Just like the spark plug situation, I went to the dealer to see how much to have my Autmatic Transmission Fluid changed and was quoted about 280... I was like WTH, they said its cause of the price and amont of transfluid I need, i believe he said it was 18 quarts, is this right?

How much did it cost you to change and what did you use? I would like to use Redline but I am not sure if thier is a specific number for our transmissions.

Also I visited a local Transmission shop and he has a deal for about 13.00 bucks, he said he use something dexetron 3, is this safe for our transmission? But the price is more if thier is a filter, which I don't believe thier is correct?

Thanks,
SpeedCrazie

 

 

that seems high... but you are using redline

 

Ijust got a quote of $80 for transmission flush at Infinity dealer and they will put in my oil. I am planning on using AMSOIL SYNTHETIC ATF. I have a 97 Maxima and the capacity is 10 quarts but I got 12 just in case! Talk or email Iwannabmw he is an AMSOIL distributor and he will sell to you at dealer cost. Should be around $65-70 for 12 quarts plus shipping. The guy who wants to sell you Dexron III at $13.50 should be wearing a mask because he is perpetrating a hold up. Yes AMSOIL ATF will work fine in our transmission!

 

Are there other trustworthy places you can get your ATF flush near you? May be worth while for you to supply your own OE parts/ATF to a 'trusted' shop/mechanic if you're looking to save money. Or DIY if you're mechanically inclined

95% of dealership charge premium labor rates, and they don't ALWAYS do the job right. Which is why they're the last place you should get car work done.

I had my tranny 'drained' at the time my vb mod was installed, I used 8 quarts, not 18. You may also want to consider buying 2.5 Gallon jug (equivalent to 10 qt) rather than 12 qt pack for about $57+ shipping/taxes. That should more than suffice the required amount.

 

Jiffy lube does it for about 70 bones

 

When I switched to Redline I asked a few places how much to put it in and they all said they would not do it. They would only put in their own stuff. So I said f... off and did it myself. Only thing is I couldn't do a flush, just a drain and refill. Only 5-6 qts I think.

 

Hey thanks for your replies,

How much for the redline product? to completely fill our trannys?

Also the local shop that is willing to flush my transmission and ad thier "dextron 3" all for a total cost of 13.50.

Also is thier a filter that needs to also be changed.

 

If you're buying the parts then you'll need, aside from ATF of your choice:
Tranny filter, tranny gasket, few cans of brake cleaner.

Filter and gasket is available at your local PepBoys, Autozone. I can't find part no. right now but I'm sure someone has it, or the autoparts shop can look that up for you.

 

So then when we do change our tranny fluid THIER IS a FILTER that you need to change???

Does any one know where I can get Redline Trans fluid and how many quarts do i need 8, 10 , 12???

Haven't found a confirmed number yet.

Thank you,

SpeedCrazie

 

1. Flush. You don't need to drop the pan or change the filter. This require a special machine. Check vavoline instant oil change, Jiffy lube or dealerships. You will need about 15 qts of fluid.

2. Drain and Fill. They just drain the ATF via the drain bolt. About 4 qts of ATF. The rest of the ATF is stuck in the Torque convertor.

3. Drain, Fill and change filter. Dropping the pan to clean or replace the filter. They will clean the magnets also. This require 4 qts of ATF, new tranny pan gasket and tranny bolts.

 

I drained mine last year, pulled the plug and also dropped the pan. It took about a total of 5 qts.

The torque converter holds the rest. Unless the have a pump to pull the fluid out...then their full of crap (18 qts).

Frank

 

At that price, there's no way they are flushing the tranny with a machine. It sounds like a drain and fill with the Wal-Mart "special" ATF.

 

The maxima does not have a tranny 'filter,' it is only a screen that will catch any big pieces of debris, but if you have big pieces of debris, you are being ripped off because you need a tranny, not a tranny flush. Jiffy lube charges $89.99, don't pay more than that.

 

Pardon my use of technical automotive terminology, we'll use the correct term 'screen', which does act as a filter component.

 

There is a screen but not a filter. It is not a maintenance item, DON'T MESS WITH IT! One of bolts holding the screen on goes through the valve body and has a nut on the screen side. The only thing keeping this bolt from turning is friction. It is very possible that you could remove the nut but not be able to tighten it back. That would mean that you would either have to remove the valve body (a royal PITA) or risk having the nut fall off and rattle around in your tranny.

By the way, Dextron III is just regular dino ATF; about $1 per quart. There is no comparison to a high quality synthetic ATF.

 

That is way too much for ATF change. This is wasteful but works:

The trans pan and torque converter hold about 10 quarts (from memory). By draining/refilling, you can swap out 4 quarts at a time. If you do several cycles of 4 quarts:

first drain/fill 40% new fluid
second drain/fill 64% new fluid
3rd drain/fill 78.4% new fluid
4th drain/fill 87% new fluid

At $5 a quart for Mobil synthetic, thata about $80 to achieve an 87% synth change.
One more change gets you to a about 92%.

A typical "drop the pan change filter" from Pep boys would get you a 40% change with run of the mill fluid for $80 + tax. Since one usually doesnt have to drop the pan on a max, a flush would be a little more for a complete changeover of their choice of fluid. If you want your own fluid, you pay. To me, it is MUCH more economical and no more time consuming to do a 90+% changeover of a $5/quart synthetic by the drain/fill method. If you are using $11/quart fluid, then having a shop flush and refill with your fluid would be better. Either way, we are still talking well under $280.

 

how long do you have to wait between each drain/refill? and how are you getting the %'s, just curious.

 

Wow, what kind of ATF is $11/qt. ??

 

here goes:

START: 10 quarts of old fluid in system
Each drain and fill is of 4 quarts.

1st d/f: 4 qts new, 6 qts old (40% new)
(subsequent d/f removes some of the new fluid. for the next d/f, 40% of the fluid you take out will consist of new fluid. So, when you take out 4 quarts, you are taking out 1.6 quarts of new fluid.thus,
4-1.6= 2.4quarts of new fluid left in the system. To that, we are adding 4 new quarts...for a total of 6.4 quarts of new fluid now in the system. 64% new)
2nd d/f: 6.4 qts new, 3.6 qts old (64% new)
3rd d/f: 7.84qts new, 2.16 old (78% new)
4th d/f: 8.7 qts new, 1.3qts old (87% new)

At each d/f, it is important to replace exactly what was taken out. then, I wait a day of driving (50 miles) to make sure that the new and old are thoroughly mixed. then, do another d/f. So, it actually takes several days to do this. My local auto store takes ATF in the oil barrel, so I dont have to worry about disposal. As you can see, by the 3rd d/f you are actually draining more new fluid than old fluid. There is a point of diminishing returns around 90% that I am willing to forgo. Im not sure if even a flush guarantees to get the last 10% out, so I'm not sweating it. I did this last year at 22500 miles, and am going to d/f 4 quarts every 30k miles with mobile 1 syn ATF from now on.

 

okay, do i need a Haynes maual b/c i have no idea were the drain bolt for the transmission is and where do i add the transmission fluid. my car is about to hit 60K miles and i think its time to change out the tranny fluid

thanks

 

Or, buy 5 feet 3/8"ID (I think) clear hose($2) at HomeDepot/Lowes/Plumbingsupply....
Connect(use hose clamp) to either A)the pressure line from transmission(see ATF COOLER FAQ) or B)connect to transcooler exit point(flushes cooler).
Drain/refill transmission(~4.5 quarts).
Overfill by 4 quarts(optional) and start motor. Dirty ATF will be pumped out of clear hose into container of your choice. Do not let ATF pump run dry(it will gurgle/burp/bubble before running dry). Always monitor fluid level in container. Stop before the amount that exits is greater than amount used. And, if fluid is not clean, add ~4 more quarts and redo. You will see the fluid in the hose change color(means you are done).
Best if you have 2nd person(to yell at) in car(to shut off engine when container hits the 4 quart mark) with key while you hold the hose(don't hit neighbor's house with ATF).
This will flush your torque converter. The new fluid will displace the old fluid just like the flush machine. And it will save you money because you are not wasting new fluid(drain/refill method).

Add fluid,using funnel, to the dipstick tube. Drain plug is ???--someone please post a picture of the bottom of your transmission or page from FSM. I did not see drainplug in the ATF Cooler FAQ. But, there is a good picture of the autotrans pan(3rd from bottom). The plug is usually there.

Process of diminishing returns--for the drain/refill/run5minutes/repeat method--wastes too much fluid(if using synthetic).

 

The total capacity of the tranny, including the torque convertor, is 10 quarts. If you are going to use Redline, then use D4 ATF.

Call around, like Volvoline, Jiffy Lube, K-mart, to see if any of those store is willing to use your fluid. If yes, then great. If not, then try the way I did (because I couldn't find a store to use my own fluid).

I went to a local Jiffy and did a total flush, cost me ~$90. This way I am sure I clean out all the old fluid. Then I did the drain and refill (3 times so far) method. I didn't do it that frequent, around couple thousands miles in between. Oh... after the flush, at the 1st drain and refill, I bought a Nissan tranny gasket, and asked my mechanic to drop the pan, clean it and the magnets (there are two), and replace the gasket.

Now my tranny is so smooth.