out of trying to pour from that 5 gallon pail and taking a chance of getting a lot of dirt in the transmission.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #5 –
I just lifted the bed, set the 5 gallon pail on the top of the bed frame, used a 1/4" plastic hose into the dip stick tube,  and blew into the pail to start the siphon. Came back the next day pail was empty trans was all but filled. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #6 –
Eight dollar drill driven pump from Autozone.  Pumped the old out into a five gallon bucket, pumped the new in.  Ten minutes.  Also useful for hyd reservoir.  In both cases drain plugs were pulled once pumped out to get the last fluid.  I find using the pump to really help with minimizing mess and managing old fluid into buckets.

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #7 –
So took the RV for a more extensive test drive. I don't have too much experience with larger vehicles. To me, I thought the transmission up shifted and downshifted a little hard in some gears. I originally planned on changing my own fluids but I think I may have an Allison service center do the tranny and check it out. I wish I had a better reference point to gauge whether it might be a problem or not. Anyone in the Austin area with more experience than that might want to go for a test drive sometime in the next 7-10 days?

Best Regards,
Benjie

Benjie Zeller
(512) 587-4628
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Chuck Pearson –
Eight dollar drill driven pump from Autozone.  Pumped the old out into a five gallon bucket, pumped the new in.  Ten minutes.  Also useful for hyd reservoir.  In both cases drain plugs were pulled once pumped out to get the last fluid.  I find using the pump to really help with minimizing mess and managing old fluid into buckets.

Chuck

Chuck,

I agree, it is a great way to drain a hydraulic reservoir (as is a simple siphon).

But, you can not successfully drain all the fluid from an Allison 3000 or 4000 by using a pump with a pickup down the fill tube. And you will still have to drop the two internal filters (i.e. get under there anyway).  The Allison drain plug is easy to access and I just slip a Rubbermade tub under it (lined with black plastic trash sack).
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Transmission Oil Change

Reply #9 –
I have been using the same type of pump Chuck mentions to great success since reading about it on a post from Barry b. Simple, clean and faily fast.
John
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.