Highway robbery.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: The East Coast
Highway robbery.
Okay, so I'm calling around to find out the labor cost for flushing my tranny... I have the fluid (thought I could just drain and refill with new fluid but I've been told that's not a good idea).
Price quotes anywhere from 117.00-170.00 for my F150. That's insanity. Does everyone do transmission fluid flushes? Or are people still draining and refilling? This is a 1999 with almost 130,000 miles, doesn't seem worth it to pay that much to have it flushed on a tranny that will probably need replacing before I'd change it out again anyway?
Thoughts... comments... suggestions... flames...
Price quotes anywhere from 117.00-170.00 for my F150. That's insanity. Does everyone do transmission fluid flushes? Or are people still draining and refilling? This is a 1999 with almost 130,000 miles, doesn't seem worth it to pay that much to have it flushed on a tranny that will probably need replacing before I'd change it out again anyway?
Thoughts... comments... suggestions... flames...
Posting Guru
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It is an option, if you want them to drain and refill, tell them to do it that way. It probably will cost more due to the fact it takes longer to do. The torque converter is slow to drain, and the whole pocess is a lot messier.
The things you can do when you drain/refill is change the filter and see whats on the magnet in the pan.
I know they don't like dropping the pan, like I said, messy, but with my 01, my dealer had no problem doing it.
The things you can do when you drain/refill is change the filter and see whats on the magnet in the pan.
I know they don't like dropping the pan, like I said, messy, but with my 01, my dealer had no problem doing it.
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Junior User
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From: The East Coast
Understood, but my point is I'd be doing the drain/refill myself (in which case it's free because I already have the fluid). Still not quite answering my question. 
Originally Posted by kingfish51
It is an option, if you want them to drain and refill, tell them to do it that way. It probably will cost more due to the fact it takes longer to do. The torque converter is slow to drain, and the whole pocess is a lot messier.
The things you can do when you drain/refill is change the filter and see whats on the magnet in the pan.
I know they don't like dropping the pan, like I said, messy, but with my 01, my dealer had no problem doing it.
The things you can do when you drain/refill is change the filter and see whats on the magnet in the pan.
I know they don't like dropping the pan, like I said, messy, but with my 01, my dealer had no problem doing it.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Kabetogama, MN
It is not a problem droping the pan and draining the fluid yourself. That way you can change the filter and clean out the pan. A flush job does not change the filter but it changes all the fluid. A flush shoud be 75 -85 dollars. By only droping the pan and draining the torque converter without a factory flush you only get 60-70 percent of the old fluid. Your trans cooler and trans lines and several other things still retain much of the old fluid.
I took mine in for a flush at the dealer for 80 dollars and then brought it home and changed the filter and cleaned the pan out and replaced the fluid I wasted by doing it that way, but I wanted a flush and my filter change and I was told if so that was the best sequence. Also, drain your transfer case.
I took mine in for a flush at the dealer for 80 dollars and then brought it home and changed the filter and cleaned the pan out and replaced the fluid I wasted by doing it that way, but I wanted a flush and my filter change and I was told if so that was the best sequence. Also, drain your transfer case.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
From what I have been told, if you do not start the truck for 2 days, all of the fluid is drained out of the torque converter. So, if you can let the truck sit for 2 days, just do that and drain it. Also, the reason that the price on the flushing varies is because they do different things. Some shops just hook-up the system and flush it. Some do that, and run the vehicle at the same time, some also shift through the gears when it is necesary to aid in flushing the whole system. Last, usually the most expensive ones, do all of that and change the filter.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: North west La
I have serviced my tranny 4 times in 117000 miles. I had it flushed twice & the filter & fluid done twice. It still shifts like new. Regular changes sure keep a tranny going.
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I have never heard that by letting a vehicle sit the tranny fluid will drain out of the converter, 1st where would the fliud go?? If you look at the capacities of the transmission it is any where from 15 to 19 quarts. That is why flushing is good it gets all that old stuff out. when you just drop the pan and change the filter the most you replace is 4 to 5 quarts.
I have seen many clogged filters cause problems with trannys. The best way is the way Bliath does it. of course it is messy especially since there is no drain plug on the tranny pan.
I take an old shower curtain and put it down then do the job any spillage goes on it and not the cement or where ever your are changing the oil. then wipe it up off the curtain and throw it away or keep it for the next job. I have also found that if you start from the back of the pan and start removing the blots comming around equally on both sides towards the front it will slowly drian in to the pan and be less of a mess.
Also by removing the pan you can check the magnet and if there are metal fragments onit it's a indication of impending problems with the tranny.
Lance
I have seen many clogged filters cause problems with trannys. The best way is the way Bliath does it. of course it is messy especially since there is no drain plug on the tranny pan.
I take an old shower curtain and put it down then do the job any spillage goes on it and not the cement or where ever your are changing the oil. then wipe it up off the curtain and throw it away or keep it for the next job. I have also found that if you start from the back of the pan and start removing the blots comming around equally on both sides towards the front it will slowly drian in to the pan and be less of a mess.
Also by removing the pan you can check the magnet and if there are metal fragments onit it's a indication of impending problems with the tranny.
Lance
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Kabetogama, MN
I saw my last post in this thread and I should also mention that when you drain your transfercase to fill it again. I know it goes without saying, but I felt I left it hanging wierd. And some people who do not know my not remember to do so.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 65
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From: Longwood Florida
First, If your tranny is working fine and you are just looking to do preventative maintnence, Find a place like Mobile Lube Express or some Goodyear tire stores even do it. They can flush your tranny for about $79.00. ONLY do this if there is no problems and it is preventative though !!!They disconnect the tranny lines @ the radiator and push ion new while the old runs out. It flushes the ENTIRE system. You may then want to drop your pan, replace the filter and then add the 6 or so quarts it will take to top it off. I have mine flushed then 15,000 later I have the flushe + a new filter installed. I have done this with all my trucks and my wifes car and never had any problems with the tranny.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
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My tranny takes the mercon 5, anybody know how much that stuff is per liter. I'm trying to balance out the cost and hassle of doing it myself or just taking it in and getting it serviced and be done with it.BTW in canadian dollars if you could.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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drain the transmission
a quart of Mercon V is about $4 and you need 5 quarts. the filter is about $20. so you got $40. invested. pull the pan bolts nd tip forward and dump into a pail. remove the pan and clean it up, new filter install, reused the rubber gasket, reinstall and torque. this takes an hour and 15 minutes max. do it once every 2 years. forget the flush, if it has centrifuged into the converter, it aint coming out.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,977
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From: South Texas
Originally Posted by steve(ill)
a quart of Mercon V is about $4 and you need 5 quarts. the filter is about $20. so you got $40. invested. pull the pan bolts nd tip forward and dump into a pail. remove the pan and clean it up, new filter install, reused the rubber gasket, reinstall and torque. this takes an hour and 15 minutes max. do it once every 2 years. forget the flush, if it has centrifuged into the converter, it aint coming out.