The transmission flush scam – many repair shops like Jiffy Lube are recommending this far too often when in fact it is really never needed!

5 Responses to The transmission flush scam – many repair shops like Jiffy Lube are recommending this far too often when in fact it is really never needed!

1. 

   Joe Schmoe on March 2, 2011 at 5:32 pm

   Actually your full of crap. Ive worked at a dealer for many years and in EVERY owners manual of EVERY Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep vehicle it specifically states, “flush trans fluid and replace filter” every 60,000 miles(on most models). I have countless customers that are religious about maintenance/flushes and over the years watched as their vehicles exceeded 200,000-250,000 miles! No, transmission shouldnt be flushed every 15,000, but every 30,000-60,000 certainly isn’t harmful to your transmission.
2. 

   maria on March 17, 2011 at 10:50 am

   I went for an oil change at Grease Monkey in Colorado in February. The mechanic told me that I need to get transmission/ transaxle service and transmission flush.I just ignored him because I thought this guy was probably lying to me. Well yesterday when I started my car ,it started vibrating and I heard a noise .It sounded like the car was about to die. So I parked the car and the noise and the vibration was gone. Basically it only happens when the car is on drive . What do you think is wrong? I drive a 2005 pontiac sunfire. 4 cyl.
3. 

   Jerry on April 11, 2011 at 11:32 am

   While it is wrong to suggest a trans flush @ EVERY oil change it is absolutely correct to suggest a trans flush at regularly scheduled intervals, in fact it is vital to the life of your car’s trans.
4. 

   mike on August 18, 2011 at 10:26 am

   This guy who wrote this article is a complete idoit and is most likely a rookie who doesn’t know crap about cars. Almost every owners manual will tell you to service your trans from 30,000 miles on some, to 100,000 miles on the dex6 fluids. I think before you write a long and lengthy article you should now what you are talking about first.
5. 

   Dave on November 26, 2011 at 7:57 pm

   Joe Schmoe, Jerry, and Mike above – you are ALL WRONG. CAN YOU READ?? The author is talking about a TRANSMISSION FLUSH, NOT normal fluid/filter change, also known as “transmission service”.

   Transmission flush is a relatively new service which, as the author described, uses a machine hooked up to the tranny to flush out all the fluid using high pressure. This is NOT what vehicle manufacturers recommend. They recommend traditional transmission service – dropping the transmission pan, draining the fluid, remove the filter (aka screen), cleaning the debris off the magnet, then installing a new filter and fluid. This changes about 60-70% of the fluid in the trans. Some is always left behind. This is how it’s done, it’s safe, and very effective. I’ve gotten over 225K out of 4 GM vehicles by doing this every 30-50K.

   So before you clowns posting above start calling the author all kinds of names, maybe you should take a reading comprehension class. The author is advocating traditional transmission service, not the “flush” offered by the fly-by-nighter’s like Jiffy Lube, et al.

   Thank you CAJiffyLubeTech for a GREAT ARTICLE!