AMSOIL SAE 30 100% Synthetic Powershift Transmission Fluid

Product overview

Powershift transmissions shift under load, so the fluid handles clutch engagement, wet brakes, and hydraulics at the same time. AMSOIL SAE 30 Synthetic Powershift Transmission Fluid is the middle grade and the one most commonly specified in general equipment service.

At 11.0 cSt at 100°C it carries more film thickness than the 10W for warm-climate and high-load work, and it still pours at -43°C.

What the formula does

• Compatible with common metallic and non-metallic friction materials, with stable friction properties that help eliminate brake noise and vibration.
• Non-slip friction properties help prevent clutch slippage, which is what causes glazing and friction-surface deposits.
• Oxidation and thermal stability hold off varnish, deposits, and sludge, and the fluid doubles as a heat-transfer fluid to help cool hot-running equipment.
• Guards against copper corrosion and rust, even during storage, and it does not foam in service.

Where this fluid fits

Use in equipment such as:

• Dozers, wheel loaders, and crawlers
• Backhoe loaders and road graders
• Cranes and off-road fork trucks
• Harbor-handling and railway equipment
• Mining equipment
• Heavy-duty manual transmissions
• Commercial marine applications

One sump running clutches, wet brakes, and hydraulics

In most powershift machines a single fill lubricates the transmission, operates the wet brakes, and does hydraulic work at the same time. That makes friction behavior part of the buying decision rather than viscosity alone, because an oil that suits the gear set can still leave the brakes chattering or let a clutch pack slip. AMSOIL SAE 30 Synthetic Powershift Transmission Fluid is formulated against all three of those demands together.

The balance shows up as responsive yet smooth clutch engagement, clean power transfer through clutches and synchronizers, and steady hydraulic performance out of the same fill. Slippage is the failure worth designing against, since a clutch that slips glazes its own friction surfaces and degrades the material until engagement quality falls away.

Where the SAE 30 sits between the light and heavy grades

At 11.0 cSt at 100°C and 75.0 cSt at 40°C, this is the middle grade and the one general equipment service most often calls for. It pours at -43°C (-45°F), so a cold yard is not automatically a reason to drop to Powershift SAE 10W, and its viscosity index of 136 is the highest of the three grades. Machines under sustained high load and high ambient heat may instead be written for Powershift SAE 50.

Deposit control when the sump runs hot

Oxidative and thermal stability is what keeps varnish, deposits, and sludge from building as the hours accumulate, and a transmission that stays clean is easier to inspect and cheaper to service. The fluid also works as a heat-transfer medium and helps cool hot-running equipment, and it does not foam in service, so air stays out of the film between loaded surfaces. Copper corrosion and rust protection remains active even while a machine sits in storage.

Switching a machine over from a conventional TO-4 fluid

Other TO-4 fluids used in powershift service are fully compatible with this one, so a changeover does not call for flushing chemistry. The published procedure is to drain the fluid in the system, replace the filter if the machine has one, and refill with the matching viscosity.

Extended service life beyond conventional petroleum fluids depends on keeping the fill free of dirt and moisture, which puts breather condition and sampling hygiene on the same footing as the drain schedule. Oil analysis is the tool for extending intervals past the equipment manufacturer's recommendation.

Specifications Powershift SAE 30 covers

The SAE 30 grade covers applications requiring any of the following:

• Allison C-4
• Caterpillar TO-4
• Komatsu KES07.868.1
• ZF TE-ML 03C

Coverage as published in the AMSOIL data bulletin, checked July 2026. AMSOIL revises coverage when a formula changes, so confirm against AMSOIL's current data bulletin before ordering.

Service life

The formula provides extended service life beyond conventional petroleum fluids as long as it stays free of dirt and moisture.

Use oil analysis before extending service intervals beyond the equipment manufacturer's recommendation.

Good to know

• The powershift grades can be used in Caterpillar, Allison, Komatsu, Clark, Hurth, Borg-Warner, Twin Disc, Voith, ZF, Funk, and Brockhouse powershift-type transmissions, and in Eaton, Rockwell, and Fuller transmissions.
• Fully compatible with other TO-4 fluids used in powershift applications. To switch, drain the system, replace the filter if the equipment has one, and refill with the correct viscosity.

Typical technical properties

Typical properties published by AMSOIL, checked July 2026. These are representative values rather than a specification, and they change when AMSOIL updates a formula.

Package sizes and product codes

Select a product code to open that package size on the AMSOIL product page.

Product documents

AMSOIL publishes the full technical detail for this product in these documents.

• Powershift SAE 30 product data bulletin (PDF)
• Powershift SAE 30 safety data sheet (PDF)

Where to order

Confirm this formula is the match for the vehicle or equipment in the AMSOIL product guides, then order Powershift SAE 30 online. Existing members can sign in to apply the discount automatically.

Details and questions