Hey guys,

Im taking my truck to the trans shop on 8/13 after I get my tires to get the fluids in the drivetrain changed out. My question is; what all is there and how much should it cost? I trust the shop, but I like double checking.

Transmission: Drop pan, change both filters ~ $125
Both Differentials: Conventional fluid in front, synthetic in rear ~ $150
Transfer Case ~ $65

Is there anything else that has fluid that should be changed out? I got all the fluid in the transmission system lightly "flushed" out about 20k ago with synthetic fluid.

 

Thats not a bad price at all to be honest with you! but i'd go with synthetic in the front to, change one change both thats my theory and plus if you dont use it all the time thats what i would do! and if they are doing the filters they have to change the fluid anyway...so i mean after the filters are changed i would just have them fill it up with some synthetic trans fluid....I used all Royal Purple fluid on my truck...MAX ATF for the TRANSMISSION and 75W90 Synthetic fluid in the front and back differentials and just MAX ATF trans fluid in the Differential! but thats me

 

Yeah, the guy at the trans shop said the trans uses synthetic (atf+4) and the rear diff is synthetic from the factory. Ill talk to him about putting synthetic in the front diff. He said the rear diff is a little pricey compared to the front due to the synthetic fluid.

Is it safe/wise to change the fluid in the transfer case? Im not sure when it was done last, and the truck has 107k. Id rather spend some money on a fluid change now if it will make it live longer down the road.

 

well the best way to know is...if you take the fill plug out of the transfer case first (which your supposed to do anyway) and you see fluid drip or...you have to stick your finger in there and you can feel fluid and you look at it and if you dont see any metal flakes or get or feel geew then yes change it...but rule of thum i follow is to flush a quart of fluid through it...but everyone i tell that to says i'm nuts but hey its me! but if its gunked up and black or hardly any fluid comes out you dont know whats gotten where or clogged what, just like the engine oil i wouldnt touch it and just prepare to get a new one! but as long as you've done it every now and then even if you cant remember you should be fine! just check it and see what it is!

 

Thanks wteboy. The previous owner changed fluids to the book, so Im guessing the transfer case was done at one time. The trans fluid was still red when I got it so I know he changed that. The rear diff has a slight brown color so he may not have done that. I guess I will tell the shop to only change it if it looks like it has been changed before. I need a year to save up for a transfer case if it needs one. Lol.

 

WOW...$150.00 to change differnetial fluids? Even if you use synthetic, a differential does not hold that much fluid does it? Couple or 3 quarts at the most? Not doubting the prices, it just amazes me how much things cost these days, looks like 80% of the cost is labor rate. Your looking at close to $400.00 just to get fluids... and a couple of $10 filters....unbelievable....ok, my rant for the day....

 

I hear you jkeaton! Heres where Im at. I dont mess with transmissions or anything to deal with gears. Changing my engine oil makes me nervous. So I could take a chance and change the fluid myself, but I dont know what Im doing and the transmission will make a mess. Differential fluid smells horrible. And theres a good chance with RTV that the seals could leak. This way, its all under a 12 month warranty and its done right. I have no desire to get under my truck to have 14qts of transmission fluid coming down at me.

The sad part is the transmission service at my local dealership is close to the same price (actually more expensive) and they dont even drop the pan to change the filters. They just disconnect the tranny cooler lines and run new fluid through. Talk about a rip off.

 

lol...been there, done that....tried to save money on my S-10 once and ended up taking a bath in transmission fluid, that was about 6 years ago and you can still smell it in the garage...

 

Change the rear yourself, it's pretty easy and you can paint the differential cover at the same time. Then you can have the rest done, knock a little off the price at least. I went with Amsoil all around, the only non-Amsoil fluid in the truck right now is the brake fluid, coolant, and gas!

 

can you switch to synthetic after 50,000 miles of regular oil with these motors? I had a Comanche a long time ago that I put synthetic in once and you would think I put water in it from the noise the valve train made on that stuff. Ended up draining it out and replacing it the next day.....