Transmission Affluent vs Fluid Alter: Which is Better?

Is a flush or pan drop better when changing transmission fluid? Learn the pros and cons of each method.

Transmission flush

It depends on what you desire to attain. But, beginning of all, check your possessor'south manual to run across if your vehicle manufacturer recommends 1 instead of the other. If you lot desire to ensure removal of most all the old transmission fluid, become a manual flush.

Here's what we'll cover:

  • What is a Transmission Affluent?
  • Downsides of a Transmission Flush
  • What is a Transmission Flushing Car?
  • Transmission Flush Cost
  • Manual Fluid Change Cost
  • Pan-Driblet Manual Fluid Change
  • Tips for Performing a Pan-Drop

What is a Transmission Flush?

The benefits of a flush are self-evident: all the old, dirty fluid is replaced with fresh, high-quality fluid. And, every bit you can see in the image, new manual fluid is preferable to one-time fluid.

Every bit a event, your transmission should run libation and receive maximum protection against wear to clutches, gears and bearings.

It should also shift consistently and crisply since the new fluid will provide the correct frictional backdrop (old fluid loses its frictional properties over time). In fact, a manual that shifts hard, hesitates or jerks is sometimes due to worn fluid.

Transmission fluid should appear cherry and clean like the fluid in the bricklayer jar on the right.

Not merely that, simply performing a flush helps clean the transmission.

Sludge and other contaminants can accumulate in the fluid due to extreme oestrus breaking downwards the fluid. These contaminants circulate throughout the manual before lodging in the filter.

Before the filter tin can safely capture the contaminants, however, they can lodge in the narrow fluid passages inside the valve trunk, leading to poor shift quality.

Transmission Valve Trunk

Virtually sludge-gratis automatic manual valve body cheers to apply of high-quality transmission fluid.

Performing a flush also allows you lot to utilize a flush condiment to help clean the manual and more than effectively remove accumulated sludge and other contaminants.

Downsides of a Manual Affluent

For 1, it's more expensive. And some people warn against performing a flush on a transmission using old, dingy fluid.

The flushing procedure may cause some fluid to motility in the opposite direction of normal flow due to boil currents, which may increment the risk of dislodging debris and causing it to settle somewhere information technology shouldn't.

What is a Transmission Flushing Automobile?

A typical flushing auto uses hoses that connect into the transmission cooling lines. Information technology drains the old fluid and holds it within the machine while replenishing the transmission with new fluid.

Unlike a simple pan-drop, a flushing machine removes just about all the old fluid, including the fluid inside the torque converter.

Manual Affluent Cost

Since the process uses new fluid to perform the flush, it requires additional fluid across the transmission's final capacity. Plus, additional fluid is needed to fill the flush car reservoir and lines. Some fluid is also used to prime number the pump. Those extra quarts are where nigh of the cost lies.

Your final manual flush cost volition depend on a few factors:

  • The manual's total-fill capacity
  • Where you take the service performed
  • The cost of the manual fluid

Say y'all ain a small automobile that takes near viii quarts of transmission fluid and you have the service done at the dealership using the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) fluid that costs about $20 per quart. They also supersede the transmission filter and pan gasket.

In this case, a transmission flush volition probably price virtually $250, depending on where you alive.

But, say you roll in a RAM* 2500 that takes more 15 quarts of transmission fluid. Your cost to flush the transmission tin can speedily surpass $400.

However, contained mechanics commonly charge less than dealerships, throwing some other wrinkle into the math.

Your manual flush cost can range anywhere from $150-$400, depending on vehicle size and whether you visit an contained mechanic or the dealership.

Plus, every so often you meet mechanics offering a manual flush for around $100 to get you in the door, so go along your eyes open for deals. Be warned that these deals e'er include a limit on number of quarts of fluid used, and then don't expect to get the tranny on your RAM 2500 flushed for that toll.

Deport in mind that many repair shops and quick lubes are particular well-nigh the fluids they use in their flushing motorcar, then it may be hard to discover one that accepts customer-supplied fluids. To avoid cross contagion, flushing machines need to be cleaned between products.

Automatic transmission cutaway

Whether y'all flush the manual or perform a pan-driblet, service your manual periodically to ensure it remains clean and shifting properly.

Transmission Fluid Modify Price

So, how much is a transmission fluid change?

Over again, it depends on the transmission'due south chapters, where the service is performed, filter & gasket cost, and fluid cost. Since a pan-drib requires less fluid than a transmission flush, it will price less.

Here, I'll go to the well of personal experience. I dropped the pan on my old Geo Prizm,* drained about 3 quarts of fluid and replaced it with AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Automatic Manual Fluid, replaced the filter (the gasket was still expert) for a price of nigh $60.

I could have paid less had I used AMSOIL OE Synthetic Automated Manual Fluid, which is geared toward rider cars and trucks, simply a Geo Prizm deserves an overengineered fluid designed for towing and hauling, in my opinion.

Now let'due south utilise my in-laws' heavy-duty diesel pickup they utilize to pull a camper around the country.

A pan-drop requires vii quarts of fluid and a larger, more than expensive, filter. They're not gorging DIYers like me, so tack on another $100 or so to pay the mechanic, meaning their transmission fluid change cost is going to run near $275.

Again, your manual fluid change cost will vary depending on vehicle size, who performs the service and filter & gasket cost.

If y'all exercise information technology yourself on a small vehicle, it'll cost $50-$75. Pay a dealership to alter fluid on your heavy-duty truck, and plan on paying $200-$300, especially if you lot use the OEM fluid.

Pan-Drop Transmission Fluid Change

If you have reservations about a affluent, go with a pan-driblet instead.

While it reduces the hazard associated with flushing old, dirty fluid through the transmission, a pan-drop besides has downsides.

  • Removes only about a 3rd of the fluid, which reduces the performance of the new fluid. The rule of thumb is 3 pan-drops are needed to remove most of the old fluid, which can be time-consuming.
  • Can be a mess, in add-on to time-consuming.
  • Tin can be a hurting on some vehicles.

I can tell you from experience that a pan-drop can be a bigger task than y'all remember.

You lot may have to remove plastic splash guards or metallic sideslip plates to admission the transmission pan.

In case you lot oasis't been under your vehicle in a while, plan on encountering rusted, stuck bolts if you drive in wet, snowy atmospheric condition.

Don't be surprised if you crack a splash guard in one or two places equally yous try to remove/reinstall it.

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Tips for Performing a Pan-Drib

  • Have a big grab pan handy. Otherwise, one time you loosen the pan bolts, fluid will ooze from the pan/transmission interface and mess up the floor.
  • If you lot're crafty, you tin can back out the pan bolts in one corner further than the surrounding bolts, effectively tilting the pan and then the fluid drains from a single corner instead of flood the entire pan. This reduces mess quite a fleck.
  • Wear safety glasses and gloves.
  • Don't forget the new filter and pan gasket.
  • It's a skillful idea to know the torque specs on the pan bolts and employ a torque wrench to reinstall them. Otherwise you take a chance over-tightening and ruining the gasket.

Y'all Might Go Lucky, Though

Some vehicle manufacturers install a drain plug on the manual, similar to a motor oil drain plug.

This allows you lot to easily and cleanly drain some fluid from the transmission minus the hassle of removing the pan. Again, though, y'all only get a third to one-half the fluid out.

You lot tin and so drive the vehicle for a while, bleed the fluid and modify information technology once more. Do this about 3 times and you'll remove most of the sometime fluid and perform a sort of poor-man's transmission fluid flush.

Bottom line: Visit a pro and take the transmission flushed for best results and least hassle (unless your vehicle manufacturer specifically warns against it in the owner'south transmission), especially if the manual has been treated roughly and has a sketchy maintenance history.

But, if you have reservations nigh a flush dislodging debris or the manual has been maintained well, a serial of pan-drops works well, too.

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