Transmission flush cost: Typically, $125 to $250 Only drains 20% to 40% of the total ATF volumeĪ trained professional should perform this serviceĭrivers may choose to handle this themselves Runs a special solution through the cooler lines until completely clean, and refills the system with new ATF Uses natural gravitational forces to drain the ATFĬompletely removes all the ATF from the transmissionįlushes away grime and contaminants from the torque converter and cooler lines Requires a professional-grade flush machine to flush away the ATF (automatic transmission fluid) Let’s look at these two services, how they help keep your car running smooth, and how much you can expect to pay for each. Well worth the extra time and money.Like a turtle and a tortoise or a malted and a milkshake, a transmission flush and a fluid exchange are similar but different. The same local small shop does my other 3 vehicles, including our two classics, Lucille and Ethel. I have the factory MaxCare warranty on my '14 R/T, and my back and shoulders can no longer take self-service changes, so I use the dealer for my Durango. Fortunately, the front end components handn't failed in the meantime. The new mechanic carefully used 'easy out's' to back out the broken fittings and install new ones. A further inspection showed several other zirc's were also fractured off the same way. He said he was in the process of cleaning it off so he could see the zirc fittings to attach the grease gun, when he noted that the zirc was actually broken off! Apparently the JL monkeys just jabbed the grease nozzle forcefully into the general area of the fitting and pumped away, then moved onto the next one. The steering gear and suspension was covered in globs of old, dirty grease wherever a lube point was. The first time with the new shop servicing my car, the owner-mechanic called me into the service bay to show me the underside of the car. After several years of enduring their incessent upsell pressure for just about anything and everything, I got a referral from a friend to a local shop. I learned my lesson 15 years ago when I traded speed and convenience for competence by frequenting a JL. Piling on with the others about staying AWAY from Jiffy Lube and their ilk. If I had the flexibility, time, patience, and tools, I probably might as well. I applaud those of you who do your own maintenance. It's worth the time and money to have someone do it for me and then there's the documentation as well. They never know ahead of time.Īnd on the cost.I'm old enough and not as flexible as I once was, so I'd rather not have to get oil all over me, the driveway, and the underside of the vehicle. So now, sometimes I'll inspect, sometimes not. Once I established this "relationship" with them, there have been no issues. I inspect the interior for dirt, grease, fingerprints, or damage. I'll open the hood, check for spills, check the oil level and condition, look under for dripping oil, check the engine bay for forgotten tools or caps left off or loose. I have no concerns over blocking the exit lane in the service bay while I inspect their work, and they know it. Do you realize I am 90% into changing my own oil at that point? They look at me and say " Yeah, didn't think about it that way." Well I did!Īs far as the relationship with the dealer, most of the service writers and the service advisor know me by name. I look at them and say "Really?" So I have to get out the jack, jackstands,( if it's one of the cars) sockets, change clothes, crawl under the car or truck with the wrench and check both the plug and the filter. Also as far as Jiffy-Lube goes, people tell me all the time, " If your that concerned then just check their work afterwards". I can slide right under there and still have more than enough room to do anything as compared to my PT Cruiser, Saturn, or daughter's Fusion, as to where I have to get out the jack and jackstands just to see under the car! I realize that over the years I may have put on some weight but not THAT much weight! I couldn't crawl under those cars if you lubed me up! LOL. The only good thing about changing the oil on the truck is that I don't need jacks or jack stands to do it. Like so many here have said, I change my own oil, but I am getting tired of that also.
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