The Situation

TransAxle is the largest remanufacturer of drivetrain components for on- and off-highway equipment in the eastern United States.

At their Pennsauken, New Jersey facility, they:

• Remanufacture transmissions with precision
• Test each rebuilt transmission under full load using company dynamometers
• Warrant every transmission, ensuring customer confidence

Their commitment is simple: deliver remanufactured transmissions customers can trust, right out of the box.

The Challenge

While testing is critical, it brings its own risks.

Most transmission failures are caused by surface degradation from foreign contaminants in the fluid.  Even small particles can damage critical components.

Working proactively to ensure they were delivering the best remanufactured transmissions possible, TransAxle identified a potential contamination issue and commissioned an outside party to analyse the automatic transmission fluid used during dyno testing.

The results were alarming:

• The common target ISO4406 cleanliness for transmission fluids is 16/14/11
• Transaxle’s fluid analysis revealed ISO 4406 cleanliness levels of 20/18/12 or worse
• In some cases, the fluid was 15x dirtier than recommended standards

Faced with this challenge, TransAxle needed a way to improve fluid cleanliness during the critical transmission testing phase.

The Solution

Donaldson specialists recommended a multi-step solution:

1. Installation of two Donaldson Blue® bulk filters 4-micron DBB8666 filters on the dynamometers’ closed-loop lubrication systems. The two filters can handle flow rates of up to 473 lpm/ 125 gpm, packaged in a kit including installation hardware.
2. For the sump inlets, Donaldson recommended installing one 4-micron DBB8666 filter.
3. For the sump outlets, Donaldson recommended installing a DBB8666 with a DBB0248 water-absorbing filter in series to remove both particulate and water.

The Result

By implementing Donaldson filtration solutions, TransAxle achieved:

• Cleaner testing fluids, consistently hitting ideal ISO 16/14/11 targets
• Higher-quality remanufactured transmissions, ready for reliable service
• Reduced risk of in-field warranty claims, boosting customer satisfaction

Bonus Benefits:

• Transmission users can extend equipment life by installing Donaldson bulk fluid filters at their own sites.
• Equipment manufacturers can enhance product quality by using Donaldson filtration during final transmission flushes before shipment.

In short, whether you remanufacture, operate, or build transmissions, Donaldson’s clean solutions deliver better performance, fewer breakdowns, and longer service life.

3rd Party Oil Analysis ISO Cleanliness Code Results