Allison tranny

[Rburke8]

I just had my transmission fluid and filters changed on my 2013 chevy 3500hd dually at a chevy dealer in Canandaigua NY. It cost a whooping $336.00. I feel like I was raped. I researched the cost of this prior to it being done and expected around $175 - 200. I trusted the dealership so didn't ask and flabbergasted when I saw the bill. Is this ridiculous or I am out of touch?

[Skip426]

There are two different services that a shop can perform.
A drain and filter change, that doesn't clean out all the fluid from the torque convertor , uses less fluid ; costs less.
A flush and filter change, all the fluid in the trans is changed, requires special equipment , takes longer and uses more fluid, usually 6>7 quarts more. A better servicing.
Which was done ? When you were checking prices , what did the cost include.

[BFlinn181]

As Skip noted, it's according to how much they did in the fluid and filter change. What's the shop's hourly rate? How many quarts of fluid did they use? What type of fluid? Many factors go into pricing, things you should ask about before signing. I've dealt with rape victims, and you weren't raped. Maybe fleeced or robbed, but not raped.

[dvmweb]

Edit to discard

[edgray]

TranSynd cost ~$35.00/ gallon and the spin-on filter is ~$10.00, therefore you are correct about having been taken advantage of, IMO.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Skip426

There are two different services that a shop can perform.
A drain and filter change, that doesn't clean out all the fluid from the torque convertor , uses less fluid ; costs less.
A flush and filter change, all the fluid in the trans is changed, requires special equipment , takes longer and uses more fluid, usually 6>7 quarts more. A better servicing.
Which was done ? When you were checking prices , what did the cost include.

And Allison in their written instructions says NOT to do a flush using a machine.
And Tom, the person who wrote the TranSynd specs while employed by Allison says not to loosen the lines and start the engine to do a change.

[BFlinn181]

Before claiming he was taken, how about showing us the ticket. Labor charges can be over $100 per hour. Disposal fees for the old fluid, filter seems to be about $30 or more, etc. Plus he's in New York, taxes are another 5-8%, according to local tariffs.
Fluid capacity for drain and fill, 7.4 quarts, overhaul (dropping valve body) 12.7 quarts, total capacity after rebuild, 20 quarts.

That being said, if the OP is talking about Farnsworth Chevrolet, in Canandaigua NY, I found this on their website:

BG TRANSMISSION SERVICE
$139.95*
A three-step complete fluid replacement and cleaning process, the BG Power Flush ® and Fluid Exchange System dissolves and removes harmful deposits from critical transmission components and exchanges the old, oxidized ATF for new fluid of the exact specifications required by the car manufacturer. BG Quick Clean for Automatic Transmissions is a safe and effective solvent/dispersant cleaner that will quickly remove accumulated deposits from the valve body, filter screen and other automatic transmission components. BG ATC Plus enhances properties of both new and used automatic transmission fluid. It improves fluid oxidation stability, thereby prolonging fluid life and the life of the transmission, and helps to prevent leaks by conditioning hardened seals, keeping them soft and pliable. BG ATC Plus helps control the formation of sludge and varnish deposits and prevents foaming.
* Vehicles requiring Dexron VI Transmission Fluid slightly higher. Plus tax.

Don't know if a 3500 truck would be more or not. Regardless, in my experience, a written estimate is given and must be signed before work begins. Price can only change by no more than 10% for original service.

[Rburke8]

Here is the breakdown from their service ticket

1.5 hours labor at $92.00 per hour $138.00
A filter #29539579. $50.00
A filter #29542833. $54.42
Fluid #88861037 x10. $92.80
Total. $336.10

The write up states "service auto transmission - remove pan and inspect pan residue and fluid cond. ral gasket and filter sam. Refill aft 5 qts max
Transmission service
Service auto transmission.

No flush was accomplished as stated by service manager.

I priced the filter at an auto parts store and they were half the price.

[Rburke8]

Btw, my vehicle has 24420 miles at the time of service.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by Rburke8

...I priced the filter at an auto parts store and they were half the price.

That's always the case. Never buy parts at a dealer, unless unavailable anywhere else. Also, don't have service performed at a dealer's shop, that's how they make the big bucks, $$ parts and $$ service.

[TonyDi]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

That's always the case. Never buy parts at a dealer, unless unavailable anywhere else. Also, don't have service performed at a dealer's shop, that's how they make the big bucks, $$ parts and $$ service.

I agree. Their labor and parts are always higher. But sometimes you have no other choice.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by Rburke8

Here is the breakdown from their service ticket

1.5 hours labor at $92.00 per hour $138.00
A filter #29539579. $50.00
A filter #29542833. $54.42
Fluid #88861037 x10. $92.80
Total. $336.10

The write up states "service auto transmission - remove pan and inspect pan residue and fluid cond. ral gasket and filter sam. Refill aft 5 qts max
Transmission service
Service auto transmission.

No flush was accomplished as stated by service manager.

I priced the filter at an auto parts store and they were half the price.

Allison filter 29539579 is readily available at Allison dealers for around $10.00, not the $50.00 you were charged. $9.28 per quart for the 10 qts of fluid leads me to wonder why they didn't allow more to drain out, and IF they used TranSynd or some other ATF such as Dexron VI. Allison recommends several brands of ATF meeting their TES-295 standard, but Dexron VI is NOT one of them, and I'll bet you find that is what your dealer used.

I still think you've been "had"...

[BFlinn181]

Allison fluid #88861037 is Dexron VI, Amazon sells it 1 quart @ $13.30.
The filter #29539579 from about $10-40, filter #29542833 $20-43.
So you did pay more than online retail, but you were at a dealer, where EVERYTHING costs more! ---Even free advice!

(Shipping not accounted for)

[edgray]

Dexron VI is not an Allison approved fluid. I don't know whose part # that is, but it isn't Allison.