You probably change the oil in your car or truck regularly. Most people follow a schedule to get this done or do it themselves every few months. Have you given any thought to changing the automatic transmission fluid? This lubricant works very hard and is subjected to lots of heat and pressure every time you drive. Transmission fluid change is as important as changing motor oil.
Just as your engine cannot run without oil, the transmission will not work without fluid. The fluid is a lubricant and cooling aide to the many complicated clutches and gears of a transmission.
It should be changed on an interval as recommended in your manual, but at least every 30,000 miles.
How To Change Transmission Fluid
One way to assess the fluid is to carefully pull the dipstick while the car is running, wipe and reinsert, then pull to check the fluid level. You should wipe a bit on a white paper towel and check the color which should be a clear red. You can also smell the fluid for traces of a burnt odor.
If you see more brown than red color and smell any burnt fluid it is important to change the fluid right away.
If your transmission has been shifting hard or slipping between shifts you might be able to save the high cost of a rebuild by changing the fluid.
Transmission Fluid Change Cost
A typical cost of transmission fluid change range between $85 and $200. This includes a new filter, which costs about $20 to $30, and 5 to 15 quarts of fluid.
Jiffy Lube transmission fluid change cost
- Automatic transmission fluid exchange $135.99
- T-TECH transmission service(full synthetic fluid included) – $145.00
- Manual transmission service $49.99
- T-TECH Combo (new filter included) – $160.00
- Automatic Transmission Drain & Fill – $55.99 (oil not included)
Valvoline transmission fluid change price
The typical transmission fluid change at Valvoline costs between $119.00 and $179.00. This depends on the quarts of fluid and whether the filter needs to be replaced.
Walmart transmission fluid change cost:
Walmart car centers don’t offer a complete service of transmission fluid change, you can only buy the necessary parts and oil, and depending on the amount of oil it will cost you from $60 – $100.
Factors That Affect The Cost Of A Transmission Fluid Change
You can find transmission service at most oil change facilities and there are many shops that specialize in this. It is worth the cost to change transmission fluid and possibly save your transmission.
There may be a difference in the pricing of fluid changes, and this can be due to the method used. Some shops will suck the fluid out of the transmission with a machine and then simply refill it.
This does not do what you really need. There is old fluid in the transmission that the machine will not access that will mix with the new fluid added. The only proper way to accomplish this change is to drop the transmission pan unless you are lucky enough to have a screw-in drain plug.
Some vehicles have a drain plug and a screw-in external transmission filter which makes the job much easier. Without these items, the fluid change will be more involved and certainly messier. There is an internal filter that should be changed or cleaned when you change the fluid.
In most cases, you will not be able to do this at home. If you are able to lift the car sufficiently and have the correct tools you might accomplish this service, but for most, it will be a challenge.
In any case, the transmission takes a lot of fluid and the filter is more costly than an engine oil filter. You should expect to pay anywhere from about $85 for an average car to $200 for a larger truck or SUV for a professional service.
How Often Should You Change Transmission Fluid?
Transmission fluid should be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, according to most manufacturers, especially If you do a lot of city driving with frequent gear changes. In that case, it’s a good idea to change your automatic transmission fluid more often.
So make sure to change your transmission fluid regularly because repairing a transmission will cost thousands of dollars.
How To Cut the Costs When Changing Transmission Fluid?
You should be sure to check this site for transmission fluid change coupons and specials, check the cost to change the transmission fluid, and save some money on this often ignored, but still very important maintenance.
On the CarServiceLand, you can also find estimates of car repair or maintenance service costs: