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Transmission fluid change, Dealership or Typical Oil Change place?

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bjornbjorn

New member
Just wondering if I get a transmission fluid change whats the difference between the dealership and your typical oil change place. What are the pros and cons?

I usually go to the dealership but it takes hours and costs double.

Also how often should you do this when you get over 200,000 kms (120,000 miles)
 


bjornbjorn--

If you've got a place to do it, do it yourself. You can get any trans filter at your local AutoZone/OReilly's/Advance/NAPA/etc for ~10 bucks and 8 quarts of trans fluid for $25 at Wally World. Just make sure the filter comes with a gasket.

Pull the 15 or so bolts off the old filter, pull that guy out, clean out the pan (especially the little magnet that catches all the metal shavings), replace, refill with 8 quarts of trans fluid, and you're good to go. Cost out the door is $40, max $50 if you get the good stuff.

Every 50,000 miles (80,000km) is a good rule of thumb, but divide that in half if your car runs hot (over 200*). Anything above 200 or so and the trans fluid breaks down, giving you that burnt smell.
 
the cost and the time like you said.

you can do it your self for under 50 bucks in your driveway. depending on your year use what ever dex fluid you need. dex 3 for 97-03 dex 6 for 04 up) cheap stuff is ok really. walmart brand is cheap.

as far as when to service the tranny.....your late to the party already. depending an where you live, (hills or flat ground) you can start at 50,000 miles. 30,000 if you going up hills a lot or beating the snot out of it.
 
The owners manual says up to 100k if never in "severe" driving conditions. But they also say 12k miles on conventional motor oil max, so...50k sounds good on trans. For me, it was $18 for a good wix filter, and it's $16.87 for a 4 quart jug of dex 3 at walmart, so around $34 for fluid. That's just over 50, but I needed a little more than 8 quarts, so I went ahead and bought another 4 quart jug to top off when needed. Also many people will argue the stock trans filter is perfectly re-usable as long as you clean it, so you can get just the filter, and not the filter kit. But it's really easy. All you need is a 10mm socket and ratchet, as well as a drain pan and some rags. That's all that's needed. (jack and jack stands too)
 


Im surprised nobody warned this guy not to get a trans flush. Some oil shops want to flush your trans. Most would advise against this and only service the trans with a pan drop and filter change. Google or search this forum for a how to...
 
OP- If you do this yourself be sure that the rubber o-ring is out of the case when you remove the old filter. If it doesn't come out with it then just use a pick and grab it out of the bore.
 
yeah dont ever flush it, not with high miles.

when the tranny gets old removing all the fluid takes what clutch material is in the fluid out of the tranny, then the tranny dies.

dropping the pan only removes 1/2 the fluid. and is way safer then a flush.


if you owned it from new and flushed it every 30,000 miles you would be safe. but this is not the case.
 


hensleya1 said:
bjornbjorn--

If you've got a place to do it, do it yourself. You can get any trans filter at your local AutoZone/OReilly's/Advance/NAPA/etc for ~10 bucks and 8 quarts of trans fluid for $25 at Wally World. Just make sure the filter comes with a gasket.

Pull the 15 or so bolts off the old filter, pull that guy out, clean out the pan (especially the little magnet that catches all the metal shavings), replace, refill with 8 quarts of trans fluid, and you're good to go. Cost out the door is $40, max $50 if you get the good stuff.

Every 50,000 miles (80,000km) is a good rule of thumb, but divide that in half if your car runs hot (over 200*). Anything above 200 or so and the trans fluid breaks down, giving you that burnt smell.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, you won't get 8 quarts for $25. Even at Wally World you are looking to spend $30 minimum on 8 qts of trans fluid.
 
Scottydoggs said:
yeah dont ever flush it, not with high miles.

when the tranny gets old removing all the fluid takes what clutch material is in the fluid out of the tranny, then the tranny dies.

dropping the pan only removes 1/2 the fluid. and is way safer then a flush.


if you owned it from new and flushed it every 30,000 miles you would be safe. but this is not the case.
Click to expand...

yeah what he said :th_thumb-up:
 
If you do end up taking it somewhere, just make sure the machine is just a fluid exchanger and not a flusher.

My work has a machine that uses the transmissions pump itself to pump in new fluid and remove the old, it takes 12-14 quarts per time to make sure new fluid has gone all the way through.
 
Fivefingerdeathpunch said:
If you do end up taking it somewhere, just make sure the machine is just a fluid exchanger and not a flusher.

My work has a machine that uses the transmissions pump itself to pump in new fluid and remove the old, it takes 12-14 quarts per time to make sure new fluid has gone all the way through.
Click to expand...

But these systems don't usually touch the filter. They use the trans lines as a lazy way to avoid dropping the pan.
 


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