was surprised with my 30K service the other day

[Stircrazy]

so reading on here I was led to believe the transmission fluid wasn't changed at the services when done at ford, but when I took mine in the for 29 or 30K (what ever 48000km works out to) they did a trans fluid change and it gets done at that interval every time. maybe I just read the posts wrong?

I also asked what recalls my bronco was part of, it has only had 1 and that was for the body control module which was done when I bought it. none of the other recalls apply to my bronco.

Steve

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[Dude]

What was the charge for the transmission oil service (in USD or Canadian just let us know which)

or do you have the Ford Maintenance Package which includes normal fluid changes?

 

[Stircrazy]

What was the charge for the transmission oil service (in USD or Canadian just let us know which)

or do you have the Ford Maintenance Package which includes normal fluid changes?

I didn't pay anything. I have a 130000 mile prepaid maintenance package that includes all maintenance items, brakes, shocks, wiper blades, filter changes, fluid changes, and more. between that and my extended warranty I shouldn't have to pay for a thing till I retire. wife mad me buy it, but when I hear it covers brakes and shocks and thought about it I should come out ahead in the long run.

 

[Dude]

I didn't pay anything. I have a 130000 mile prepaid maintenance package that includes all maintenance items, brakes, shocks, wiper blades, filter changes, fluid changes, and more. between that and my extended warranty I shouldn't have to pay for a thing till I retire. wife mad me buy it, but when I hear it covers brakes and shocks and thought about it I should come out ahead in the long run.

I think that’s why so few owners are notified at 30k intervals to change the transmission fluid - the dealership charges a fairly high amount for the service and the Owners Manual calls for a 30k change in specific usage scenarios. My guess is a lot of owners didn’t purchase a pre-paid maintenance package due to their cost.

On the other hand, owners such as yourself with a liberal pre-paid maintenance package, get the services as stated in the package.
Most likely if you read the fine print on the pre-paid package you purchased, there would be no reason to think: “led to believe the transmission fluid wasn't changed at the services when done at ford” because for some owners (without such a liberal pre-paid maintenance package) they might only need the service intervals defined in their owners manual.

When I did the math on pre-paid maintenance packages, added up what they cover at the intervals as stated and compared with my cost to pay a dealership to perform each service, the pre-paid packages from Ford were not cost-effective for me. In the long run it was better for me to pay out of pocket for each service I needed.

You probably have a great maintenance package and perhaps got a great deal cost wise. 30k transmission fluid service is a nice benefit.

 

[Mark S.]

so reading on here I was led to believe the transmission fluid wasn't changed at the services when done at ford,

Your owner's manual lists a maintenance schedule which includes guidance on the transmission fluid. The schedule requires inspection of the fluid at 30K intervals. Presumably, your dealership inspected the transmission fluid and determined it needed replacing. Alternatively, your dealership simply changes the fluid at 30K intervals without bothering with the inspection.

 

[thomasm23]

The most profitable areas of a dealership are the service department and the body shop. Most dealers do not make a lot of profit on selling vehicles.

Dealerships will sometimes have their own recommended service items. They sometimes will over service the vehicle.

Doing a drain and fill on the transmission at 30,000 miles is not necessarily a bad thing. I question how the dealer is performing an inspection of the transmission fluid in a vehicle without a dipstick.

 

[Stircrazy]

I think that’s why so few owners are notified at 30k intervals to change the transmission fluid - the dealership charges a fairly high amount for the service and the Owners Manual calls for a 30k change in specific usage scenarios. My guess is a lot of owners didn’t purchase a pre-paid maintenance package due to their cost.

On the other hand, owners such as yourself with a liberal pre-paid maintenance package, get the services as stated in the package.
Most likely if you read the fine print on the pre-paid package you purchased, there would be no reason to think: “led to believe the transmission fluid wasn't changed at the services when done at ford” because for some owners (without such a liberal pre-paid maintenance package) they might only need the service intervals defined in their owners manual.

When I did the math on pre-paid maintenance packages, added up what they cover at the intervals as stated and compared with my cost to pay a dealership to perform each service, the pre-paid packages from Ford were not cost-effective for me. In the long run it was better for me to pay out of pocket for each service I needed.

You probably have a great maintenance package and perhaps got a great deal cost wise. 30k transmission fluid service is a nice benefit.

ya I was against it until I noticed shocks, brakes and such were included, then I added up how many sets of brakes I went through it the fusion and it would have needed shocks. so I spent the night adding up oil changes at 8000km and this and that and the price was a deal over me taking it to ford for all the service. now if i did it all myself like I do on my other vehicles maybe not, as good of a deal and probably more expensive but the wife didn't want me to add another vehicle to the list to take care of.

 

[Stircrazy]

Presumably, your dealership inspected the transmission fluid and determined it needed replacing. Alternatively, your dealership simply changes the fluid at 30K intervals without bothering with the inspection.

no they don't waist time with the inspection. they just do the fluid change with the Maintenace package, well my dealership anyways. same with my wipers they were good in September but they said we are allowed two sets of wipers a year with the plan so we will just do them before snow hits and again in the spring.

 

[Stircrazy]

The most profitable areas of a dealership are the service department and the body shop. Most dealers do not make a lot of profit on selling vehicles.

Dealerships will sometimes have their own recommended service items. They sometimes will over service the vehicle.

Doing a drain and fill on the transmission at 30,000 miles is not necessarily a bad thing. I question how the dealer is performing an inspection of the transmission fluid in a vehicle without a dipstick.

they probably don't as to inspect it is almost as involved as just doing a dump and fill. the inner fender has to come off to get access to the inspection/level port (well it doesnt have to but the service guy said it is much easier) so all they are not doing is taking the air cleaner off to get at the fill port, so why do 2/3 of the service work and just put it back together.. the fluid is the cheep part haha . but they could inspect it by putting a tube in the level port and taking a small sample.

 

[oharajoynr]

You MUST change the fluid every 30k miles minimum. There is no changeable fluid filter on this transmission, its internal. The process to change the fluid is fairly easy, remove the under-engine cover, and remove engine air filter box. Locate the drain plug under the transmission, remove the drain plug and drain fluid in container. Replace plug. Measure amount of fluid drained. Pull the vent cap on top of the transmission and refill with new fluid of same amount as was drained. Button up engine and transmission items removed.

That’s it; basically a drain and refill.

 

[Mark S.]

You MUST change the fluid every 30k miles minimum.

This is contrary to the manufacturer's recommended service interval.

 

[oharajoynr]

Then don’t do it, and see how long your transmission lasts

 

[davidg4781]

OP... it's interesting to see how liberal they are with the service. I was about to purchase the maintenance plan and talked to a couple of dealers about it. They explained to me that for everything but oil, they inspect the item and only replace it if it's needed.

So while the manual recommends to change the spark plugs at 105k miles (just an example, I can't remember what it says), if the spark plugs look fine, they won't replace them. Same with belts or shocks.

It made me decide against purchasing it. When I worked out the pricing, it looked like it would be a good deal if they followed their recommendations.

 

[Bucko]

You MUST change the fluid every 30k miles minimum. There is no changeable fluid filter on this transmission, its internal. The process to change the fluid is fairly easy, remove the under-engine cover, and remove engine air filter box. Locate the drain plug under the transmission, remove the drain plug and drain fluid in container. Replace plug. Measure amount of fluid drained. Pull the vent cap on top of the transmission and refill with new fluid of same amount as was drained. Button up engine and transmission items removed.

That’s it; basically a drain and refill.

Says who? If you make statements such as this, you'll be asked on where you obtained the data to back this statement.

Forums are full of opinions, and that is your right. Just be prepared to back your opinion when challenged.

 

[Bucko]

Then don’t do it, and see how long your transmission lasts

Many have replied on this site with well over 50 and 60K miles, with no issues and did not report any transmission fluid changes.

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