Transmission Fluid / Filter Change.. How Much? $$$

[F150patriot]

Soon i am going to be having my transmission fluid/filter serviced at a mechanic shop NOT a stealership.
What are some REASONABLE quotes i should be hearing to have it done?
I figured i ask you fellas first because i do not want to go out and get shafted like a stupid b*tch lol.

2 hrs labor at 150, 6qts fluid @ $12, 30 for filter, 400 bux!

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[FORDTEXAS]

2 hrs labor at 150, 6qts fluid @ $12, 30 for filter, 400 bux!

only 6 quarts of transmission fluid? you must’ve only done a pan drop then?

 

[Gros Ventre]

Make sure they get the correct filter. The Powerboost and EcoBoost filters are not the same even thought the transmission appears otherwise the same in the filter area.

 

[Calson]

I would call 3 places and from that you will know the range of costs. Most important is the ATF that is being used by the three shops as you want something that meets Ford's standards for its transmissions and will not damage the seals.

Motorcraft® MERCON® LV Automatic Transmission Fluid is the only choice and not worth compromising your transmission by using anything else. As a once in 150,000 mile task the savings with a different fluid will be trivial in terms of the total cost of operation.

 

[JCM]

The 10R80 takes Mercon ULV. The transfer case is filled with LV.

 

[amschind]

It is stupid to change the ATF more often than specified by the manufacturer. Ford recommends changing the ATF every 150,000 miles for their light trucks.

Even with my heavy duty diesel pickup with the Allison 1000 transmission the change interval was every 150,000 or 48 months with TES 295 ATF. The change interval was half as much if I used the TES 389 ATF from the truck dealer. I had to go to an Allison shop to get the good stuff.

If you really want to be paranoid then you should routinely change of the air in the tires as it might get stale. What few people seem to understand is that components, including seals and lubricants, are vastly better now than when your daddy had his truck.

In the 1970s a truck with 250,000 miles on the original engine was rare. Now it is common for engines to last for more than 300,000 miles with only a water pump replacement.

Many problems result from changing out the ATF and in particular with the shops that do an ATF flush (which should only be done for brake lines) and that damage the internal seals of the transmission.

Manufacturing tolerances have absolutely improved. When I changed the rear diff fluid at 54k miles for the second time (first was at 25k when I had the cover with drain holes installed), there was a 3-dimensional pile of very fine debris on the magnetic drain plug. The same (very good) manufacturing tolerances went into building the 10R80. I thin that there is a solid practical and theoretical reason to change transmission, diff and transfer case fluid before the factory recommendation IF you intend to keep your truck past 100k miles or use it heavily. For a grocery getter OR a vehicle that will get replaced in a few years, more aggressive maintenance is a net loss.

 

[FORDTEXAS]

For a grocery getter OR a vehicle that will get replaced in a few years, more aggressive maintenance is a net loss.

one of best things i’ve heard on a forum so far.. ?

 

[UGADawg96]

one of best things i’ve heard on a forum so far.. ?

And a reason to never buy a used vehicle with over 50k miles if you want to keep it a while.

 

[csj72]

I have a 22 F150 5.0V8 4x4 STX. I don't tow anything at all, don't even have tow package, and very rarely haul anything heavy except the wife (lol) i have barely 10k miles on it....should I be changing the fluids out early or is it possible to wait until 50k miles?

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I have a 22 F150 5.0V8 4x4 STX. I don't tow anything at all, don't even have tow package, and very rarely haul anything heavy except the wife (lol) i have barely 10k miles on it....should I be changing the fluids out early or is it possible to wait until 50k miles?

That’s your call. Ford doesn’t call for it to be changed for like 150k

However most trans techs I have chatted with have stated to change fluid at 30-50k. Earlier the better.

Oil is cheap, transmissions aren’t

Fluid drain and fill is generally $350-500

 

[Calson]

I have never changed the ATF nor do I know of anyone who does. There is at least one filter inside every automatic transmission that filters out particles. All modern transmissions are using a synthetic lubricant with a very long life.

I have not had an auto transmission fail even with more than 170,000 miles of use on my cars and trucks and SUVs. I like to check carcomplaints.com before buying a new vehicle and learn in advance of problems.

The 2019 F-150 transmissions often needed to be repaired and with an average mileage of 26,000 miles reported. Later years had problems with the transmission programming and sometimes the transmissions would downshift without warning. None of these relate to the ATF.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

For the last 18 years, every vehicle I’ve owned has gotten a pan drop and fluid refill every 30-50k. I have had ZERO transmission issues. Chevy, Toyota, Audi, Ford, Honda……zero issues

This truck will not be an exception

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

only 6 quarts of transmission fluid? you must’ve only done a pan drop then?

A pan drop and filter change will take seven or 8 quarts.

 

[Mt.F150..]

My truck has approximately 25,000 - 27,000 miles currently. I tow around 3,000 pounds about 5 days per week since i brought the truck home. I would rather pay a decent premium to have the transmission fluid/filter serviced now rather than be frugal and pay the price down the road.

Id service it too... a service is a drop in the bucket compared to having repairs done or possible replacement down the road

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