Fluid Changes Cost

oy, now we have to worry a bout tranny fluid changes.

 

The dealers always call it "flush" .. but, in my experience the service is only ever a dump of the fluid and refill. It's really a refresh -- and that is all that's required.

With the coolant you are getting anything out of the low point and refreshing the additive pac. Modern coolant is not like the old stuff that would lose the freeze protection in a couple of years.

Same with the flush on the brakes -- some places call it a flush .. but it's a full bleed. Many use the BG unit and they stop at the fluid capacity or use colored fluid.

Find a good independent ... it takes more time to remove the under cover vs the time to open the drain plugs on the inverter/radiator/transmission and oil.

While its not hard to jack up a car -- placing it on four jack stands to get a level vehicle ..... takes the procedure to another level (and danger) ... best to be shown and understand. I always used ramps on the set I was working .. and kept the jack in place no the others.

For the under $200 in labor for the whole thing -- not worth the cost.

 

Transmission fluid drain and refill at Toyota dealer was $75 labor only on my previous Gen3 Prius at 30K service. I supplied 4qt Genuine Toyota ATF fluid and Toyota oem washer ~$30 at Amazon. They initially quoted me "Transmission Flush" for $260, but after explaining to them that all I want is "Drain and Fill" and I will supply fluid (much cheaper buying online than at dealer), they basically did it for 1/2 hour of labor cost. Other two have not done on Prius.

 

a dealer let you supply the parts? that is a new one on me.

 

IIRC some Canadian dealership were doing transaxle fluid changes at a sale price of $80 CDN (($79.99 of course). That's with the 4 liters of the Toyota ATF WS and the washers. It's not that different from an oil change, just the fluid cost. In fact, up here liters of Mobil 1 are more expensive than the ATF WS.

$80 is a reasonable price, either side of the border, when you consider what's involved. I wouldn't mind doing $80 transaxle fluid changes all day long, even with my DIY set up.

 

That is great price. Of course, on my initial approach to my dealer asking for transmission fluid change on then 30K miles Gen3 Prius, they simply replied to me "Prius doesn't need ATF change."

 

Nutzaboutbolts video says engine coolant due at 120K miles, which to follow?

 

Yeah from my latest receipts, the fluid was $9.14 (CDN) per liter, 4 liters required (well 3.5~), and the washers were an exorbitant $3.80 apiece, 2 required.

Realistically the washers should not be over a $1 apiece, so $40 for supplies, $40 for labour: that should be the everyday price. Especially with a lift it would go very fast.

 

Other way around, imho. It harder to get the air our of the engine coolant than the inverter coolant. Inverter is a piece of cake. I won't speak to the brakes since I haven't done it.

 

A dealer out this way allowed me to supply the oil for oil changes and would only charge $30 for labor. I would go on Sundays and they discounted labor to $20.

Never hurts to ask.

 

Yes, my experience with dealers on this are good. Everyone know the same service costs less at non-dealer shops, so if they say no to customer BYOP they lose good revenue. I did the same thing with Honda dealer service dept, I supplied 8 spark plugs I purchased from Amazon at $8 each, the dealer installed them for me for labor only for $98. The initial quote I got from the same dealer if they supply the spark plug was something like $350 for spark plug change with cost of spark plug being $$$30 each.

 

Our dealer would let me do that too, but their oil and lube price is already $29.99. When I took my previous Gen3 for 30K service at the dealer and asked for ATF drain and fill with my supplied fluid and washer, I also brought Genuine Toyota oil and oil filter with me, since that was due also. They quoted me $40 for labor with my supplied oil and filter, because no discount can be applied. Guess what I used their oil and filter and ended-up costing me LESS. Sometimes ago, I also asked Walmart how much they would charge for simple oil change if I supply them oil and filter. Their price was $17 for labor only. I think their regular oil and lube price is $19.88, meaning their cheap 5 qts of oil and filter cost them only $3.

 

It Works here at the Finland also, you can bring all spareparts and fluids with the car and dealer has to accept those and install.
Of course they can claim some no warranty etc.

EDIT: well gotta edit this, of course dealer can deny taking spareparts/fluids and not to do the job, but most of the places that is totally ok.

 

That's just a thinly veiled reference to the procedure they are carrying out on your wallet.

 

Did everyone catch that: the Civic Hybrid had 2 spark plugs per cylinder, which was pretty cool. They ignitied sequentially I believe, to improve combustion. There were various tweaks like that, but sadly they were eclipsed by the overtaxed battery pack.

 

Either way my next car will be honda civic hybrid

 

Was that invention just for ICE for Hybrid? Didn't regular non-hybrid Civic (8th gen) ICE have 2 spark plugs per cylinder?

 

Mercedes has used two spark plugs on various products -- the first V6 in the mid 90's that they have used in many vehicles since has 12 spark plugs.

 

Just the Civic Hybrid had that, I think. I vaguely recall a few years later they had another Civic, non-hybrid, where they tried lots of fuel saving measures; it might have had the duel spark plugs too. That vehicle sorta died on the vine, wasn't that popular, I forget why, maybe too stripped down? Manual transmission? (Half-hearted wiki search I didn't find it. Might have been just in Canada?)

The second gen Civic Hybrid also had dual-lift cam lobes: low lift for better fuel economy in everyday driving, and hydraulically shift over to higher lift only under heavy load, say, accelerating up a ramp or hill. You can definitely feel it kick in.

Lots of good ideas, but sadly didn't all work in concert.

 

Did not drive the civic -- but the numbers did to work with the Accord. Small trunk and no hatchback ....