Do you have to flush, power steering, transmission, coolant and fuel system fluids every 2 years?
Asked by Shellsmoon Apr 06, 2017 at 09:05 PM about the 2007 Honda Odyssey EX FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I have a 10 year old Honda Odyssey. 2 years ago I paid $400 for a
"managers special" where they flushed power steering, coolant, transmission
and fuel system. Its only been 17,300 miles and now the shop wants to do it
all again. They say fluid was dark when swabbed and you are supposed to
do it every 2 years. This seems excessive to me? Is it true or a ripoff?
8 Answers
It is a rip off. Do not flush the transmission, only change the transmission fluid and filter. That should be able to go 40,000 miles. The coolant system also. You are not having any problems with that and so it does not need to be done. You can go longer on the cooling system, but 3 to 5 years on that a flush is good. The fuel system well, thats what they make fuel injection cleaner for, but it is a good idea to have the fuel filter changed out 1 a year.
You must look like a Jersey to the dealer. ;) Just say NO!
enginecreator answered 8 years ago
Is that dealership sur-charges? Punishment for buying from them.
enginecreator answered 8 years ago
Check fluid levels to see the condition of all fluids when one looks (usually darker) ready to change, have that one changed.
Shellsmoon answered 8 years ago
Thanks for your answers. And this isn't the dealership wanting to do these flushes, it's a well-known chain automotive service shop. And I don't like the package deals they try to push. It includes stuff that does not need to be done and costs extra $$. Example being the transmission fluid. Supposedly that does not need to be flushed but every 100k miles. And this shop wants to do it again after only 17,000 miles? I haven't even hit 100k miles on my van yet. I'm only at 78k miles.
I would recommend not ever doing a transmission flush. That causes more problems than none. Only a fluid and filter change for the transmission, and at every 30,000-35,000 miles.
We have more than a few vehicles , and when we bring a vehicle for basic maintenance , service advisor always recommend this and others , sure , you should maintain your schedules but they have to do their jobs to create ...SALES..., too! . We are NEVER under stress to spend crazy money ...we just simply said ..".let me think about it " and go on to ask for or looking at these opinions and do our own research. Service advisors are known to make well over 6 figure income...wow!! wondering how do they do that ???!!
