I just spent $345 to have my '94 auto transmission fluid completely drained, flushed, and Dextron 6 synthetic filled., along with a new filter. Did I pay too much?

 

Did you get a new filter? Before I knew anything I had a dealership flush the ATF by disconnecting a cooler line and letting it pump out. It really never gets it all out. After I found out they did not drop the pan and replace the filter I decided to do it myself. I got to believe transmission filter media is better than back in 1996. Dealerships don't like to drop the pan but I can't believe anyone really wants a 30 year old filter with new fluid. Dan GIANT EDIT: I see you got a new filter. I think you did fine!

 

My mechanic, at a shop that specializes in transmissions told me it was hard getting to the cooler line, and he didn't want to do another like mine. The job took several hours and much time was spent pumping and replacing fluid. He said it was easy to see when all the old fluid was replaced with the new expensive synthetic. He also said it's likely the fluid was original, and it appeared the filter had never been changed either. I just bought this '94, and have now flushed and changed every fluid. Plugs and wires and serpentine belt were all changed this past year, and hoses all look good. I've removed all four speaker/amplifier units and sent them off to be rebuilt. Very soon, I'll feel confident driving my car cross country. The steering is too stiff to suit me, and the brakes are sub-par, but it goes down the road so nice, I really enjoy the drive.

 

Just getting her out on the road and driving her helps work out a lot of the bugs. I took my 1993 on a Cruise 2 Sundays ago. 160 miles, the first five miles were rough. Felt like a go-cart. After that it's was nothing but a blast!

 

But, I'm already dreading north Iowa winter. Not too many nice drives left!

 

Doug, I am in the Quad Cities. Here is my advice. Get a heated garage just for the Corvette so you can fool around in Nov, Dec and Jan with the music turned up. Then go to Southern Florida for Feb, Mar and Apr. Come home in May and get it going for the summer. It sure works for me. Dan

 

I don't think that a shop that takes "several hours" to do a transmission flush should be called "a shop that specializes in transmissions". Nobody these days seems to be able to think outside the box. Back in the day, when things were found to be difficult, solutions were found. In the case of the 700R4/4L60 - shove a piece of hose into the pump where the filter attaches and put the other end in a fresh gallon of fluid. This insures the TC, the lines, the cooler and the lube circuit are clear of old fluid. No need to loosen any lines. I believe I have used 1/2" in the past but not positive. It's been a bit.

 

I think so, but I avoid paying others to play “mechanic” like the plague.
dexron 6 is under $30/gallon. Filter and gasket is also under $30.

 

You lost me. I don't know much about changing ATF, but I'm glad you do. Bound to save some money.

 

I don't possess a lot of skill, and clean-up is trouble too. It's probably worth more to me than many others.

 

@Dougk56 offering a cost comparison, last month our local dealership replaced 13 quarts of Dex-6 and the filter. 2.5 hours labor, the total bill was $175.55. I feel very fortunate to have a local dealership that has mechanics knowledgeable, experienced, and willing to work on my 31 year old Corvette.

 

This dealership must have made a mistake. This price is too low for what they did. The materials were maybe $120.00. That leaves $55.00. Is the labor rate really only $22.00 an hour? Dan

 

$100-$120 in materials for me or you. But dealership gets those materials for 50% or less.
They probably spent $50-60 in materials.
The crazy part is 2.5 hours labor. It’s like what, 15 bolts? If you were really rushing probably could be done in under 30 mins

 

I understand the dealership buys the materials for less. They "usually" mark them up to MORE than we pay. Thats how they make money and stay in business. They don't sell them for their cost. Even then I am not sure even a dealership can buy 13 quarts of dextron and a factory filter for $50.00. He got a very good deal. Dan

 

i have a son living in Dubuque, and another in Anamosa, so I get toward you a few times a year, and appreciate how much prettier your parts are than mine. North central Iowa is an expanse of agriculture, pretty much everywhere. At one time, before tiling and massive drainage, it must have been so beautiful here....mile after mile of open prairie and wetlands. We've sacrificed so very much for farming, way more than by the quad cities. In my mind, you're lucky. I livre on an acre+, and plan to build a a heated and cooled additional garage for my new toy, and my older one as well, a 1998 Miata which is a lot of fun to drive.

 

Agreed...I can get little done for that cost. That's closer to what I'd expect for just a filter change...no flush and complete replacement.

 

Doug, Wick buildings did a wonderful job building my Corvette garage. Dan

 

Back in 1994 when I worked at Mc.Donalds, the double-quarter pounder w/ cheese extra value meal, super-sized with a drink, was $4.29 with Virginia and Fairfax County tax. I don't know what it is there now, but here in Florida, to get the same kind of thing is like practically $13 dollars... which is totally insane.

So, I'd say, $325 for a transmission fluid / flush and filter + gasket, is pretty damned good. Most places refuse to change the automatic transmission fluid in an older car. I have a 2009 Ford Explorer Sport. It's a really nice Explorer... not a piece of crap. It looks amazing, and I keep it pristine. It only had like 70k miles on it or something, and the dealership refused to change it out. To be fair, I almost always do this stuff myself, but the damn car literally has no dip-stick for the transmission, so I have no idea how to fill it, and don't have the time to care. The only thing they were willing to do was drop the pan, change the filter, and top it off. They have a policy that prevents them from flushing it because they believe it'll destroy the transmission... that old adage that once you hit a certain number of miles, you're doing more harm than good by changing out the transmission fluid and might as well just drive it on borrowed time. My thought, honestly... is that they probably just changed the fluid in the pan and the filter. Which is still OK... but I kind of doubt they flushed it. As I said, most places won't do this on a car that's older than a certain number of years.

But I think you did OK. The only way to really get all the fluid changed out is through a flush (where they hook it up to a machine through the trans-cooler lines). It's the only way to get the fluid out of the torque converter, since dropping the pan only replaces what's in the pan itself.


And here's a gratuitous picture of my 2009 Explorer since I mention it:



I love this generation of Explorers... it was the last "body on frame." The wife always gets a newer car, but I keep driving the old stuff. Once my daughter is in college, I'm dropping a 4.6 DOHC and 4WD setup from a same-year Lincoln Aviator. The Explorer could only be ordered with the 4.6 SOHC for police duty and some special versions, but it really wakes up the car. This has a 4.0 SOHC in it, which is fantastic, but it's not a V8.

 

You're lucky Dan. I especially like the interior,
flooring that doesn't raise dust, and electrical and heating is huge. Hope you can enjoy often.

Doug K.

 

This might sound really stupid Doug. Some of my favorite days of all year are in Dec and Jan when it is cold and snowing and I can spend all day in my garage with just a t-shirt on and do fiddley things. (clean, polish, wax, maintenance or just sit in my chair watching it snow out the window). Dan