Talked to dealer about a transmission fluid change with and without filter change

[Bobcatou]

I stopped by my local Ford Dealer today about a couple questions I had.

I also asked him how much a transmission fluid change since I am about 10k from that. He told me it is $399 for a drain and fill. I asked about the filter and and he told me they don't do that normally as part of the service. If someone requests that, it is $1000 for the whole thing. He said they normally drain the oil from one hole and fill back in a different hole with a pump they have. Basically there is an in and out. I thought our transmissions only had a dipstick near the pan and you had to drop the pan to change the trans fluid?

If curious a transaxle fluid change is $259. Double for four wheel drive since there are two.

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[Mt.F150..]

I'm assuming they are sucking out the old fluid not dropping the pan for $399? I don't remember seeing a drain bolt on the pan last time I looked. The transfer case and rear diff are a piece of cake to service the front diff on the other hand is a different story

 

[Bobcatou]

I'm assuming they are sucking out the old fluid not dropping the pan for $399? I don't remember seeing a drain bolt on the pan last time I looked. The transfer case and rear diff are a piece of cake to service the front diff on the other hand is a different story

He made me think there was a separate in and out plug and they added fluid at the same time they drained it. And no, they would only drop the pan if they replaced the filter. I need to change my engine oil in a week or two. I'll take a closer look at the pan, but I didn't' think there were any drain plugs or inlets.

Revised: I just saw a video of an F150 Trans Fluid change on Youtube of a 2016ish truck and they went through the transmission cooler lines, so maybe that is the way they would do it.

 

[jkosh22]

He made me think there was a separate in and out plug and they added fluid at the same time they drained it. And no, they would only drop the pan if they replaced the filter. I need to change my engine oil in a week or two. I'll take a closer look at the pan, but I didn't' think there were any drain plugs or inlets.

Revised: I just saw a video of an F150 Trans Fluid change on Youtube of a 2016ish truck and they went through the transmission cooler lines, so maybe that is the way they would do it.

You are correct, there are no other plugs on this transmission other than the dipstick to check the level with. With a 10r80 a filter exchange is definately a good idea (depending on mileage of course). $399 isn’t a terrible price. My shop a transmission fluid exchange is about 300. Regardless, it’s something that should be done ahead of schedule, shop around to other shops, you might have a shop that’ll do a pan drop and filter change for not much more than what the dealership would do.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

He made me think there was a separate in and out plug and they added fluid at the same time they drained it. And no, they would only drop the pan if they replaced the filter. I need to change my engine oil in a week or two. I'll take a closer look at the pan, but I didn't' think there were any drain plugs or inlets.

Revised: I just saw a video of an F150 Trans Fluid change on Youtube of a 2016ish truck and they went through the transmission cooler lines, so maybe that is the way they would do it.

Sounds like they’re talking about doing a flush. I personally would not do a machine fluid exchange flush on any transmission.

So how many miles do you have on the truck?

 

[antho]

I personally would only have what Ford recommends.

 

[Bobcatou]

Sounds like they’re talking about doing a flush. I personally would not do a machine fluid exchange flush on any transmission.

So how many miles do you have on the truck?

I'm at 25k right now. From what I hear on this board and others, it should be done around every 30k to 50k. Being this is first time, I figure it is better error on being earlier, considering they might be more breakin metal. I don't trust the 150k interval that Ford says to do it.

 

[Eighthtry]

Sounds like they’re talking about doing a flush. I personally would not do a machine fluid exchange flush on any transmission.

So how many miles do you have on the truck?

Tell us why you are against a machine fluid exchange flush. It seems like a great thing to me. But I am about 20 years removed from the latest technology.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Tell us why you are against a machine fluid exchange flush. It seems like a great thing to me. But I am about 20 years removed from the latest technology.

Using a flush machine can be a bad idea, they use pressurized fluid to flush the trans. The flow rates aren’t what the transmission sees while it’s operating.

Many well respected mechanics I’ve chatted with say NEVER have a trans flushed, ever. I had always been told that using them on older, high mileage transmissions can quickly destroy them. I can understand this ideology.

However, it seems these same guys are now saying don’t use this on the newer solenoid controlled transmissions either. The are easily fouled with debris. The high pressure used & detergents can dislodge built-up sludge, varnish, and clutch material. This is attributed to clogged passages, valves, and filters. This can lead to slipping, shifting problems, or even complete valve body failure.

This of course, is my opinion, if you agree with it great if not, great. Research it for yourself, talk to your local transmission guys, see what they say.

The guys that I trust, I have told me they recommend doing the following. Use a fluid evacuation tool to remove all the fluid in the pan and reservice at 30k. At 60 K, remove the pan change the filter and reservice.

Going forward, they recommend to keep the same interval.

 

[jkosh22]

Exactly right.

At our shop we use a machine that has the option to through transmission line or the dipstick tube. We only used the dipstick tube as it removes all fluid from the pan, fill with exact same amount of fluid and than start the vehicle and the pump circulates. Than it does 1 quart intervals until specified flushing amount has been achieved. No chance of dislodging any debris and uses a glorified vacuum to do it. No harm, no foul. It’s the same idea as a blood transfusion machine. Works well.

 

[Ranger621]

My nephew is a tech at a Ford dealer. To do just a trans fluid flush, no filter change, its $150.00. They just remove one of the trans cooler lines and put a machine inline with the cooler them flush the fluid until it comes out clean with the new fluid. I had mine done at 30,000 miles.

 

[Eighthtry]

Technology seems to create more problems than it solves.

It has been an entertaining discussion. It's like me listening in spanish. I can hear it. It seems to make sense. But I can't understand it.

FaaWrenchBdr has some points about pressurized flushes that are not addressed in the followup emails. His points make sense.

Ranger621 describes a Ford Dealer method, maybe. I know that not all techs will follow factory recommendations at all times. What is the Ford recommendation on how this service is performed?

 

[jkosh22]

Technology seems to create more problems than it solves.

It has been an entertaining discussion. It's like me listening in spanish. I can hear it. It seems to make sense. But I can't understand it.

FaaWrenchBdr has some points about pressurized flushes that are not addressed in the followup emails. His points make sense.

Ranger621 describes a Ford Dealer method, maybe. I know that not all techs will follow factory recommendations at all times. What is the Ford recommendation on how this service is performed?

Good thing we have Duolingo experts on here to explain it.

Now that I have fun joke out for the day…

Most tech at any shop will do it the ‘fastest’ way as the job only pays so much and that’s all you get paid. Ford of course has some specific machines for flushes and fluid exchanges. I’m sure different dealers do it differently. But the consensus seem to be they rarely do filter and fluid swaps, just flushes. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense but hey, dealers are always right apparently.

 

[Russellb]

My Stealership uses the BG trans machine to extract old fluid & replace with BG brand fluid through the cooler lines. I did it @ 45k with my last truck.

 

[Mancerator]

Hello Russellb. My daughter has a 2023 F150 Lariat 3.5 powerboost, lives in Grapevine, TX but is interedted in honest, highly regarded service alternatives to Grapevine Ford. Any suggestions?

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