I need to do a tranny flush, and I've heard it costs around $80. But does this include the AT fluid? I hope it does...and if it does, how much will it cost to upgrade it to synthetic?

 

US$80 is the going price. You may sometimes see it advertised for $70. This price includes ordinary Automatic Transmission Fluid. The cost for an upgrade is determined by the individual shop owner or manager. Be assured, they will charge top dollar. Some shops will allow you to bring your own ATF. That may be the economical course of action.

 

Man, Im glad I dont live where you guys do. I havent seen it any more expensive than $70 bucks here. Maybe one or two places, but most are around $55. I got mine done and the total with tax was like $59 bucks. And that included the AT fluid. Take Care

 

Well, I get my car serviced in San Francisco, where the mechanics charge higher prices in general. Anyways, I got my transmission flush for $80, and the cost of Redline D4 ATF (13 quarts) was around $100. The normal cost of the flush was $90, they docked $10 since I brought in my own fluid.

The transmission only holds 10.5 quarts, but the T-tech machine at Jiffy Lube (which attaches to the trnasmission cooler lines, not the magic sucker method that DBM is so fond of) needs 13 quarts to function correctly.

 

There are 2 types of flushes.

1- A normal drain and fill. This is nothing but removing the transmission plug and about 3.5-4qts will drain out. This service should be no more then $20 This only draings out about half the fluid.

2-T-Tech which is where they hook a machine up to your transmission cooler lines and sucks all the tranny fluid out while refilling it with new fluid. This will get all the tranny fluid out. This service runs about $80.

 

In previous posts I used the facetious term Magic Sucker Pump to describe all varieties of transmission flushing machine. Several companies make them, and they are not all alike. Some are "line machines" which connect to the transmission cooler lines. Others are "flange machines" which attach to the transmission filter (or screen) flange. To learn more about these machines, go to http://www.motorservice.net/ms/archi...600/0600tf.asp Be aware this article was written by Bob Freudenberger for the service professional rather than the consumer. For a picture of a flange machine, scroll down to the picture of AutoTool's Total Transmission Service machine. Flushing with a flange machine requires removing the transmission pan so it will probably cost more, but the "up side" is that the technician has access to those magnets and should clean them. It's up to you to make sure he does.

My Maxima is a 5-speed so the issue of ATF change does not apply. I maintain a Honda Accord for a family member. On that car I do a drain-and-refill ATF change with every oil change. It is not a big deal, as the car is already up on jackstands and my hands are already dirty. This costs about US$8/year in ATF and the car is always running on almost-new ATF.

 

i only paid 29 dollars for my transmission fluid change, and it was with the magic sucker

 

My local place changed ownership, and they gave me a lot of re-opening special coupons. Mine was $40 plus tax...and I remeber that was a 50% off coupon.