Cost to do trans filter service?

[Dice Roll]

so far two dealers have insisted they never do this. One said it’s at least a 5 hour job and padded it by saying to expect worst case at 7 hours.??? At 175 per hour. I did ask off the cuff a few years ago just curious and had been told 6-700 back then.

Another one said they didn’t know and had to figure up a cost. Came back and said you “have to drop the cooler to get to it” so I don’t trust those guys. Said 950 bucks.

I never flush a trans, ever. I don’t buy that the filter will “clean off by doing the flush in reverse of normal flow.”

While I used to do all my own stuff, I no longer have that kind of time. I do well to work on my classic. I also don’t know what is needed to refill the fluid since these do things don’t have the old school tube up in the bay. So unlikely I’d embark on this.

 

[5280tunage]

So here's my take. Since you do have the tow package, you should have the small passive cooler on the front of the trans. and yes, they do have to disconnect and move it out of the way a little to do a tranny flush (along with lifting the tranny a little so the pan clears some things). Also, the stupid plastic tranny cover is supposed to be thrown away and replaced during this service, I know some people get away with not replacing it but it's the guidance.

My experience with this tranny, if it's isn't broke, don't touch it. I've always been the guy that did a full 4 wheel service every 3-4 years or say 75k miles. tranny, t-case, diffs, etc. But a couple years ago I had the dealership do the tranny flush, I think it was supposed to be around $600 then. and that's when the issues began. Not soon after having done the tranny flush, started having hard shift issues. Another trip, they decided they needed to rebuild the valve body in the tranny. That lasted for about 3k miles, then while going up a gnarly mountain pass here in CO, the tranny blew! Covered the car in tranny fluid, temp shot up 40 degrees in seconds and I had to limp home, luckily I actually could once I let it cool down on the descent from the pass. 4.5 weeks later, I had a new tranny.

I think it's the absurdly stupid way of measuring the fluid levels in the tranny, combined with the complexity of it. Not fun.

 

[Hellwig]

so far two dealers have insisted they never do this. One said it’s at least a 5 hour job and padded it by saying to expect worst case at 7 hours.??? At 175 per hour. I did ask off the cuff a few years ago just curious and had been told 6-700 back then.

Another one said they didn’t know and had to figure up a cost. Came back and said you “have to drop the cooler to get to it” so I don’t trust those guys. Said 950 bucks.

I never flush a trans, ever. I don’t buy that the filter will “clean off by doing the flush in reverse of normal flow.”

While I used to do all my own stuff, I no longer have that kind of time. I do well to work on my classic. I also don’t know what is needed to refill the fluid since these do things don’t have the old school tube up in the bay. So unlikely I’d embark on this.

The tranny flush service takes about $680 here in Northern Virginia. You may negotiate a little discount if you have good relations with them.

 

[5280tunage]

i'm also guessing the reason you were told the almost never do this, is if i remember correctly, the filter and oil are listed as "150k mi".

 

[Dice Roll]

No, they push it at 50-60k.

Sounds like it isn’t much more than doing a flush if 680 is the price.

 

[Dice Roll]

I’ve considered these trans have hard part failures like mad and this really wouldn’t make a difference. I do think the hot running stat they corrected has baked it and it might benefit. But a grand is kinda crazy I think.

 

[SyndicateZ]

I dropped the pan, changed the filter, flushed out, cleaned the pan and filled with new fluid in a hour

 

[Dice Roll]

I dropped the pan, changed the filter, flushed out, cleaned the pan and filled with new fluid in a hour

Did you have to take out the cooler or crossmember or anything? How did you refill it? Special tool?

 

[5280tunage]

No, they push it at 50-60k.

Sounds like it isn’t much more than doing a flush if 680 is the price.

hounding you for this service at 60K. show them your manual, should be this:

 

[5280tunage]

Did you have to take out the cooler or crossmember or anything? How did you refill it? Special tool?

there's videos out there for this, it's a mess. the right way is to lift the tranny enough that the pan clears the exhaust, remove the cooler which isn't hard, just messy, then pull the pan. The cooler plugs into the side of the tranny with essentially some compression fittings. I think the recommend replacing those too, as well as the pan. Fill it through the dipstick hole on the side, using a fluid pump with the right amount fluid. But that's the easy part.

the worst part is checking the level, after bringing the tranny to temp, reaching up without burning yourself on the cats, and checking the little tiny dipstick. I think a lot of folks skip this step once they've filled to the "right amount".

I've done plenty of tranny flushes myself, but the way this one works, i said heck no, pay for that. Hey, I got a new tranny out of it.

 

[Dice Roll]

hounding you for this service at 60K. show them your manual, should be this:
View attachment 85451

I’ve mentioned this and they kinda laugh about it. One ****** even tried to sell me a zinc oil additive, you know, the stuff they took out of the oil to save the cats. Yeah, you can keep that shit buddy.

I do think with the towing and overheated condition it ran in for 30k miles is reason enough to change early. I typically have always done 50-60k and never had trans issues. I also have suspected before mine is one of the quart low from factory ones.

 

[Dice Roll]

there's videos out there for this, it's a mess. the right way is to lift the tranny enough that the pan clears the exhaust, remove the cooler which isn't hard, just messy, then pull the pan. The cooler plugs into the side of the tranny with essentially some compression fittings. I think the recommend replacing those too, as well as the pan. Fill it through the dipstick hole on the side, using a fluid pump with the right amount fluid. But that's the easy part.

the worst part is checking the level, after bringing the tranny to temp, reaching up without burning yourself on the cats, and checking the little tiny dipstick. I think a lot of folks skip this step once they've filled to the "right amount".

I've done plenty of tranny flushes myself, but the way this one works, i said heck no, pay for that. Hey, I got a new tranny out of it.

Thanks, it doesn’t sound that bad, but I simply don’t think I can mange the time to do this. I’m talking myself out of having anybody do it at all since a grand is nuts and I can see them not doing the hot check like you say. I never have been able to get them to do a fluid check when doing all the service work.

 

[Trainmaster]

Dealer in New York quotes $2355 for a transmission flush...

 

[ryanpe]

I moved the cooler, dropped the pan, replaced the filter and refilled it (on my lift) in less than 2 hrs. Watch Makuloco ford tech video.

Ford 10R80 Ten Speed Transmission: Fluid and Filter Service Procedure

In this video we show how to change the fluid and filter on the Ford 10R80 Transmission.I Recommend these Fluid Service Intervals:First 30k Miles- Fluid Serv...

www.youtube.com

 

[CletusSnowman]

If you do it yourself I would invest in an aftermarket pan with a drain plug. I watched someone on YouTube do a video on an F150 with the same transmission and the pan wasn’t super expensive.

 

[dr2024]

Dorman makes an aftermarket pan with a drain plug.

Dorman transmission oil pan w/plug

 

[5280tunage]

Dorman makes an aftermarket pan with a drain plug.

Dorman transmission oil pan w/plug

That's pretty cool, i know there's also a company (can't remember who right now but i know it's on this forum) that makes cast aluminum replacement pans, one of which is even extra capacity.

 

[HILLY]

That's pretty cool, i know there's also a company (can't remember who right now but i know it's on this forum) that makes cast aluminum replacement pans, one of which is even extra capacity.

PPE has both

Transmission Pans

Welcome to Pacific Performance Engineering! We have everything to suit your needs.

ppepower.com

Mishimoto has deep:

Aluminum Transmission Pan, fits Ford 10R60/10R80 Transmissions

This Mishimoto Aluminum Transmission Pan is a direct-fit, high-performance upgrade for your Ford 10R60/10R80 transmission in your Bronco, Ranger, F-150, or Mustang. Cast from high-quality aluminum and powder coated Gunmetal Gray, our transmission pan is a robust and long-lasting upgrade for your...

www.mishimoto.com

I think there's possibly a couple more, but these two were off the top of my head.

 

[5280tunage]

Nice, my Mishimoto intercooler has been rock solid, something tells me that pan is pretty awesome too. Unfortunately, I'd have to ditch my skid plates for that to fit. I'm just also hoping to never have to mess with this tranny again.

 

[KOMaynard]

Dealer in New York quotes $2355 for a transmission flush...

Burdick Ford in Upstate NY quoted $400 for a flush.