Hi all,
My car is at the shop now, and the guy calls me and says that the "Industry Standard" is to replace transmission and brakes fluids every 24 months or 30K miles. Now My car is 2 years old, with 20K miles. I looked in the service manual and the "Schedule 2" options says "inspection" not "replace". I called Nissan and they were very vague "they shop need to inspect it and decide if it needs to be replaced or not".
My questions are:

1. Should I ask the shop to write in the bill that they "Inspected" it ? Would this be enough for the warranty ?

2. Would you recommend changing the fluids every 24 months as the guy said ? Is it really the industry standard ? I dont race and drive the car "normally"

Thanks !

elad

 

I follow the recommendations in my maintenance book.

 

if the car saw any track use i would definately change every 2 years.

 

basically check the color of the fluids. that will be a good indicator at to the health of the fluid. if it looks a little dark and mirky then I'd replace but With moderate driving 2 years maybe a bit too often.

Depending on how many miles are on the car and the color of the fluid I'd give it a good flush to get clean fluid in there, and then just inspect it from time to time.

 

"Industry Standard" in this case is that many independent shops want to generate as much work as they can out of each customer. I just changed the MT fluid in my 3 year old car at 30k miles. The fluid looked great. The diff fluid looked good as well. It was unnecessary. I'd skip it. You don't track the car so it doesn't get abuse. The shop just wants the work.

 

Thank you all. I decided not to change it as you suggested, and will inspect the fluids next year / 30K miles. Saved more than 300$ on this!!! they need the work but hey - telling me this is required is almost lying. They can check it, see that i.e. it is dark, call me and say - hey, its dark, you should replace it. Lying will just send me to another shop..
Anyway - thank you for the advise!

 

more than $300? wow!!! It always amazing me to hear shop prices on simple things. I'm so used to work on my car myself and not going to a shop and so over $300 for something that would cost nom ore than $10 in parts, get a buddy to come over and pump the peddle while you open/close the bleeder, and spend about an hour hour and a half and its done!

 

Yeah, they charge 150 to change the braking fluid, and 150 for the transmission fluid. You know how it goes - you come in for a 50$ oil change and inspection, they call you later and overload you with info over the phone, and pump the bill up. Most people just approve.
You know what would be cool - a price comparison web-site for auto shops. This is something I could definitely use. I am sure other places around here would charge less for that, and more for other things.

 

I guess thats just what they charge. They have so many factors in their pricing, labor, parts, etc.... I guess thats why I prefer doing my own work, I save more money, I know its done properly, and I get to know the car better...

I think the transmission flush a bit over priced. I'd say an hour of labor, and cost for transmission fluid... usually labor is bout $60/hr (ball parking) so that plus say $60 of MT fluid $120 meh...maybe they arent far off.


Still if you know some mechanically inclined people close to you, you could probably pay them $100 and get everything done, at once...

 

even if you dont get out of your car everything, i.e. you dont stress on transmission shift its better to get the fluids replaced every 24months. its for better future working of car and you will get better economy too

 

$50 oil change!!! wow....

Do your own oil and save $25, plus you'll become a little more familiar with your car. You will also be sure that nobody strips your drain bolt with too much torque.