Oil change preferences
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2018
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Oil change preferences
what do you guy use for oil changes and transmission change... going to get my transmission flushed might as well have them put more fluid in but I’m buying the fluid to watch them put THAT fluid in out of the bottles I bought.. however I’m going to change the engine oil myself and been using rototella..also I figured it cost about $70 to do the engine myself but Walmart charges $80... is it worth it to have them do it?? So what type of oil oil filter and transmission fluid do you guys use
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,351
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I don't even let Wal-mart mount tires when the rims are off the vehicle. Up to you, but they will NEVER work on my vehicles, even if it is for an oil change.
Maybe the "techs" at Wal-mart are better in your neck of the woods, no idea.
Maybe the "techs" at Wal-mart are better in your neck of the woods, no idea.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,667
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From: Muskogee, Ok
Do you really expect Wal-Mart employees to know how to flush your transmission fluid (18 qts) vs a partial drain n fill (4 qts)? If you've got the time do it yourself. Drain the pan, pull the return line off at the transmission, shove a hose on the return line into a bucket, refill the pan, idle it till a few quarts fill the bucket, shut it off n refill the pan, repeat till the fluid coming out the return line is bright red. My FIL can't grasp the flush (18 qts) vs drain n fill (4 qts) method; granted he also just had to spend $4,200 on a new Allison transmission at 210k
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,614
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From: Springfield, PA
It's not hard changing our oil, don't even need a jack, just a big enough bucket. I punch hole in the bottom of the filter first to drain it and the oil cooler, otherwise that becomes a mess.
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Senior User
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Do you really expect Wal-Mart employees to know how to flush your transmission fluid vs a partial drain n fill? If you've got the time do it yourself. Drain the pan, pull the return line off at the transmission, shove a hose on the return line into a bucket, refill the pan, idle it till a few quarts fill the bucket, shut it off n refill the pan, repeat till the fluid coming out the return line is bright red. My FIL can't grasp the flush vs drain n fill method; granted he also just had to spend $4,200 on a new Allison transmission at 210k
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,246
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From: Houston, Texas
Good Lord, just do it yourself:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles...-transmission/
I've done this every time I hit 30K and the Ford reman transmission I had installed April 2006 at 127K.
12 years, 328K (truck now has 455K), and several flushes later, it still runs and shifts awesome.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
Flushing the transmission has been a good idea/bad idea discussion for some time. I've done the flush described by Mark Kovalsky a couple of times but now I do a drain and fill of the pan every couple of years based on everything I've read.
Personally I'd never have the fluid "flushed" at a shop. Coincidence or not I've read more than a few stories of having the transmission flushed at a shop and ending up with issues/failures/repairs not too much later. All that could be unrelated or just a bunch of internet lore. I bought my truck with 146K on the clock and the trans had been rebuilt at 120K. I'm at 306K and have the transmission that I bought it with. I don't know if I'm lucky or good but it's lasted me this long and still going (knock on wood) with the process I discussed above.
Personally I'd never have the fluid "flushed" at a shop. Coincidence or not I've read more than a few stories of having the transmission flushed at a shop and ending up with issues/failures/repairs not too much later. All that could be unrelated or just a bunch of internet lore. I bought my truck with 146K on the clock and the trans had been rebuilt at 120K. I'm at 306K and have the transmission that I bought it with. I don't know if I'm lucky or good but it's lasted me this long and still going (knock on wood) with the process I discussed above.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Houston, Texas
I've talked to Mark about this and if you change the fluid while the transmission is in good working order, it only helps.
However, if you wait until the transmission is having issues, it's already too late.
I've done this on 6.0 and 7.3 trucks that were high mileage and had plenty of maintenance mysteries to them, with no ill effects.
The long and short of it, it's an old wives tale...
However, if you wait until the transmission is having issues, it's already too late.
I've done this on 6.0 and 7.3 trucks that were high mileage and had plenty of maintenance mysteries to them, with no ill effects.
The long and short of it, it's an old wives tale...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,321
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From: North Texas
I do all my work myself. I enjoy it, it's fulfilling, and I know it was done right. When it isn't your vehicle, corners tend to get cut. I drain everything out drip by drip, replenish new drip by drip. I'm clean about it and my truck reflects it. I've been labeled **** when it comes to my vehicles. I like to think I'm particular.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
I've always preferred to do the oil myself. Walmart does usually have good prices on the oil and filter, but that's just for the parts.
When I got my latest truck, it came with free oil changes for 2 years/24k miles (I hit the miles way before I hit even a year), so for free, I let the Ford dealer change my oil.
They cross threaded the drain bolt and ran it in with an impact. I discovered this when the free oil change deal expired. Brand new truck, brand new oil pan and drain plug, and the Ford house screwed it up. I don't think I would trust Wally World any more than I trust that particular Ford house.
I some how managed to make it 560,000 miles on my 7.3 with the factory drain plug without cross threading it. My son in law has even changed the oil a few times since then on that truck without messing the drain plug up.
When I got my latest truck, it came with free oil changes for 2 years/24k miles (I hit the miles way before I hit even a year), so for free, I let the Ford dealer change my oil.
They cross threaded the drain bolt and ran it in with an impact. I discovered this when the free oil change deal expired. Brand new truck, brand new oil pan and drain plug, and the Ford house screwed it up. I don't think I would trust Wally World any more than I trust that particular Ford house.
I some how managed to make it 560,000 miles on my 7.3 with the factory drain plug without cross threading it. My son in law has even changed the oil a few times since then on that truck without messing the drain plug up.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
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From: Muskogee, Ok
Make sure you get the filter to unscrew a little before you poke that hole. One time I could not get it to budge and had a hole in the filter so i couldn't drive it to buy a better filter wrench.
