Truck has 63k on it and decided to change the tranny filter for the first time. This is on a 2006 5.4 4x4. Everything went smooth besides the shower of tranny fluid but somehow I manage to get most of it into the pan. I noticed the magnet in the tranny pan had a large mound of metal on it all extremely fine pieces is this normal? Also above the filter area had a fine coating of metal particles I didnt want to mess with to much up there cause I didnt want to mess the tranny up so I left the upper part alone but did clean off the magnet. Dealer wanted 200 for it only cost me 50 bucks to do it myself.

 

Was the dealer for just a filter replacement, or a full fluid flush? Many times they will run the vehicle on a fluid transfer machine to do it all, not just the fluid from the pan.

 

Dealer was for 6 quarts of fluid and filter. Was not for a fluid exchange. It only took 5 quarts to fill it back up.

 

Saw another post where a couple people found a alot of particles on the magnet also. Is this what most people are seeing? And to soonertruck the dealerships around here in Maryland rip you off like no other they wanted 230 for a flush.

 

Same here dude! I wonder if it is fine to just do the pan drain? I need to do this my last one was 25k ago

 

I did mine a few weeks ago. The metal on the magnet is normal.

 

Sounds like you saved yourself some dough. I didn't mean anything by the question, just wondering what the price from the dealership included. I haven't gotten to 100K yet on my truck, so I haven't messed with the tranny fluid/ don't know what local dealerships are charging here in Okla.

 

Some shavings on the magnet is normal, a lot of shavings isn't.

It's better to get at least 5-6 quarts by draining the pan than to not do anything. I did a fluid exchange on mine a few months ago replacing all 16 quarts along with the filter and it made a huge difference. It still cost me about $200 to do it myself.

 

How'd you do the flush yourself?

 

Its cool I actualy got into it with the service writer and had him print out the prices and what excactly was going to be done. They wanted 300 for flush and filter change 230 for just flush and 200 for just filter and 6 quarts. So pretty much if you get the flush and filter change their charging you just for parts to change the filter. Which doesn't make any sense cause its two completly different proccesses. Anyways I just ended up doing it myself.

 

There was a good quarter inch of shavings.

 

One of my buddies works at a local garage and they have a BG PF5 fluid exchanger/flusher and I asked if I could use it one weekend. He showed me how to use it and let me borrow the keys to get in for when I was ready. It's really easy to use. I've seen them on Ebay for $600-$800.

 

Gotcha

 

Actual shavings or just a gray metallic "paste"? If it's long shards of shavings that's not good but if it's like a paste I'd say that's nothing to worry about if it's never been done before.

 

It was a paste like graphite. Didnt notice any large pieces I would of went out and bought an extended warrenty if I saw large pieces ha.