How are these prices for Fluid Changes????

[trayson]

I called up our local quick lube and got the following prices for some Fluid changes:


Front Diff = $19
Rear Diff = $19 + $9 for LSD additive
Transfer Case = $19
Tranny Fluid (5spd) = $19


These seem somewhat fair... But I'm not a hardcore DIY'r

How much would it cost me just for the materials to do these jobs???

[Joe Dillard]

C'mon now....this isn't considered "hardcore DIY". :)

In general, you can subtract ~$10 for each of the items you listed, or maybe more if you get the fluids on-sale or buy in bulk like I do (I got 6 gallons Saturday :D ). Get a BIG drip bucket (I have a 5 gallon, and a 1 gallon), then return the spent oil to a disposal center. Lots of places like Wal*Mart or Auto Zone will take the old oil off your hands for free.

[canuckjeeper]

-=- originally posted by trayson -=-
I called up our local quick lube and got the following prices for some Fluid changes:


Front Diff = $19
Rear Diff = $19 + $9 for LSD additive
Transfer Case = $19
Tranny Fluid (5spd) = $19



I could do the same on mine for about:

Front Diff: 3$ oil, 0.50$ RTV sealer, 1.50$ can of brake cleaner to clean gunk.
Rear Diff: Same as above (mine isn't LSD)
T-Case: apx 4.50$ (3 qts of ATF is all it takes)
Tranny: I think about 6-7 qts of fluid (@2$) = 15$, new gasket, apx 10$ (I'd change the filter too, included in kit). = 25$.

I buy the 5-gallon bucket of gear oil from Napa under 30$.

JP

[LeadFoot]

The manual trannies only take about 4 quarts max of fluid to fill, t-case takes slightly under 2 quarts of ATF. It's not hard at all to change fluids. I could do all of those in about 2 hours, and a hour and a half of that is to let the RTV set up.

[JRowe]

If you can't change your own diff fluid b/c you're not a hardcore "DIY", you should sell the jeep and go buy a Kia.

If it's b/c you don't have a place to do it, then that's another story.

BTW, You should be able to do this in a parking lot, as long as you keep most of the fluid off the ground.

[trayson]

-=- originally posted by JRowe -=-
If you can't change your own diff fluid b/c you're not a hardcore "DIY", you should sell the jeep and go buy a Kia.

If it's b/c you don't have a place to do it, then that's another story.

BTW, You should be able to do this in a parking lot, as long as you keep most of the fluid off the ground.

I never said I *couldn't* change my own fluids. I have in fact changed my fluid in my rear diff once. However, it's not necessarily my first choice for how to spend my time.

I am certainly capable of doing stuff myself, but it always seems to wind up taking longer than anticipated and often when things don't go right, it leads to frustration.

Basically, what I wanted was an idea of how much I'd spend on materials and such so I could evaluate if it was worth the hassle of doing it myself. (especially since I don't have a ton of free time this summer)

I figure that I make about $27 an hour, so if it's even close to a break even on time/effort, then I'll have someone else do it.

Shoot, everyone has thier specialties. I am a CPA, and I can do taxes in my sleep. I know a ton of people that are NOT tax savvy and pay exorbitant prices (IMO) to places to do their super easy taxes. Now, do I tell them that if they can't do their own taxes that they should quit their job and go on welfare??? No. I actually help them out and show them this thing called "understanding".

[JRowe]

Sorry if I struck a nerve on that reply. I see your point, but if it was all about time versus money, most people wouldn't do their own mods and up-keep. If it's worth it to you to have someone else do it, then go for it. I agree with most here and think if you are posting here and wheeling/doing mods, you should be able to change it yourself and would want to do it (for one to make sure it was done correctly)

[jaxjeeper]

+ $9 for LSD additive

Must have been using this product when quoting you prices! and I dont mean limited slip:agree:

[trayson]

-=- originally posted by JRowe -=-
Sorry if I struck a nerve on that reply. I see your point, but if it was all about time versus money, most people wouldn't do their own mods and up-keep. If it's worth it to you to have someone else do it, then go for it. I agree with most here and think if you are posting here and wheeling/doing mods, you should be able to change it yourself and would want to do it (for one to make sure it was done correctly)

No worries. it's all good.

Just because I sit behind a desk all day and crunch numbers doesn't mean that I can't go out and wheel the crap out of my modded YJ. :beerchug:

I guess one moral to the story is that if I either choose not to work on my own rig, or if I can't work on my rig, I better be able to afford to have someone do it!