Keeping all the fluids in your car in proper working condition is vital to the longevity of your car and a transmission flush is no different. But what does it cost to have a transmission flush?
The exact price will depend on where you take your car and how much fluid needs flushing, but there is an average range you can usually rely on to get an idea.
In general, you likely will end up spending anywhere between $100 to $400. This is a wide range and averages out to be closer to the middle, about $200 or so for most drivers.
You would almost be best to check around and read on the subject if you are really interested before you commit to any one option.
Should I get a flush or change my transmission fluid?
Transmission fluid (which can also be called automatic transmission fluid or ATF) is the fluid in the closed transmission system of your vehicle that keeps everything lubricated, cooled, and running well.
If the fluid is old or contaminated, or simply low, the fluid will need to be replaced or flushed out altogether, but there is a difference between the two, and it is worthwhile to know the difference.
- A fluid change merely partially cleans out the system – it’s just opening a valve, draining out what’s inside, and filling new fluid to the system. This will often have remnants of the old fluid still inside which could include contaminants – however, the upside to just changing transmission fluid as opposed to providing a flush is that it is much quicker and will also be much less expensive. This may actually be the sort of job you could even do at home, depending on your technical know how and confidence level – it just isn’t very thorough, so it is best to do this if you just have low transmission fluid, or just looking to take a stopgap measure until you have the time and/or money for a proper flush, should you require one.
- A fluid flush actually forces all of the old fluid out under pressure, and then runs a cleaning agent through the system to replace it completely. This is as close as you can get to resetting your transmission to factory new. It is the longer and the more expensive option, but as far as the efficiency of your vehicle, the better option.
Transmission Flushes Worth It?
When compared to things like a blown head gasket repair or fuel injection system replacement, paying for a transmission fluid flush does not financially destroy you.
While $200 in today’s world is not pocket change, it’s a lot more tolerable than repairing a cracked cylinder head at $2,500 and might be considered relatively inexpensive.
That said, the $200 would be better spent on something else if you do not have to spend it getting a transmission flush. So, is a transmission flush worth it?
Your transmission does not require maintenance as frequently as some systems. You don’t change the fluid there like you would for an oil change.
However, some mechanics will say that it is good maintenance, especially if you find your transmission slipping or making a grinding sound every now and again.
Some will even suggest a fluid flush for your transmission about every 100,000 miles. They believe that will keep your transmission operating as if it is brand new, and ensure vehicle performance doesn’t suffer. But not all mechanics agree.
That said, some mechanics feel that a full transmission flush is simply a cash grab for greedy mechanics. You could go to an honest repair shop, but as long as the mechanic isn’t a trained transmission specialist, then you’ll probably spend the money for nothing.
If an untrained or improperly trained mechanic performs a full transmission flush you could break critical valves or seals, creating a much bigger problem.
Can I perform my own transmission flush?
This is a complicated question to answer but it is a question that many car owners are asking. You can change a lot of your own fluids so why not the transmission?
In the spirit of do it yourself auto maintenance, and in fact you can perform your own transmission fluid change, this does not mean that it is always a good idea. It can be the same for any do it yourself project.
If you do not feel confident in your skills, the job may not be up to par when finished, and if doing it incorrectly could make more problems for yourself.
Of course, you will have to make this determination for yourself. This is not a proper and thorough flush, but it will clean the system more than simply topping off the old fluid.
If you do feel confident enough to perform this on your own, you will need several things including:
- Transmission fluid
- Floor jack + jack stands + wheel chocks
- Screwdriver
- Ratchet
- Socket Set
- Drain pan
- Long neck funnel
There are a few steps to go through to change your fluid by yourself. Here is the simple method. If you’re not 100% sure, there are some YouTube videos that will show how to carry on or you’ll just get your mechanic to do it.
- Let your engine warm up and check your levels using the fluid dipstick if you have one. The dipstick should be a red handle. If the levels are normal and the fluid is not discoloured looking clean and red or green colour depending on what colour you use, you likely don’t need to change anything. If the levels are low, but okay to top up. If it is off coloured or is sludgy, it you need to change the fluid.
- Turn off engine. Now put the wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Jack up front end and add to jack stands.
- Now look for the transmission pan under the engine. Depending on your make and model, it will have a cover plate. You should be able to remove the plug to drain the fluid. For others, you will need to remove the entire pan and this will mean taking off about 6 to 8 bolts.
- Place your drain pan under the plug and drain the fluid. If there’s no drain plug for your pan, you will need a drain pan larger than your transmission pan as it won’t be a neat process. You will probably be able to get around half of the fluid out of the system. If you want a full clean you MUST get it professionally flushed.
- Check the drain pan for metal shavings or contaminants. The pan should have a magnet built into the bottom to collect any metal shavings that may be from normal wear and tear in your engine, large irregular pieces are not good.
- Check the filter and gaskets now that you have drained the fluid. If anything looks cracked or worn, you should replace it.
- Replace the plug or pan. Ensure you don’t over-tighten any of the bolts.
- Remove the jack stands and lower the car. Use the funnel to refill the fluid in the car as instructed, you may need several quarts as noted in your manual and you should make sure you’re using the right kind for your make and model.
- Now start the car and let it run for a few minutes checking the fluid level you may need to add some should it be low.
- Finally, you will need to properly dispose of your old fluid. Transmission fluid is not safe to just dump in your trash or try and flush it down the drain, most shops will accept it as a drop off.
Will a Transmission Flush Hurt My Car?
Generally, a transmission flush should not hurt your car, but we do not guarantee that it cannot. You’ll want to have this service done by a properly trained technician with the proper equipment.
A true transmission flush will use the vehicle’s own transmission pump to flush the system. Most mechanics will try to do the service differently, which is essentially like vacuuming the transmission fluids out versus using the vehicle’s pump to flush the transmission.
Like most fluids, the transmission fluid becomes contaminated after time with debris and just plain age.
These pieces of contaminants that may not get removed in the vacuuming method create even bigger problems as they potentially can clog lines that are smaller.
That, in worst case scenarios, may damage your system during the flushing process which means you will come out of it with much worse overall transmission function as opposed to when you begin.
In fact, in some cases, some mechanics do caution against this work being performed at all, or only doing it with or by a properly trained technician with a specialty in transmissions.
Again, considering this is a delicate and precise system should emphasize the importance of this point.
We can confidently say that when performed as intended, a transmission flush won’t hurt your vehicle if you actually needed it flushed, it would help any way to restore and even prolong the life of your vehicle.
How to Determine if a Transmission Flush is Needed?
If you’re curious about transmission flush intervals, your owner’s manual is the best place to check.
While we often use general driving rules of thumb to determine tire rotations and oil filter changes, your manual holds specific values for your specific make and model, which is a better bet than generalizing the averages for every make and model out there.
They generally say to get a transmission flush at 30,000 miles or two years, however there are some other signs to look for;
- Grinding sound or any other unusual sounds. This could be caused by either low levels of fluid or heavily contaminated fluid.
- Stalling for a moment each time you place your vehicle in gear.
- Problems shifting either too fast or too slow into another gear- indicating dirty fluid.
- Surging is when it feels like your car suddenly lurches and moves forward in a jerking manner. The cause is an inconsistent fill flow of transmission fluid due to dirty fluid.
- You keep slipping gears, again could be caused by a lack of fluid or dirty transmission fluid. A transmission flush could remedy your issue.
If you have any of these issues, a mechanic can help you better diagnose if it is the transmission fluid or something else.
What Will Happen If I Don’t Flush My Transmission Fluid?
Although changing the fluid in your transmission is suggested every 30,000 miles or so, some proponents of “fill-for-life” fluid believe that it can last well over 100,000 miles, the fact of the matter is sometimes it must be done.
Transmission fluid is susceptible to heat and contamination over an extended period of time, and may eventually become muddy and thick with sediment, dirt, metal or other particles.
This can wear on your transmission and decrease the performance of your vehicle, making it a lot less reliable.
In a worst-case scenario, your entire transmission can fail and you will need to have a costly repair or full transmission replacement. We’ve covered in previous newsletters how much repairs are on an automatic transmission, the cost can easily average anywhere from $1800 to $3400.
So if you are going to spend $300 or $400 on routine maintenance to flush your transmission, and save yourself a few thousand dollars in the long run, it certainly makes sense to do it.
Not flushing your transmission fluid would be similar to not changing your motor oil, not rotating your tires, and not checking your brakes when you hear them squeaking.
So if you don’t ever flush your transmission fluid you are going to cause damage to your transmission and have more than likely put yourself in a financial predicament. It simply makes good sense to do it. But it is required to exercise some discretion when deciding when to do it.
If you feel the flush is not needed, then there is no sense on spending your time or money on it. Likewise, don’t pay someone to do it if they are not qualified to do so and using proper equipment, and methodology that serves your vehicle well.