I had a transmission shop really put the pressure on me to do a power flush with their special cleaner additive and refill with another attitive. I told them that I drain the pan every 30k, add back a synthetic trans fluid, and have a Magnefine filter on the cooler line. He told me that if I didn't power flush every 30k my transmission would suffer. I'm sticking to my plan. Any comments?
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Auto transmission service
- Thread starter Louie's gone fishing
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Yeah, don't believe anything else he tells you.quote:
Originally posted by Louie's gone fishing:
I had a transmission shop really put the pressure on me to do a power flush with their special cleaner additive and refill with another attitive. I told them that I drain the pan every 30k, add back a synthetic trans fluid, and have a Magnefine filter on the cooler line. He told me that if I didn't power flush every 30k my transmission would suffer. I'm sticking to my plan. Any comments?
Stick with your plan, the only chemical you should ever use is Auto-RX. I saw that same **** go on at the Xpresslube, sadly it scared customers because they'd think "I don't want my car to die, so please take care of it for me, here's my whole paycheck for your wonderful service." Maybe I was a little over-dramatic, but that's how it seemed when people came in for a $20 oil change and left with a $100 trans flush, $60 power steering flush, $60 fuel injection service, and $50 coolant flush.
Similar situation:
A shop tried to pressure my brother to get his power steering flushed and he kept saying "you'll burn up the steering rack if you don't flush it." So I told my brother if he was really that scared, then I'd come over and he can spend $10 at Wal-Mart and about 30 minutes of work and he'll have achieved the same as the shop.
Similar situation:
A shop tried to pressure my brother to get his power steering flushed and he kept saying "you'll burn up the steering rack if you don't flush it." So I told my brother if he was really that scared, then I'd come over and he can spend $10 at Wal-Mart and about 30 minutes of work and he'll have achieved the same as the shop.
That stuff really irritates me. I used to go to a lube place that would always cite: "Toyota recommends that you change your X fluid every Y months/miles". In EVERY instance they had halved Toyota's recommendation. I once grabbed the maintenance booklet and pointed that out and the guy had the audacity to say; "Those are maximums, Toyota recommends that you really drain your diff oil every 10K." If they hadn't already removed the drainplug I for my engine oil I would have left.
I try to do all the fluid changes myself, but when it gets 110 out here the last thing I want to do is get under my car/truck. So these shops eventually get some of my business. It always makes me think about how many people fall victim to these (I'll go ahead and say it) SCAMS.
For some reason, the auto maintenance industry seems to think that ignorance of automobiles is a green light to take advantage. I've even heard a mechanic say that "it serves the (victim) right for not getting a basic understanding of how a car works. It's not my fault that they don't know anything." What if doctors worked that way?
I try to do all the fluid changes myself, but when it gets 110 out here the last thing I want to do is get under my car/truck. So these shops eventually get some of my business. It always makes me think about how many people fall victim to these (I'll go ahead and say it) SCAMS.
For some reason, the auto maintenance industry seems to think that ignorance of automobiles is a green light to take advantage. I've even heard a mechanic say that "it serves the (victim) right for not getting a basic understanding of how a car works. It's not my fault that they don't know anything." What if doctors worked that way?
A guy on another board had his tranny "flushed" by the Iffy Lube place.They never touched their special machine. They dropped the plug, drained the fluid, and charged him $90 for the flush. (They did plug and re-fill luckily.) After a long battle, he finally got the service he paid for.
I know, I know, I would have demanded a refund.
The horror stories are amazing. Stealerships are not much better sometimes though. Bad apples all around. That's why it pays to DIY sometimes. Buy a book and a six pack (if that's your thing) and go to town.
I know, I know, I would have demanded a refund.
The horror stories are amazing. Stealerships are not much better sometimes though. Bad apples all around. That's why it pays to DIY sometimes. Buy a book and a six pack (if that's your thing) and go to town.
Well, I am right with you. I absolutely hate any express lube shop. The last time I went there, they drained my oil, couldn't get the oil filter housing off (2000 VW Jetta 12V VR6, canister oil filter), and proceeded to let me know that they could not do the oil change. Well, I had no idea that they had drained the oil! So, I proceeded to leave, and the car started acting funny, the oil lights are going off. Point of story...do your own fluid changes. I thought even though I know how to change fluids, it was more convenient to just pay a few extra dollars. I will NEVER let any express lube touch my car again.
Lou, unfortunately many doctors do work that way. How many patients take the time to do their homework? Doctors have a more powerful scare tool than auto technicians. Auto shops, hospitals -- they are all about making money. No doubt some are honest folks. Many are not.quote:
For some reason, the auto maintenance industry seems to think that ignorance of automobiles is a green light to take advantage. I've even heard a mechanic say that "it serves the (victim) right for not getting a basic understanding of how a car works. It's not my fault that they don't know anything." What if doctors worked that way?
This is exactly why I didn't even let the dealer change the oil, I have done it myself since my VR6 was new in 1997. I don't expect the high school kid to be able to figure out that funky oil filter. Heck, the local auto parts house didn't have a filter for it until a couple of years ago (Purolator) and I had to mail order them if I didn't want them from the dealer.
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