Petro-Canada Lubricants announced its latest automatic transmission fluid (ATF), DuraDrive HD Synthetic 668, during a virtual press event. The new fluid is designed for use in full automatic transmissions such as those used in the refuse, transit, and delivery vehicles, and meets Allison Transmission’s latest ATF specification, TES 668.
Launching January 1, 2021, Allison created the TES 668 standard for on-highway extended drains to provide their customers with a fluid that would build on the long-standing genuine Allison fluids program, said Alex Buczek, global category manager – HD transportation at Petro-Canada Lubricants.
According to Buczek, Petro-Canada’s DuraDrive HD Synthetic 668 is the first TES 668 fluid to have completed Allison’s validation program and, when it launches in January, will be the only global factory fill TES 668 for Allison Transmission.
Sonia Hevia, product specialist – transmissions at Petro-Canada Lubricants, said the new ATF is designed to provide maximum durability, smoother performance, and enhanced protection.
Durability – The fluid’s oxidation control helps protect components from damage caused by sludge, varnish, and corrosion, Hevia said, which helps improve fluid and component life.
Smooth performance – “In real-world applications, transmissions shudder,” Hevia explained. DuraDrive HD Synthetic 668 provides anti-shudder and torque control for smoother acceleration, and it is “two times better at preventing shudder when compared to the requirement,” Hevia said.
Protection – Petro-Canada’s new ATF fluid is also designed to provide better volatility control and oil thickening control, leading to improved wear protection.
In addition to meeting Allison’s new TES 668 standards, DuraDrive HD Synthetic 668 is also backward compatible for all Allison transmissions requiring TES 295 ATFs, so fleets will not need to stock both fluid types.
“DuraDrive HD Synthetic 668 offers customers an immediate opportunity to maximize their uptime, upgrade their performance, and extend their asset life,” Buczek said, adding that the ATF will be available January 1 for Allison series 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 transmissions.
