Transmission Flush vs Change: Scope, Price and the Manufacturer's Position
By the editorial desk. Prices and sources checked on November 13, 2026. How the figures are built.
A fluid change drains and refills the transmission. A flush exchanges the fluid with a machine. GM's bulletin says flush machines are not recommended and fluid "should only be replaced by draining and refilling." Perry's Quality Auto in Simi Valley, CA prints $189 to $249 for a drain and refill and $329 to $449 for a machine flush, as of November 13, 2026.
- Drain and refill$189 to $249Perry's Quality Auto, Simi Valley, CA, printed range
- Machine flush$329 to $449Perry's Quality Auto, same page, full fluid exchange
- Highest flush price$599.95Colonial Subaru, Danbury, CT, CVT Transmission Flush
What each service is
A fluid change is a drain and refill. A flush, also sold as a fluid exchange, uses a machine. BG Products, a maker of such machines, says the fluid is "treated with BG Quick Clean for Transmissions, then exchanged for new, high-quality transmission fluid."
We found no automaker or transmission-maker document that prints what share of the fluid either service replaces. One business prints it: Perry's Quality Auto says a drain and refill "Replaces roughly 40 to 60 percent of the fluid in one service" and, for a machine flush, "replace nearly 100 percent." Honda's bulletin 23-073 gives 3.3 US qt "at change" for the 2016–20 Pilot with the 6-speed automatic.
| Point | Fluid change | Flush |
|---|---|---|
| What is done | Fluid is drained and refilled | A machine removes old fluid and deposits, adds new fluid (BG) |
| Quarts printed | 3.3 US qt per drain (Honda Pilot); up to 6 qt with filter and gasket (Dewey Ford, Ankeny, IA) | Up to 12 qt for a CVT (Newton Nissan of Gallatin, TN) |
| Automaker documents | The only method GM allows | GM: not recommended. Honda: avoid. Volkswagen: not supported |
Sources: BG PXT2, BG Transmission Service, Honda bulletin 23-073, Dewey Ford, Newton Nissan. Checked November 13, 2026.
What automakers say in their own documents
| Automaker and document | On flush machines | On additives and fluid |
|---|---|---|
| General Motors, bulletin 04-06-01-029K, October 2024 (gasoline models, 2025 and prior) | "The use of external transmission fluid exchange or flush machines is not recommended for the automatic or manual transmission." | Fluid "should only be replaced by draining and refilling" |
| Honda, bulletin 23-073, September 7, 2023 | "Other after market flush systems are available, but American Honda strongly recommends that you avoid using on any Honda vehicles." | "Do not use non-Honda ATF because it can affect shift quality." |
| Volkswagen, bulletin 37-18-02, 3/3/2021 (all models 2010–2021) | Does "not support or warranty any use of aftermarket universal automatic transmission fluids or the machines used to flush the transmissions." | Covered by the same sentence |
| Ford, Automatic Transmission Fluid Chart, 9/2026 | No Ford statement found in sources we read | "DO NOT USE SUPPLEMENTAL TRANSMISSION FLUID ADDITIVES, TREATMENTS OR CLEANING AGENTS." |
| Nissan, bulletin NTB14-077, August 18, 2014 (2013–2015 Versa Sedan and others) | Not printed in the bulletins opened | "NISSAN recommends using Genuine NISSAN NS-3 CVT Fluid ONLY in NISSAN CVTs." |
| Subaru, bulletin WTJ-70, 09/1/16 (2017 Forester non-Turbo with CVT) | Not printed in the bulletins opened | "Always use specified CVTFII. Using other fluid will cause malfunction." |
| Toyota, T-SB-0036-13 Rev1 | Not printed | Names "Toyota genuine WS transmission fluid"; nothing on additives |
Sources: GM, Honda, Volkswagen, Ford, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota. Checked November 13, 2026.
GM adds that returned parts exposed to aftermarket flushes "show indications of potential damage and shortened durability."
Printed prices for both services
A flush costs more where one shop prints both. At Perry's Quality Auto in Simi Valley, CA, as of November 13, 2026, our calculation is $329 − $189 = $140 at the low end and $449 − $249 = $200 at the high end.
| Business | Service as printed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bianchi Honda, Erie, PA | Transmission Fluid Change, ATF / CVT | starting at $142.00 / $165.00 |
| Perry's Quality Auto, Simi Valley, CA | Drain and refill service | $189 to $249 |
| Dewey Ford, Ankeny, IA | New filter, pan gasket, fluid change up to 6 qts | starts at $192.00 |
| Phillips Chevrolet, Illinois | Drain and fill transmission fluid | $399.95; some models may be higher |
| Germain Cadillac of Easton, Columbus, OH | Transmission Fluid System Exchange, 6-speed / 8-speed | $264.95 / $284.95 |
| Vision Kia East Rochester, NY | Transmission Fluid Exchange Service | $269.87 |
| Perry's Quality Auto, Simi Valley, CA | Full fluid exchange (machine flush) | $329 to $449 |
| Lee Johnson Hyundai of Everett, WA | Automatic Transmission Fluid Exchange | $369.95 |
| Newton Nissan of Gallatin, TN | Premium CVT Fluid Exchange, up to 12 qts | $399.95 |
| Colonial Subaru, Danbury, CT | CVT Transmission Flush | $599.95 |
Sources: Bianchi Honda, Perry's Quality Auto, Dewey Ford, Phillips Chevrolet, Germain Cadillac, Vision Kia, Lee Johnson Hyundai, Newton Nissan, Colonial Subaru. Checked November 13, 2026.
Changes run from $142.00 to $399.95 among the 4 change listings in the table. Exchanges run from $264.95 to $599.95 among its 6 listings. The ranges overlap, so the name of the service does not settle the price. Jiffy Lube, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Firestone Complete Auto Care and AAMCO do not print a price. See also the home page and CVT fluid change cost.
Why fresh fluid matters and what a flush adds
BG writes that "heat breaks down transmission fluid, reducing its ability to properly protect and perform." Its PXT2 "removes worn-out transmission fluid and accumulated deposits and adds new transmission fluid and conditioner."
Which one to choose
- Find your make in the automaker table. GM, Honda and Volkswagen documents point away from flush machines.
- Read your owner's manual for the fluid and the interval. See how often to change transmission fluid.
- Read the quote for a cleaner, an additive or a universal fluid. Ford's chart bars additives and cleaners; Volkswagen does not support universal fluids.
- For a drain and fill at home, read how to change transmission fluid first.
Questions and answers
Is a transmission flush necessary?
We found no automaker document that requires a machine flush. GM allows only draining and refilling. The 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual says of normal use: "Routine fluid and filter changes are not required."
What does a transmission service include?
It depends on the menu. Dewey Ford prints a new filter, a new pan gasket and up to 6 quarts of fluid. Lee Johnson Hyundai prints a flush with cleaner, new fluid and a supplement.
Is a flush bad for a high-mileage transmission?
We found no document that ties the answer to mileage. GM's warning names automatic and manual transmissions: external machines "may affect the operation or durability of the transmission."
How much more does a flush cost than a drain and fill?
At Perry's Quality Auto, the one business we found that prints both, a flush is $140 to $200 more as of November 13, 2026 (our calculation).