How Much Should A 2008 Miata Auto Transmission Service Cost

An automatic transmission uses fluid to lubricate its internal clutches, gears, and bearings. Information technology incorporates a torque converter as a pasty coupling that uses transmission fluid to transfer engine power to the transmission input shaft.

It also uses the fluid nether pressure level to operate pistons in the valve body and to engage clutches. All this work generates heat, so in that location is usually a transmission libation to keep the fluid at an optimum temperature.

Transmission fluid inevitably ages and breaks down, and picks up debris and contaminants.

Boilerplate Cost of Transmission Flush

The cost of transmission flush varies from about $100 to $300. Where the job is done makes a divergence to the cost, and how much fluid the vehicle requires makes a difference every bit well.

Some vehicles have a transmission fluid capacity of as much every bit 20 quarts, and if a vehicle-specific fluid is necessary, that tin can bring the transmission service cost upwardly to the loftier end of the range.

If there is a transmission filter to exist replaced that would exist an additional cost.

Transmission Flushing Service

Irresolute the transmission fluid is a basic service on any vehicle's maintenance schedule. There are a couple of ways to do that.

Almost well-equipped shops volition recommend a manual flush which is washed by hooking a machine to the manual cooler lines (unremarkably). Then, new fluid is pumped in and one-time fluid is pumped out; assuasive for almost all of the fluid to be replaced.

The alternative is a drain and make full, which involves only removing a drain plug and draining out old fluid, then topping upwards the transmission with new fluid. The drawback to this is that it only removes about half of the onetime fluid, as much of it is trapped in the torque converter and elsewhere.

Either style the fluid is serviced, it'due south a very adept idea to as well replace the transmission filter if at that place is ane. That is done by dropping the manual pan which as well needs a new gasket.

More common nowadays are manual case designs that don't have a pan or a replaceable filter; simply a drain plug. There are also some transmissions that have an external filter on a cooler line or screwed onto the transmission housing.

Manufacturer'due south Recommendations

Every manufacturer has at least an inspection interval for automatic transmission fluid. Usually, information technology's at about every 12,000 to xv,000 miles.

Nigh actual service intervals are between 60,000 and 100,000 miles in normal service, though some are longer, and some manufacturers specify only inspections and then, service as needed.

Transmission fluid wears at different rates depending on how a vehicle is driven, outside temperatures, load weather condition, etc., and a vehicle that sees difficult utilise may demand the transmission served every 15,000 to 40,000 miles. CVT transmissions are besides harder on the fluid, and towing or carrying heavy loads besides causes clothing.

By and large speaking, if transmission fluid appears make clean or only slightly discolored, it's ok. If it'south dark or thickened, it should be replaced. If information technology smells burnt, it should also be replaced.

Erring on the safe side is also recommended as there is no harm in replacing fluid before information technology needs to be replaced. The cleaner fluid reduces internal wear in the transmission which is one of the more than expensive and difficult to service parts of the vehicle.

Affluent Versus Drain and Fill

Near vehicle manufacturers recommend transmission fluid replacement without specifying how to go about it. Nevertheless, most dealerships utilise a flush car when doing the scheduled services on the transmission in order to completely supercede the fluid.

There have been some anecdotal warnings against flushing the fluid on a worn transmission for years. I theory is that the flushing operation dislodges sludge and particles which tin then clog passages.

Another is that old gritty manual fluid somehow improves the operation of the clutches, and replacing the former fluid leads to transmission slippage. Neither of these claims stands upwardly to scrutiny.

Flushing a transmission moves fluid in the same fashion as the oil pump does; no bug should be expected. And if the gritty old transmission fluid is keeping the clutches working, then, adding more grit would be a solution to a slipping transmission; which it isn't, obviously.

A couple of things may be backside the warnings. One is that transmission service is ofttimes neglected until a transmission shows symptoms of failure. With this, flushing the fluid is something that might exist tried.

That seldom improves already worn or failed parts simply is sometimes a convenient scapegoat afterwards the service when the real problem is age or lack of maintenance. Another is that it is possible on some flush machines to set the fluid pressure too loftier and then, damage seals in the transmission.

If the job is done competently, this shouldn't always be an issue. This is considering it'southward unproblematic to set the machine's pressure to be less than the transmission's normal operating pressures.

In any instance, the primary advantage of a transmission affluent over a drain and fill is only that it replaces more than fluid. This is more of an consequence if the fluid has been desperately neglected and less of an issue if it has been serviced regularly.

If the fluid is in very bad shape and a flush isn't washed, it's nonetheless not such a skillful thought to exit most of the old fluid in the manual. Sometimes, a bleed and make full tin be done twice in a row if necessary.

After the first fourth dimension, the transmission is topped off and run through the gears. And so, the fluid is drained again. The result of doing it twice is to replace ¾ of the former fluid rather than one-half, though, it is somewhat wasteful of both fluid and fourth dimension.

Honda is the one manufacturer that doesn't recommend flushing the transmission fluid. That is primarily because Honda uses its own special fluid which doesn't tolerate contagion well.

A affluent motorcar would have to exist dedicated, as Honda-only in order to avoid cross-contamination of fluids. As well, it's generally safer and easier in practice to simply keep upward on the maintenance and perform bleed and fill services when necessary.