Just called the dealer to find out how much it would cost for the fluid change on my tranny since its at 36,000 miles. He said they will power flush the lines and change the fluid but not the filter and it will run 155.00 to do it. Is this the going rate or should I look around. I usually do most of my maintenance to keep cost down but this is something I dont want to tackle in the driveway. It seems a little steep for a fluid change.


So guys what have you paid for this???

 

2000,

About $100 at Valvoline Instant Oil Change.

John

 

Anyone have good experiences letting oil change shops do this? I am thniking of calling a transmission shop and let them throw in my FT valvebody and do a complete tranny flush. No idea what to expect price wise. I was figuring under $200.

-Brian

 

I bought a 2001 SCREW 5.4, had 79000 miles on it, the company that I bought it from serviced everything but the transmission.
After the purchase I immediately took it to a 5 minute oil change shop, and ask them to flush the tranny and replace the filter.
They did $129.00.
When I got home I read the owners manual, it said to use Mercon or Mercon 5 depending on the tranny.
I called the 5 min oil change place (Jack Garderners) and ask what type of fluid they used, they said it was mercon.
I called the 1800 number for FORD (very helpful) they input my serial # and ran a check, they told me that I had a 4r70w tranny and needed the Mercon5 fluid.
I went back to the 5 min oil change place and told them I needed Mercon 5, their reply was it has Mercon 5 additive.
I was not a happy camper, I called my local Ford dealer and ask how much for a flush $130.00, I took it there and had it done again. They assured me that it was Mercon 5.
Lesson learned : Never a 5 min oil change place again!

 

Do you really have to change the filter when you do the tranny flush? Not sure what kind of filter they would even use at a transmission shop. Thanks.

-Brian

 

there are posts from a ford motor co transmission engineer saying he has never seen any published article stating the tranny filter should be replaced. His comments were in the context of a normally functioning transmission , not when for instance the tranny pulled heavy loads, was driven very hard, in for a rebuild or the tranny was run in offroad conditions. i replaced the tranny filter in my truck at 130,000 miles and the money was wasted as the filter looked brand new (it was the original filter as i bought the truck new). my suggestion is to spend your money on frequent fluid changes and not worry about the filter except in unusual circumstances. I change my own tranny/torque converter fluid but if you use a nonford shop to change your fluid, make real sure you know what the correct fluid is before you visit (mercon or mercon V on late model trucks) and then get in their face and make sure they use the correct fluid. I dont buy that crap about well, we used mercon but put in additives to make it mercon V compatible. If it is my truck and for what trannys cost, use a ford shop or a reliable lindependent shop. Trusting the chain stores like jiffy lube may be an acceptable risk for simple things like oil, but i wouldnt let them mess with my tranny.