What is a reasonable price for a transmission drain and fill

[overst33r]

2000 corolla, I will be changing my oil this weekend (thanks for the help), now Im also looking to do a tranny drain and refill. Whats a good price, i dont dont want to get ripped off...last time i was at a service center they said it was $70, manual cars should be cheaper than automatics rite?

 

[DainBramaged]

$5 for the tranny fluid.

DIY ftw.

BTW: Manual's are not going to be any cheaper.

 

[compnovice]

$20-30 I believe....

 

[BoomerD]

manual cars should be cheaper than automatics rite?

Nope, gear oil is much more expensive than ATF. Something like $4./pt, compared to $2/ qt. You can probably do the job yourself much cheaper, IF you have the tools and so on. (don't know exact prices, just giving a rough estimate)

 

[iamwiz82]

Depends on if you car has a drain plug, and an easy access fill plug.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: compnovice
$20-30 I believe....

are there any well known places that have a price like that?

 

[Sukhoi]

My dad has known a Toyota mechanic for years, and the guy does great work for us for real cheap on the side. I have a 1995 Corolla and was planning on changing my ATF fluid and filter this summer. The mechanic said he would highly recommend bringing the car into his dealer so he can use this flushing machine they have to completely clean out the transmission. It's gonna be like $100 but he said it's well worth it because it cleans the transmission much better than just doing a drain, filter change, and refill. I'm not sure if it'd be different with a manual trans.

 

[Ramma2]

Drop the pan if possible. I've heard of lots of people getting a tranny flush, then the trans failing because the flush mixed up all the metal bits and sediment that sits on the bottom of the pan and sticks it where it shouldn't go.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
Drop the pan if possible. I've heard of lots of people getting a tranny flush, then the trans failing because the flush mixed up all the metal bits and sediment that sits on the bottom of the pan and sticks it where it shouldn't go.

Yes, drop the pan.

 

[BoomerD]

You folks are getting automatic and manual confused. I've never seen a manual transmission that had any pan you could drop. Automatic, yes, and dropping the pan and changing the filter is good maintenance, but it doesn't apply with a manual....no pan, no filters...

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

manual cars should be cheaper than automatics rite?

Nope, gear oil is much more expensive than ATF. Something like $4./pt, compared to $2/ qt. You can probably do the job yourself much cheaper, IF you have the tools and so on. (don't know exact prices, just giving a rough estimate)

what fluid should i use? 2000 corolla

 

[Sukhoi]

It says on the dipstick.

BTW as stupid as it sounds don't always trust what the dealer tells you. I called a dealer at school here to check the fluid type and amount I needed, and after confirming with someone else I found that the dealer here was completely wrong on both the fluid type and amount.

 

[RCN]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: BoomerD

manual cars should be cheaper than automatics rite?

Nope, gear oil is much more expensive than ATF. Something like $4./pt, compared to $2/ qt. You can probably do the job yourself much cheaper, IF you have the tools and so on. (don't know exact prices, just giving a rough estimate)

what fluid should i use? 2000 corolla

Redline MTF
2 quarts


or 75-90w gear oil

 

[BoomerD]

Your owners manual should tell you what to use. RedLine is actually one of the lesser quality synthetic oils in testing. Mobil1 or Amsoil are MUCH better, but depending on the car, and it's mileage, may not be worth the added expense. A 2000 corolla should probably use something like 75w90, (again, check the manual or dealer) and dino oil is probably sufficient unless the car is driven in extreme conditions. Personally, I'd stick with whatever the shop uses rather than go to the added expense of synthetic...

Sukhoi, there is NO dipstick on a manual transmission...only automatics...

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Your owners manual should tell you what to use. RedLine is actually one of the lesser quality synthetic oils in testing. Mobil1 or Amsoil are MUCH better, but depending on the car, and it's mileage, may not be worth the added expense. A 2000 corolla should probably use something like 75w90, (again, check the manual or dealer) and dino oil is probably sufficient unless the car is driven in extreme conditions. Personally, I'd stick with whatever the shop uses rather than go to the added expense of synthetic...

Sukhoi, there is NO dipstick on a manual transmission...only automatics...

the manual recommends 75w90 1.9 quarts...so 2 bottles should be enough. GL4 or 5, what does that mean?

I guess I will just stop by advance auto parts tomoro and pick up two bottles of 75w90.

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Your owners manual should tell you what to use. RedLine is actually one of the lesser quality synthetic oils in testing. Mobil1 or Amsoil are MUCH better, but depending on the car, and it's mileage, may not be worth the added expense. A 2000 corolla should probably use something like 75w90, (again, check the manual or dealer) and dino oil is probably sufficient unless the car is driven in extreme conditions. Personally, I'd stick with whatever the shop uses rather than go to the added expense of synthetic...

Sukhoi, there is NO dipstick on a manual transmission...only automatics...

Some manual transmissions have dipsticks.

Mark

 

[Nutdotnet]

Probably around $50-60....but it would be cheaper and better to DIY...can't be that hard on a Carolla.

 

[RCN]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
RedLine is actually one of the lesser quality synthetic oils in testing. Mobil1 or Amsoil are MUCH better,

and what exactly do you base this statement on?

 

[zephyrprime]

$70 is a decent price. You can do it yourself but you will not be changing out all the oil on it without a flushing machine.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
$70 is a decent price. You can do it yourself but you will not be changing out all the oil on it without a flushing machine.

do they use those on manual cars? i though it was just drain and fill...or is there build up on the walls?

I just double checked the price at teh shop and it turns out its $80, i reckon i could save an easy $50

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
$70 is a decent price. You can do it yourself but you will not be changing out all the oil on it without a flushing machine.

do they use those on manual cars? i though it was just drain and fill...or is there build up on the walls?

I just double checked the price at teh shop and it turns out its $80, i reckon i could save an easy $50

It cost me about 12 bucks for synthetic (Castrol maybe?) for my MR2 - you should save a bit more than $50.

 

[Kelemvor]

For a tranny drain make sure you tell them you don't want a flush, you just want it drained and refilled. Sometiems they just assume everyone wants it flushed out and that costs more.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
For a tranny drain make sure you tell them you don't want a flush, you just want it drained and refilled. Sometiems they just assume everyone wants it flushed out and that costs more.

thats teh thing...i thought only auto trannys need flushing...and manuals just need drain/fill

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: RCN

Originally posted by: BoomerD
RedLine is actually one of the lesser quality synthetic oils in testing. Mobil1 or Amsoil are MUCH better,

and what exactly do you base this statement on?

Only finding testing on the motor oils, (and so far, mostly on Amsoil sites) but:
http://www.1st-in-synthetics.com/redline.htm
http://www.1st-in-synthetics.com/dyno_test.htm
http://www.micapeak.com/info/oiled.html
http://www.worldsbestoil.ca/redline-vs-amsoil.php
http://www.searchforparts.com/important_articles/amsoil_vs_redline.html
http://www.performancemotoroil.com/Redline_test.html

IMO, Red-line is an ok oil, and is probably better than the dino equivalent, but I'd still go with Ansoil or Mobil 1 if I if I was going to change to synthetic.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
For a tranny drain make sure you tell them you don't want a flush, you just want it drained and refilled. Sometiems they just assume everyone wants it flushed out and that costs more.

thats teh thing...i thought only auto trannys need flushing...and manuals just need drain/fill

Manual transmission...drain & refill. Most likely, 2 plugs to remove. BTW, ALWAYS remove the fill plug before removing the drain plug, just in case...it sux to have the compartment drained, and no way to refill it...
You want the oil warm to hot, so it carries out any contaminants when it drains. Replace the drain plug, and carefully fil till the oil starts to come out the fill hole. IME, wait a while, because often, it will take a few minutes to work it's way into all the nooks and crannies in the gearbox, and your lwvel will drop slightly...top it off if needed, replace the fill plug, and tighten both plugs to the recommended torque value if appropriate.