Transmission Fluid/Filter Replacement Cost

[CLopey]

Hey all,

Just went to a mom and pop shop today and was quoted $650 for a full transmission fluid/filter replacement.

Did my research here (and even asked Gemini AI) and found that that seems kinda high. I called the dealership and (surprisingly) was quoted $359 for the same job. I asked “is that with filter replacement as well” and they said yes… but I dunno. Maybe that doesn’t include labor?

Can you help me figure out what a reasonable price should be?

I’m in the Los Angeles area.

Thank you!

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[ctechbob]

If you take just the parts cost for dropping the pan you're at: (Approximate dealer prices)

$8 per quart of fluid. Takes around 7 quarts to drop the pan and refill.

$5 Filter Gasket

$60-70 Filter

The pan gasket is reusable, although they might be pricing that in there as well. It isn't a cheap gasket at $30-40

So if you ballpark that, you're around $170-200 in just parts paying dealer prices.

$359 sounds like a reasonable price, but I'd want to know exactly what they're replacing. At a bare minimum it needs to be the filter and filter gasket, although it is acceptable to reuse that filter gasket. It is so cheap though that I would just replace it and be done with it.

How many miles on the truck?

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

Hey all,

Just went to a mom and pop shop today and was quoted $650 for a full transmission fluid/filter replacement.

Did my research here (and even asked Gemini AI) and found that that seems kinda high. I called the dealership and (surprisingly) was quoted $359 for the same job. I asked “is that with filter replacement as well” and they said yes… but I dunno. Maybe that doesn’t include labor?

Can you help me figure out what a reasonable price should be?

I’m in the Los Angeles area.

Thank you!

You could call Kevin at Mission Viejo Transmission (MVT) and get a honest price. They are too far from you, but that will give you an idea on a fair price. I have used him for over 20 years before I moved out of So Cal in 2023. Mostly for work I could no do, and one transmission on an Chevy Astro Van. Even bought a couple used cars for my sons from him.

 

[CLopey]

If you take just the parts cost for dropping the pan you're at: (Approximate dealer prices)

$8 per quart of fluid. Takes around 7 quarts to drop the pan and refill.

$5 Filter Gasket

$60-70 Filter

The pan gasket is reusable, although they might be pricing that in there as well. It isn't a cheap gasket at $30-40

So if you ballpark that, you're around $170-200 in just parts paying dealer prices.

$359 sounds like a reasonable price, but I'd want to know exactly what they're replacing. At a bare minimum it needs to be the filter and filter gasket, although it is acceptable to reuse that filter gasket. It is so cheap though that I would just replace it and be done with it.

How many miles on the truck?

Thanks for the response.
truck has 56k. So I take it $650 is way too high?

 

[CLopey]

You could call Kevin at Mission Viejo Transmission (MVT) and get a honest price. They are too far from you, but that will give you an idea on a fair price. I have used him for over 20 years before I moved out of So Cal in 2023. Mostly for work I could no do, and one transmission on an Chevy Astro Van. Even bought a couple used cars for my sons from him.

Thanks, Jeff.

 

[pbethel]

Full fluid replacement requires a flush because torque converter drain plugs were deleted decades ago.
So a pan drop, filter replacement, and replace 1/2 the fluid or a flush, pan drop, and filter and all fluid?

 

[kentuckyboy]

Hey all,

Just went to a mom and pop shop today and was quoted $650 for a full transmission fluid/filter replacement.

Did my research here (and even asked Gemini AI) and found that that seems kinda high. I called the dealership and (surprisingly) was quoted $359 for the same job. I asked “is that with filter replacement as well” and they said yes… but I dunno. Maybe that doesn’t include labor?

Can you help me figure out what a reasonable price should be?

I’m in the Los Angeles area.

Thank you!

 

[kentuckyboy]

If you don't mind spending a couple hours under your truck, here is what I did at 50,000 miles for under 500 dollars.
Pumped nearly all oil from the pan. through the dip stick opening. Measured what came out.
Installed new Filter and gasket.
Replaced the drain pan with a metal pan from ppe with a new gasket. This pan has a drain plug.
Filled with 7 quarts of ulv fluid. Your quantity may be different. Adjusted fluid level at specified transmission temperature.
Since not all fluid is removed by draining, I drained the fluid using my new pans drain plug after 1000 miles and refilled.
I recently purchased an MBS dip stick to replace the stupid one ford uses. This will allow me to easily drain ,fill through the dipstick shaft and check level. I plan to change fluid again at 75,000 miles. Will replace Filter at 100,000

 

[duckmansheba]

Hey all,

Just went to a mom and pop shop today and was quoted $650 for a full transmission fluid/filter replacement.

Did my research here (and even asked Gemini AI) and found that that seems kinda high. I called the dealership and (surprisingly) was quoted $359 for the same job. I asked “is that with filter replacement as well” and they said yes… but I dunno. Maybe that doesn’t include labor?

Can you help me figure out what a reasonable price should be?

I’m in the Los Angeles area.

Thank you!

I was quoted $487 at the local Ford Dealership

 

[C141B FE]

I installed a PPE pan and changed the filter a few months ago. My dealer quoted $499 for a complete flush but did not include a pan drop or filter change. Had the dealer do it a couple weeks ago. 43k miles.

 

[CLopey]

Full fluid replacement requires a flush because torque converter drain plugs were deleted decades ago.
So a pan drop, filter replacement, and replace 1/2 the fluid or a flush, pan drop, and filter and all fluid?

The latter: flush, pan drop, filter, fluid.

 

[CLopey]

If you don't mind spending a couple hours under your truck, here is what I did at 50,000 miles for under 500 dollars.
Pumped nearly all oil from the pan. through the dip stick opening. Measured what came out.
Installed new Filter and gasket.
Replaced the drain pan with a metal pan from ppe with a new gasket. This pan has a drain plug.
Filled with 7 quarts of ulv fluid. Your quantity may be different. Adjusted fluid level at specified transmission temperature.
Since not all fluid is removed by draining, I drained the fluid using my new pans drain plug after 1000 miles and refilled.
I recently purchased an MBS dip stick to replace the stupid one ford uses. This will allow me to easily drain ,fill through the dipstick shaft and check level. I plan to change fluid again at 75,000 miles. Will replace Filter at 100,000

As much as I want to do any work I can on my own, this is one of those that I’m willing to pay for. I’m not the most handy/knowledgable car guy. Although I did change my own spark plugs recently!

 

[CLopey]

I was quoted $487 at the local Ford Dealership

For everything? Flush, fill, filter?

 

[REDWM]

I just had the trans fluid and filter replaced at local Ford dealer yesterday. With using Ford points the total was $363. The service supervisor said that the fluid was not too bad (38500 miles) and the filter was not too dirty. He said you didn't have to do it until 100,000 miles but doing maintenance is always a good thing so I feel confident that it will last longer then 100,000 miles.

 

[kentuckyboy]

Hats off to everyone changing transmission fluid miles before the 100000 to 150000 miles ford recommend unless you plan to sell before that. I think 300 to 400 dollars every 40000 to 50000 miles sounds better than a 6000 to 7000 dollar transmission. I keep vehicles normally for 200000 plus miles and have never had a transmission issue.

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