However, it sure helps to have a lift when you service a transmission. On older vehicles, you may be able to change your transmission fluid at home if you have tools and are able to use them.
Cheap transmission fluid change professional#
Can I change my transmission fluid myself at home?Ĭar Talk recommends paying a professional to do this job. Some newer vehicles don’t require transmission fluid changes under normal circumstances. For a Subaru Forester, it is 137,500 miles. The service interval for a Ford F-150 is 150,000 miles. You should only change your transmission fluid as often as specified in your owner's manual. How often should I change my transmission fluid? In some cases, an unnecessary flush can even void your warranty, according to Mazda. For the most part, fluid flushes are scams and can do more damage than good. You should do exactly what is specified in your owner's manual. Should I flush my transmission fluid or just have it changed? We were quoted $633.88 for the transmission fluid change service on a 2018 Ford F-150 by a Boston-area dealer. Newer vehicles use synthetic transmission fluid, and the cost can be as high as $700. On older vehicles with automatic transmissions, a fluid change can cost around $250 to $300. It may take 2-3 seconds before the selected gear actually engages, leaving you with plenty of time to ponder the fact that you haven’t checked your transmission fluid lately. Other top-selling vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, also have no routine transmission fluid changes.įAQ How much should a transmission fluid change cost? Being low on fluid can cause a noticeably longer delay when you select Drive or Reverse, because there isn’t enough fluid pressure to immediately actuate the gear change. We were told the cost for the procedure is $450, and that only genuine Subaru transmission fluid is acceptable. This dealer went into great detail, saying, “Unless there is a specific reason to do so, for example, accidental contamination by a vehicle owner or some mishap, we will not change the transmission fluid in a modern Subaru until 137,500 miles.” The dealer went on to say that the car needs to be running and up on a lift when the service is performed and that the fluid is very expensive. The dealer told us that they no longer routinely change the transmission fluid in the current generation of CVTs (constantly variable transmissions) that the popular Subarus use.Ĭar Talk could not believe this was the case, so we asked another.
Cheap transmission fluid change manual#
We asked a Boston-area Subaru dealer if changing the transmission fluid earlier than the manual recommends was a good idea, and the answer was a complete surprise to us. If you rely on your dealership or a vehicle repair chain to decide what services to perform, you will overpay, and you may even do more harm than good. Your transmission flush cost can range anywhere from 150-400, depending on vehicle size and whether you visit an independent mechanic or the dealership. Our recommendation is to never do any service that your owner’s manual does not clearly state is necessary. This also applies to the front and rear differentials on the car.Should I Change My Transmission Fluid if the Manual Does Not Call For It?
If the fluid is not flushed out, then the transmission will be lubricated with metal shavings which will accelerate the wear on the transmission. As the synchro’s, bearings, and gears in a manual transmission wears down it contaminates the fluid with metal shavings. The main concern though, is contamination. All this produces more heat which leads to more stress on the fluid and ultimately, causes it to break down.Īlthough a manual transmission is not as susceptible to heat as an automatic transmission, heat can still be in issue in severe driving conditions. It’s purpose is not only to act as a lubricant but it is also meant to serve as a coolant and a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission. In an Automatic and CVT transmission, the fluid plays a larger role than it does in a manual transmission. Cars driven under severe driving conditions are exposed to more heat and need the fluids to be changed out more often. Just like Engine oil, transmission fluid breaks down and becomes less effective as a lubricant with the introduction of heat. Why should you change your transmission fluid?
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