Allison fluid change

[Brave Willy]

2004 Brave 8.1
To change the tranny fluid what is the capacity and type of fluid I should be using  I will be changing the spin on filter too

 

[Tom]

Have you checked your owners manual?

 

[Arch Hoagland]

I change mine every 25,000 miles or so.

With the engine hot make sure the transmission fluid level is correct.

Get a bucket with quart  markings on it.

Drain the fluid into the bucket.  Note exactly how much came out. I would get about 11 quarts or so depending on how long I let it drain.

Replace the spin on filter and be sure to move the magnet to the new one.

Refill the transmission with the same amount that drained out. I suggest using Transynd TES 295 fluid. Check the level and add as necessary.

Drive the RV about 20 miles and drain it again, then refill with the same amount.

You have to do the double drain because there is roughly two quarts left in the torque converter.

You can use Dexron III but Transynd will extend your change frequency considerably.

 

[8Muddypaws]

That's an expensive change.  Might be better to leave the TC alone and change the rest more often.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

From the 8.1L reference, I'm guessing that Brave is on a Workhorse W20/W22 and therefore has the Allison 1000MH transmission.  The '04 did not have synthetic tranny fluid from the factory (used Dexron III ATF), so it's a good time to upgrade. It takes two changes to get to 100% synthetic, but maybe that's not important to  you.  A normal single fluid change gets you to about 80% synthetic and is still valuable. The Workhorse Chassis manual says it takes 10.6 quarts for a refill.  There is also a spin-in filter that requires changing Filter change recommendation is every 3 years, regardless of miles, but that's probably ultra-conservative for most motorhomes.