AMSOIL Synthetic Transmission Fluid Tames Texas Heat
Not even a “spot” of sludge in the pan or on the filter despite extreme heat & heavy towing.
by John Baker|May 13, 2022
Customer Bryan Bayles, out of Katy, Texas, saw a need while working as a groundwater sampler and turned it into a successful business. “We used to go to these sites that were really hard to get to because they weren’t being maintained,” he said.
Neglect and disuse often turned groundwater sampling sites into jungles of overgrown weeds and brush, sometimes teeming with rats. Today, Bayles’ company, BTB Services, does what’s called “post-closure care.” His crew maintains groundwater-testing sites around refineries and other sites so they remain accessible.
“One site was 25 acres and in the middle of a town,” said Bayles. “People started complaining about rats running out of it.”
Much of the work involves using tractors, zero-turn mowers and handheld equipment to cut large areas of grass and brush.
“We take tractors out and weed eaters to get the paths clear so we can get out there,” Bayles said.
BTB Services operates three large mowing tractors, two zero-turn mowers, a skid steer and a brush mower. Being a stickler for maintenance, Bayles uses AMSOIL products in his vehicles and equipment.
Vehicles Must Face Brutal Texas Heat
His vehicles include a small fleet of half-ton and larger pickups that transport equipment to sites using gooseneck trailers. Working in the scorching Texas heat means BTB Services’ trucks are exposed to temperatures that frequently exceed 100°F (38°C) for a good part of the season. Combined with towing up to 30,000 pounds (13,607 kg), the company’s vehicles are the epitome of “severe-service” work trucks.
One such truck is a 2015 Chevrolet 2500 that Bayles bought in 2015. Bayles does as much maintenance as he can himself, including changing transmission fluid and filters. When the truck had about 50,000 miles (80,000 km) on it, Bayles switched the transmission to AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Fuel-Efficient Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Internal Transmission Filter Never Changed
Given the severe conditions, Bayles changes transmission fluid every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
“I know that’s extreme, but we’re pulling about 30,000 pounds of weight behind the trucks,” he said. The maintenance strategy plus AMSOIL product performance have helped the truck eclipse 300,000 miles (483,000 km) with no issues.
Bayles changes the external, spin-on transmission filter on the Chevy 2500 every 60,000 miles (96,500 km).
However, since the transmission includes a drain plug and doesn’t require dropping the pan, he didn’t realize the transmission also has an internal filter, meaning it was never changed.
“I felt horrible that I had 300,000 miles on the truck and I never had the pan off,” said Bayles.
“Spotless! I can’t believe it.”
So, after 257,000 miles (413,600 km) using AMSOIL synthetic transmission fluid, Bayles dropped the pan to change the internal filter, unsure what he would find. The cleanliness of the pan and fluid amazed him; there wasn’t even a hint of sludge or deposits. He texted his AMSOIL Dealer, Erroll Ivery, an image of the clean pan and pristine fluid with the words, “Spotless! I can’t believe it.”
Bayles said there wasn’t even a film of deposits or sludge on the transmission filter.
The Chevy 2500 has about 315,000 miles (507,000 km) on it now and still runs great. “Right now, I have it pulling a 32 foot trailer,” said Bayles. Including the payload, that adds up to about 22,500 pounds (10,200 kg). “I gave it a little bit of a break,” he said.
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil Also Delivers Premium Protection
BTB Services has four trucks, two diesel and two gas, all of which use AMSOIL products in the engine, transmission, differentials and cooling systems. All the company’s diesel tractors use AMSOIL products, too. “We started using AMSOIL in our zero-turn this year,” he said.
Bayles performed oil analysis on the engine oil in his trucks, and the results showed the oil in his gas trucks still had 20% oil life following 20,000 severe-service miles (32,000 km), while the diesel oil still had 50% oil life after 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
AMSOIL products help Brian Bayles keep his trucks and equipment up and running, making money, which is vital for any business. “It definitely has helped keep the equipment well-maintained. I have never had any problems with the vehicles I maintain,” he said.
Bayles isn’t shy about telling others about his AMSOIL success story. “It’s a product I definitely highly recommend,” he said. “I believe in putting the best in all my equipment.”