Allison TES 295 ATF

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I searched the forum for info here, as I thought I had previously come across a discussion on the Allison TES 295 standard on BITOG (been lurking for years), but I guess I was mistaken.

I'm trying to source a TES295 approved transmission fluid for my '5 duramax/allison 1000. The best lubricant house in town is a Chevron dealer, and Chevron is the only major manufacturer who hasn't ponied up for TES certification in their heavy duty synthetic trans fluid ( Delo Syn ATF HD , in this case) but they use royal purple-ish language "It is suitable for Allison TES-389 standard drain and
Allison TES-295 extended drain service; however, it is not approved by Allison for these applications."

I've always used the DELO line of 15w40 for this truck, and it's a pretty respected fleet brand, so it caught me off guard that they hadn't certified their ATF. I'm wondering if maybe it won't pass the extended oxidation tests TES295 requires. I'm not up on the full test battery, but from what I understand, it's pretty rigorous on issues pertaining to extended drain interval.

Transynd has gotten very expensive and I haven't found any locally. MOBIL Delvac 1 synthetic ATF is the cheapest of the licensed TES295 fluids I could find online currently $189+$16 shipping :https://www.thelubricantstore.com/mobil-delvac-1-atf-5-gal-pail

If anyone in Central TX has found a local source for a TES295 approved fluid around the $210/5gal mark, I'd be glad to hear of it.
 
Realize that the Allison was designed for a 30,000 lb truck / bus application and don't worry too much about what ATF you're using in your pickup truck.
 
Here is a link below to the only TES-295 approved fluids by Allison.

http://www.allisontransmission.com/parts-service/approved-fluids/on-highway-fluids

And you are correct, many will say "suitable", "equivalent to" etc., but as you mentioned they have not coughed up the money to get the certification. Some like Amsoil have admittedly reverse engineered to the same standard. There is a guy (forget the name) that hangs out on some of the diesel truck forums. He develop Transynd and was on the panel that approves certification for quite a while apparently. He will tell you to never run non TES-295 ever.
GM holds the license to Dex VI so that is what they recommend of course. DNEWTON3 on this post is a very good read about oil samples on the Allison running different fluids:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/76-spec...95-clone-3.html

He is probably right. If you want to sleep well at night pay for the TES-295 fluid (I have). If you change it frequently the tranny really doesn't care what's in it and you can sleep well anyway.
 
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